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53
LUKE
I cock the pistol.
“Okay, okay,” King rasps out. “I—”
The door crashes open.
It’s him. Buck Moreno. Emily’s brother.
“Buck!” Katelyn screams.
I’m still holding the gun on King’s groin.
“We’re good,” Buck says. “The cops are here. You’re safe.”
I don’t move. I don’t lower the weapon.
“Luke,” Katelyn cries. “Did you hear him? Everything will be okay now.”
The words. It’s like I’m underwater. My head is drowning, and only my friend—my untrustworthy friend—can save me.
Rage is all around me, whooshing through my veins like a microscopic worm.
I have King. I can end this now.
Luke, you said no one will lose a life today.
Katelyn. Katelyn’s sweet angelic voice.
Then her touch. Her soft and gentle hands on mine.
Give me the gun, Luke. Please.
Let me try. A male voice. Buck.
No! I will. I love him. He needs me.
Katelyn’s caress, so sweet and warm.
It’s over. It’s over, my love.
My love. My only love.
I turn, look into her understanding eyes.
She takes the gun and hands it to Buck.
“You need a doctor,” Katelyn says. “You’re bleeding.”
“I’m fine.” But I wince.
All this time, I forced my body not to feel anything. I had to be strong. To protect Katelyn.
But yeah, I could probably use a doctor.
In the distance, sirens blare.
“Everything’s okay now, Luke,” Katelyn murmurs in my ear. “I love you, and everything’s okay.”
“I love you too.” I kiss her forehead. “So damned much.”
Several days later, after hours and hours of questioning, Katelyn, Buck, and I are free to go.
King is finally in custody and his dirty money has been seized.
As for me, my immunity deal still stands. I’m not sure how my old man did it, but I’m a free man.
No more hiding.
I can be Lucifer Ashton again. Except I don’t want to be. I only want to be Luke Johnson.
I still have red on my ledger. I always will. I have to live with that. I think about calling Buck, asking him to meet, but Katelyn tells me not to. That the wounds are still too fresh.
So I’m surprised as hell when he calls me.
I meet him for a burger on the beach.
“We’ll never be friends,” he says.
“Interesting way to say hello.”
“I mean it. This isn’t a friendly meeting.”
“I never imagined it was.” I take a bite of burger and wash it down with bottled water.
“I just want you to know that Emily’s good. She’s happy.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“Are you?”
“I am.” I wipe my mouth with my napkin. “Look. I never expect you to forgive me. I never expect her to forgive me. I was fucked up. I’m the first to admit that. But she has nothing to fear from me, and neither do you.”
“You can bet I don’t.”
I resist rolling my eyes. Such a fucking tough guy.
“So what’s this for, then? Why are we here?” I ask.
He swallows his bite of burger, takes a drink of his beer. “We’re square. You and I. Square.”
I nod. “Good. I’m totally good with that.”
“Take care of her. Of Katelyn.”
“I will. You take care of Emily.”
He nods. “Done.”
“And…” I stop.
“What?”
“If you ever need anything. Anything at all, I’m here. Just ask. For what you did for Katelyn. I owe you.”
He cocks his head slightly. For a moment, I’m not sure he’s going to speak again. Until—
“Thanks.”
Later, after Katelyn and I have dinner, we take a moonlit stroll on the beach. Jed pants at our heals.
Her hand is warm in mine, and we’re barefoot, the sand tickling our toes. In my pocket is a velvet box containing a diamond ring.
I’m going to propose. I stop, turn, and—
Katelyn’s phone buzzes.
“Ignore it,” I say.
“I wish, but it could be about my dad.”
James’s biopsy results were compromised, so the doctors had to take another. Katelyn and her mom have been waiting to hear.
She glances at her phone. Then she gasps.
“What is it?” I caress her cheek, my heart breaking at the terror in her eyes.
“It’s my friend Aspen. Garnet from the island. She’s missing!”
* * *
