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Only he doesn’t look exactly like the last time I saw him. I shake my head a few times, trying to make sense of what my body has already figured out. My gun is out in the next breath, aimed at him with my finger resting next to the trigger.
“Ah, it seems you brought an uninvited guest. I thought we all understood the rules for this little meeting, St. James. Do I need to remind you, hm?”
“Shut your fucking mouth before I shoot it off,” I seethe, taking two big steps toward him. There’s still twenty feet between us. Plenty of room for something to happen.
His smile turns into a leer and he tilts his head to the side. “Ah, there she is. What did I tell you, Evangeline, hm? I told you that I was going to help you. And look at you now,” he crows, throwing his arms to the side as if he’s showcasing me. “You look magnificent, princess.” There’s genuine pride in his voice, and that freaks me the fuck out more than anything.
It’s then that other noises start filtering in. The low murmur of conversation mixed with a couple engines revving. It’s a symphony of masculine sound and energy, and it’s too fucking much.
“Shut up,” I snap.
And then their voices pierce the cacophony.
“What the fuck is going on?” Silas yells, stepping closer to me.
“You better get your fucking gun off my girl, or I’m going to rip it off your fucking body, Moore,” Nova growls at the Hell Hounds president, malice dripping from his voice.
I see the Hell Hounds in my peripheral vision, that twitchy sort of tension filling the parking lot. It’s probably not my best idea to pull a gun on the man who drugged me and drove me two states away, but I’m not exactly thinking rationally right now.
I’m acting on instinct, and everything inside of me is screaming to mete my revenge.
“Talk to me, sugar,” Bane urges from right behind me.
It’s then that I realize he’s quite literally behind me, hovering close enough that I can feel his chest brush against my back with every exhale.
“Ah, you didn’t tell them about me? I’m not surprised. You always did like your secrets, hm? But don’t worry, princess, I’ve got it all taken care of.”
“Shut up,” I snap, my hands trembling as I hold the gun.
His smile turns cruel as he strolls across the divide, eliminating the space between us by half. “You know, I didn’t plan for you to come today, but I should have. You liked to surprise me, keep me on my toes. I always knew you did it to keep my skills sharp, to make me prove to you how worthy I am.” He sighs, this happy little sound that fucks with my head. And then he whistles as he pivots on his heels, stalking across the parking lot to stand by Sheriff Redford.
“I was hoping I wouldn’t have to do this, but c’est la vie and all that shit.”
“What’s going on, Ethan?” Redford turns toward him, a scowl painted across his face.
My abductor pulls out a pair of gloves and puts them on with fast precision. A moment later, he’s holding a gun I didn’t even see him grab. I hear the gunshot before I even see it, and Redford falls to his knees on the gravel, clutching his chest. Blood blooms across his chest, and his hands try to staunch the bleeding, but it’s in vain.
“Wh-why?” Redford croaks.
Everyone around seems to lean in, as if collectively waiting to hear his reasoning for what the fuck just happened. But not me. I don’t need to hear his reasoning. In fact, I can’t think of a single reason why I shouldn’t shoot him.
So I pull the trigger.
45
EVANGELINE
The bullet rips through the air, a deafening noise that echoes in my ears. Or maybe it’s all in my head. It hits my abductor, who’s name I still don’t know, in the shoulder, and he jerks back a step.
“Fuck, Evie,” Silas curses, stepping into me and sending me careening into Nova. “You just shot the fucking sheriff.”
My men close ranks around me, and I feel them draw their weapons. I can’t pull my eyes away from the man in front of me as he clutches his arm with genuine hurt in his eyes.
“Princess?” The sheriff cocks his head to the side. “Did you . . . fucking shoot me?”
“Don’t do it, Bellefleur. I don’t understand what the fuck is going on, but if you take a single fucking step, I’m going to send you to meet your maker faster than you can blink,” Silas snarls.
My abductor, Bellfleur, keeps his eyes on mine as he points the same gun he shot Sheriff Redford with at me. “But can you shoot me before I shoot her? That’s the real question.”
