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I look at my innocent daughter, caught in his grip—a new Jackson he intends to corrupt.
No!
“If you let her go, I’ll lower it,” I snarl.
He smirks. “We both know that’s a lie.”
Christian
“Do it!” she roars with a strength I’d never have thought that frail body possessed.
“Let go of the weapon, Kerry. Let’s talk about this.”
“Don’t hurt her,” she wails. “Please don’t hurt her. She’s all I’ve got.”
I have an eerie déjà vu from Winnipeg. Funny how long ago it seems now. Was it yesterday? I hug the little kid tighter. She’s crying in distress, but I don’t want her to become afraid of me so I make some cooing sounds to try to calm her.
“Ker!” I say bluntly. “The only one who’s potentially hurting her at this moment is you and your fucking gun. Lower itnow!” I raise my arm and hold it over Cecilia’s throat instead for emphasis. I wouldn’t dream of hurting her, but the maniac before me doesn’t know that and she’s working on primal instincts right now, so I have to meet her on that level. Fighting to gauge her state of mind, and to plan my next move in this sudden mess, I can’t stop my thoughts from wandering, and I can’t help but notice that she’s afraid this time. Really, really afraid. I almost don’t recognize her. She was always so feisty.
No wonder, though, she’s a woman, a female, defending her baby.
Her eyes are bloodshot. “Please,” she hiccups. I answer with a raised eyebrow.
I see her before me like she used to be, soft, feminine, trusting. I see her under me. I see her screaming my name, but not in fear, and not in pain.
There she goes again!
Distracting me without even lifting a fucking finger!
Fuck!I want to hurt her. For distracting me. For slamming hard objects on my head, shoving a fucking knife in my shoulder and damaging my knee. For always,always, fucking fighting me!
She is crying, the shotgun shaking violently, dangerously swaying before us. “Please, Christian, please let my baby go!”
I glare at her frail, trembling form. I want to—No, I don’t. That’s not true. I have a child. Ker is a mother and I actually have a child, and she’s a beautiful little creature with dark hair and warm eyes. I see myself in her, and yet I don’t. I can’t believe I was ever so small, so vulnerable, so innocent. She could be hurt so easily. The thought makes me clutch her little form harder, keeping the barrel in focus. I’ll kill anyone who ever even gives her a scratch. And it won’t be quick, I’ll take my time, making sure they have plenty of time to re-think their decision to ever get close to my flesh and blood.
I almost let go of her in shock as I realize I could be the cause of her being in danger. That my lifestyle probably has given me a fuckin’ continent of enemies.
Givenherenemies.
Twenty-Three
Christian
Despite my swollen knee screaming at me in protest, I slowly get up from my sitting position into a crouch. Cecilia is still securely with me in my lap. She’s my little armor right now, protecting me from her mother who’s gone totally berserk. I keep my eyes trained on Kerry’s dark tormented gaze and she never lets go of mine.
“All right, take it easy. I’m not here to hurt anyone, I just want to talk. Okay?” My voice is as soothing as I can manage under the circumstances. I hurt almost everywhere. It’s fucking tiring.
She clutches the gun tighter. “Drop her!” she croaks, barely able to speak any more.
“I will. Okay? Just to show that I mean no harm. Just take it easy with that thing, Ker, we don’t want anyone to get killed.” My legs tense and I inhale, then I shove Cecilia toward Kerry as I burst up and knock the wind out of her by slamming the stock of the gun into her stomach. She stumbles back and falls to the floor, clutching her stomach, gasping for air.
Too easy.
The little one wails and stumbles toward the fallen woman. “Mu—hmhy,” she hiccups.
“Mommy’ll be just fine, she just hasn’t learned how to play with the big boys yet,” I say coldly as I secure the gun and cock it open, pocketing the two cartridges before I open the door and hurl the fucking piece as far as I can throw.
Kerry keeps her huge, frightened eyes trained on me as she scoops Cecilia into her embrace, still gasping.
