I glanced at Eric and realized it was true. The hate in his eyes didn’t spark fear in my belly. The promise of vengeance didn’t have me wanting to run.
I turned my focus back on Cain. “I want to fight back, Cain. I want to tell the world what he did to me. I want to watch them put him behind bars where he’ll finally know what it feels like to have no power, no control…to have his every move dictated. To wake up every day knowing that that’s his life. I want him to have to live with knowing who put him there. Please don’t take that from me,” I said gently. “I love you for wanting to keep me safe, but I need this to end on my terms.”
“You think anyone will believe you?” Eric said with a laugh. He coughed and spit up some blood. “You and that little bitch have nothing on me! I’m a fucking hero! I saved more lives in one day than you’ll save in a lifetime, you pathetic piece of shit.”
I felt Cain’s arm tighten in response.
“You’re mine, Ethan!” Eric snarled. “I don’t care how many times you let him fuck your fat ass, you’re still mine and you know it! I’m so deep inside of you that you’ll never be free of me!”
“Don’t,” I said sharply as I saw Cain start to pull the trigger. I stepped in front of the gun and Cain immediately lowered it.
“Ethan,” he said, his voice pained.
“He can’t touch me ever again, Cain. You’re not going to lose me. I promise.”
Cain nodded and then he was pulling me forward into his embrace. My whole body started shaking as the relief crashed over me. I heard Eric spewing vile words at me, but I didn’t care what they were. I was only interested in the man holding onto me.
Until a gunshot rang out.
I jumped in Cain’s hold and spun around, terrified that Eric had somehow managed to pull a gun on us. But it took just secondsto realize the shot hadn’t come from him…it had been aimed at him.
Eric let out a shriek as a bullet pierced the ground dangerously close to his head. I saw a bullet hole in the wood floor next to the other side of his head. I watched in mute fascination as Vincent continued to fire at Eric, narrowly missing his body with each shot.
Missing on purpose.
“Okay, okay!” Eric screamed as he pulled himself into a ball in a desperate attempt to protect himself.
Vincent strode right up to Eric and straddled him. “Turn over you fucking little coward,” Vincent said, his voice as deadly calm as it had been when I’d argued with him in the hotel room.
“Vincent,” I began, but Cain wrapped his arm around me from behind, his message clear.
I fell silent as I watched Eric slowly roll to his back, his eyes wide with fear. But it was short-lived because his face twisted into an ugly sneer. “Do you have any idea who I am?” he shouted. “I’m a fucking cop, asshole. You’re all going to prison for this!”
“The question you should be asking yourself is, do you know who I am?” Vincent drawled.
“Yeah, I know who you are, old man! You’re the fucker who’s going to spend the rest of his life behind bars. I have more friends than God! All I have to do is snap my fingers and you’re fucked.”
“Is that so?” Vincent asked.
“Yeah, that’s so,” Eric bit out. “Secret Service, FBI, the fucking White House! Take your pick! I’ve got people in all of them.”
I had a good enough view of the scene playing out before me to see Vincent smile. But it was a dangerous smile. I watched as he pulled out his phone. “Let’s give one of your people a call, shall we?”
Eric was caught off guard by the comment, but he rallied quickly, so sure of himself. “John Fordham,” he said easily. “Director of the FBI,” he added with a cocky smile. “His direct number is in my phone-”
Eric’s voice dropped off suddenly when Vincent hit a button on his own phone. The man kept eye contact with Eric as he said, “Yeah, it’s me.” He was silent for a brief moment before saying, “I’ve got a friend of yours with me,” he said. “I’m afraid your friend is threatening one of my friends.” Vincent’s voice was relaxed, but ice cold. I actually felt a shiver run down my spine.
“Eric Palmer,” Vincent murmured. “Said you’re one of his people.”
Vincent listened for a moment. “Maybe you should talk to him,” he said. “Oh, and he doesn’t know who I am…maybe you want to clue him in?” I watched in disbelief as Vincent handed the phone to Eric.
Eric hung there for a moment, clearly surprised by the turn of events. Then he grabbed the phone and put it to his ear. “John, you need to help me. 372 Old County Line Road in Helenville-”
His voice dropped off suddenly as he listened to the other person talk. Even with his battered face, I could see the transformation happening. Shock, then disbelief, then stark fear. It was at least two minutes before Eric spoke again, his words desperate this time. “No, wait John, you can’t just leave me here!”
Eric went silent, refusing to let his eyes meet Vincent’s. Vincent took the phone from him and pocketed it. “Cavalry on the way?” he asked knowingly. I didn’t miss the amusement in his voice.
“People…people will figure it out,” Eric stammered. “They’ll be looking for me and they’ll know Ethan was behind it all,” he whispered. I felt Cain stiffen behind me, but before he could say anything, Vincent got up into Eric’s face.
