AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I’m finishing toweling off in the bathroom and just stepping into my jeans when the sound of Effie’s scream from the other room makes my blood go cold. My heart leaps out of my goddamn rib cage as I rush out of the bathroom to see William Campbell pinning Effie to the wall with his fucking hand wrapped around her throat. His other hand holds a gun to her temple, and I see red. A yell rips from my throat, “I’ll fucking kill you.”
I race across the loft, ripping him off her. My fist latches onto his gun hand, and we fall to the floor as I try to wrestle it from his grip. My blood is pumping harder than it ever has, nothing but white-hot rage coursing through me. “Effie, the truck!” I holler and he manages to roll on top of me in the struggle. “The keys…under the mat…I got it started—Oof!”I’m too distracted trying to track Effie and make sure she gets out safely that the bastard is able to knee me in the ribs with all his weight. I’ve had enough broken ribs to know I just got one as my lungs gasp for air and pain radiates my side.
“Finn!”Effie screams, and I can’t afford to look at her right now, my fist making contact with Campbell’s jaw, but he still has the upper hand.
“Go. Now!” I yell, trying to flip us over with a leg lock. The fucker must have had some wrestling training because he skillfully blocks, and I barely manage to knock the gun from his grip.
It skitters across the floor, and we both scramble after it. He lands a foot in my face and my head is whipped back, giving him just enough advantage to reach the gun before me. He grabs it and leaps to his feet. Both his hands shake, but he trains the weapon on me as I’m sprawled on the floor.
I slowly sit up with my hands raised, needing to see if Effie made it out. The fist around my lungs loosens realizing she isn’t in the barn and I’m able to bring my attention to the gun to my head. I lazily turn my gaze on the washed-up frat bro in front of me, feeling much calmer now that I know she is safe.
“Rough night?” I look him up and down with fake pity. He’s still in his tux from the wedding, his bow tie loose around his neck and his shirt untucked. His hair is disheveled and not just from our fight. His eyes have the glossy look of someone who’s been up all night drinking.
“You—”His voice trembles with anger and adrenaline. “You’ve taken everything from me.”
I leisurely wipe the blood from my nose with the back of my hand, inspecting it with an unimpressed shrug before turning back up to him, “You’re gonna have to be more specific.”
He roars in frustration and lunges forward, pressing the barrel to my forehead. “Where should I start? You killed my brother—”
“Um,” I hold up my finger and interrupt, “I thought he was still missing?”
“You goddamn know he isn’t still alive,” he growls, and pistol whips me across the face.
I flex my jaw back and forth, then yawn, his eyes glow red at my indifference. “Sorry, you were saying?”
“You killed my brother—I don’t care what the police say, I don’t care there’s no body, I know it. You framed my father, destroyed our reputation, and stole my wife.”
“I’m gonna have to stop you there, technically you stolemy wife.”
“You arrogant bastard, I’m going to kill you!” He jams the muzzle firmer into my skull and—
“Not before I blow your head off.” My eyes shoot behind him to see Effie dwarfed by the giant shotgun she has pointed right at her erstwhile groom.
1.Dandelions – slowed + reverb—Ruth B., slater |
Chapter 26
Euphemia Fox
Effie
Iescapetheloftwith the sounds of Finn and William’s fight echoing. Hearing each grunt and punch feels like wind knocked from my lungs. I run to the garage, my torn-up feet from last night splitting over the scraggly gravel.
I don’t even consider getting in the truck. I just got him back, there’s no fucking way I’m leaving him now. Not when he’s fought for me again and again. Not when he’s finally given me something I’ve always craved: safety.
My family blew up his world ten years ago. I won’t let him become another casualty in my family’s continued struggle for power.
I tear open every drawer and cabinet in the garage, knowing there has to be a weapon somewhere in all this rubble. There’s not a single room in my parent’s house that doesn’t have a stashed gun, and I’m certain Finn will be the same.
Fucking hell, there has to be.And if not—fuck it, I will go in there swinging with a goddamn socket wrench.
I hear a loud boom from up above that sounds distinctly like a body hitting the ground and my heart races. I throw open the door of a tall, free-standing cabinet, telling myself if this one comes up empty, I’m going with the wrench.
I nearly scream with relief when I find an old shotgun with a tarnished barrel and wood handle tucked into the corner. I frantically search for cartridges, fumbling to get them in the barrel. I take off manically sprinting again, hoping I’m not too late.
I creep back to the loft. I hear Finn taunting William and can tell in the way his voice shakes in response that he’s one more insult away from firing. My hands are slick with sweat and my heart pounds in my ears as I round the top of the stairs.
William jabs his gun against Finn’s forehead and my legs almost give out, terror like I’ve never known poisoning my blood stream. “You arrogant bastard, I’m going to kill you!”
