AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You don’t understand,” James said, a tear born from anger streaming down his dirt covered cheek. “I don’t die. I am faithful. I live forever.”
“What if he’s wrong, that’s a big gamble.” King kept his hands raised.
“Drop the weapon,” the officer shouted again.
King could see himself in James in a way he hated to admit. This blind loyalty was so toxic and consuming. He watched James lift the gun higher, pointing it at King’s head and everything flashed before his eyes. The people he loved. The things he’d done in the name of loyalty. All of it. Lou stabbing him. Bailey kissing him. It was all there before his eyes.
When the pop rang out, he dove to the side and waited for the pain, but all he felt was his recently healed shoulder hitting the ground. Opening his eyes and trying to focus, he saw James go down. A bullet from the officer had taken him out.
There was commotion. Hand cuffs. Some men resisting arrest, then dejectedly giving up. Arnoldo came down from the hill and King sat on the ground watching him explain. Pointing toward the trailer deeper in the woods. Then gesturing up to the men at the top of the hill who’d walked away peacefully and needed to be talked to.
It was Moe who came to King first, extending a hand to lift him up to his feet, though he didn’t really have the strength for that.
“This could have been worse,” Moe sighed, slapping King’s back.
“Damn,” King groaned. “I dislocated my shoulder hitting the ground.”
“Better than a bullet between the eyes.”
“Can you believe this all came down to some idiot named Buck who just pissed off the wrong cop?” King chuckled as he shifted his shoulder, trying unsuccessfully to get it into a comfortable position.
“You need to call Bailey,” Arnoldo said as he came over to check on King. “She’ll be out of her mind with worry.”
“She’ll see me soon enough,” King said, pointing to his shoulder. “We can have a date at the hospital while I get my shoulder popped back into place.”
“Romantic,” Arnoldo teased. “I’ll drive you. If you’re looking for an update, these guys still hate me and I need to get off the scene.”
Moe laughed. “You sure know how to make enemies. Hopefully you make some friends in Cinderhill. I know one person who’s glad to make you a pot of soup anytime you want it.”
“I can’t live out here,” Arnoldo answered. “I was only coming out here to make sure everyone was all right. You wouldn’t want me living in Cinderhill.”
King shook his head. “I don’t think Mrs. Tully is going to let you leave without a fight. And if I had to put my money on either of you in some hand to hand combat, I’m betting on her.”
EPILOGUE
Bailey
He could only wrap one arm around her while wearing the sling for his shoulder but it was still good to be back in his grip. King had risked his life well beyond any job he’d been given and she couldn’t thank him enough for that.
“I can’t believe we have a shot at a fresh start in Cinderhill,” Bailey said, talking only of the people who lived there and not King specifically. She wanted to see if he included himself in that.
“Think of all the ways you can build on what you already have when you don’t need to worry about your father or any looming threat out in the darkness. It’s going to be amazing.”
“Where is Carmen sending you next?” Bailey asked, stepping out from under his arm and trying to look busy as she filled her basket with fresh tomatoes. Her mother would be coming home next week if all went well and she wanted to make her favorite sauce for when she was back and ready to build her strength back up.
“She called this morning. I need to call her back. She didn’t leave a message.” There was a worried look on his face as though he was unsure what his future held. This dilemma seemed insurmountable. Bailey finally had Cinderhill on the path to what it once was. King was likely ready to return to city life or back to some job Carmen would put him on next. They had no feasible shot at a future together. It was better to bite the bullet now than to drag this out.
“Can you call her now? I’d love to let her know the latest here and tell her all the things I have planned.”
King smiled warmly and dialed Carmen.
“There’s the idiot,” Carmen sighed.
“I’m not loving this nickname,” King shot back. “I was being brave, not stupid.”
“There is such a fine line,” Bailey interrupted. “Hey Carmen. Thank you again for all you did to help everyone here. If there is ever anything I can do for you, please let me know.”
“I’m so glad it worked out and you’re safe. I have really high hopes for the future of Cinderhill. It feels early to call in a favor already but I have something urgent that I need help with.”
