Kolter charges for his dad, but Matthew’s already standing and punches him in the chest—right where he was shot—before smacking him across the face with his gun. Kolter drops to theground, and Matthew turns to me, pointing the gun at me once more.
I lift my hands in the air, shaking uncontrollably. “P-Please. I-I’m sorry. I was just a kid. I didn’t know. I was just trying to save h-him.”
Matthew gives me a pitying look. “Shhh, don’t cry, sweetheart. This isn’t personal. I think you’re a sweet girl. You’ve certainly grown into yourself well, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed I won’t get to see if you taste as good as your mother.”
My stomach curls at his vile words, tears pouring down my face.
“I’d keep you around for myself if I could. Unfortunately, this isn’t just business—it’s a lesson,” he says, glancing at Kolter, who’s bleeding profusely on the ground, Bones’ boot holding him in place.
“Say goodnight,” he says, looking back at me.
A shot rings out, and I jolt, my eyes widening in horror as Kolter lets out a soul-crushing scream. Time slows, my brain struggling to catch up with my eyes, and a body thuds to the floor.
Oh my God…
But it’s Matthew, a huge hole blown through the side of his head, blood and brain matter splattered against the diner window. I wait for him to get up, to come for me or Kolter, but he doesn’t—he just lies there, creating a larger and larger puddle of blood.
He’s dead.
He’s dead.
Wait. Who?—?
Everything is still moving in slow motion, and it takes my mind entirely too long to process the scene before me. Then I see it. The gun in Bones’ hand, still aimed where Matthew oncestood. His eyes meet mine, but that gut-clenching fear doesn’t dissipate until he lifts his foot and releases Kolter, his gaze still firmly on me.
Kolter scrambles towards me, cupping my face in his hands as a tear skates down his cheek. “I’m so sorry, Peaches.”
The sound of a throat clearing jolts Kolter into action, and he turns round in a flash, shielding my body with his as he faces Bones.
“What are you playing at?”
“I’m not playing at anything,” he says stiffly.
“You just killed your president… your best friend,” Kolter says.
Bones nods once.
“Why?” I ask, stepping out from behind Kolter carefully.
Bones is still brandishing his gun, but I have a feeling if he wanted either of us dead, he wouldn’t have intervened. Which begs the question…
“Why did you do it?”
His jaw tightens as he blows out a short breath through his nose. Silence stretches between us for several seconds, so long that I think he won’t respond, and then he finally says:
“I wasn’t gonna let him take out my kid.”
Shock and confusion slam into me. His what?
Epilogue
Kolter
“I’m sorry, what?” I ask.
I couldn’t have heard Bones right. Hiskid? Naomi? What the fuck?
“No,” Naomi says softly, shaking her head. “M-My dad’s name was Anthony. He left shortly after I was born, but he was definitely my dad, and my brothers’.”