“They killed her,” I cried. “Annie is gone.”
“I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault. I’m so fucking sorry.” Tears streamed from his eyes. “I’ll do anything to make it up to you, sweetheart. He’s gone now. He’ll never hurt you again. I made sure of it.”
“You killed him? It’s you who shot him, not Beth?”
A commotion rose. Men and women in Night Skulls’ cuts spilled from every corner of Rosewood. I was wondering where they had been all this time. Obviously, they had specific instructions not to come near me. I was too valuable, and only the king and queen were to handle me.
What was going to happen now? Was Dusty in danger for killing his own father to save me? Roar was the president, and all those angry Night Skulls were coming our way with malice in their eyes.
Beth looked at us, alarmed. Then she held Dusty’s shoulder and took the gun from his hand. “No. It’s me who killed him.”
He shook his head rapidly. “Mama, no.”
“Listen to me. It’s the only way they’ll let you live.”
“She’s my ol’ lady, and I was protecting her. It’s my right.”
“You have no rights here. You lost your place at the table, you have no rank and they already hate you for leaving the MC. If they know you killed the president, you’ll stand no chance at Church. But I will.”
“How?”
The Night Skulls surrounded us like vultures. One of them, same age as Roar, crouched down next to Roar’s body and checked his pulse. “He’s dead.”
“Who the fuck shot him?!” one of them shouted, and all eyes were shooting daggers at Dusty and me.
“I did,” Beth said, her chest heaving. “He was about to kill my boy…and me.”
Incredulous hums and questions rose around us. But Beth continued with her fabrications, unfazed. “Roar was forcing himself on Dusty’s ol’lady…”
“When I arrived, I yelled him, telling him to stop,” Dusty joined her, “but he didn’t believe she was mine, so he continued hurting her.”
“That’s when Dusty and Roar fought, and then…” Her voice cracked so genuinely I almost believed her.
“He pointed a gun at me,” Dusty finished for her. “Mama tried to take the gun from him, but he slapped her. I kicked the gun out of his hand, but he was stronger. He hit me and got it back.”
“I couldn’t think when I saw his hand on the trigger aimed at my only son,” Beth sobbed. “I had to do something so I shot him.”
“He fell to the ground, but the gun was still in his hand. He aimed at Mama,” Dusty said.
“It was his life or mine. I had to shoot him.” She broke with tears. “He left me no choice.”
Before the gang started asking any more questions, Dusty called for the man who was checking Roar’s body. His name was Rush and apparently he was the VP. “Cammie and me need help. Now.”
“Go inside. Doc will help you,” Rush said. “But this isn’t over. Mama and you will have to face Church. Tonight.”
“Understood.” Dusty carried me, limping on his own wounds. He took me inside and put me in the shower. I curled up on the bathroom floor, shivering. Then sobs seeped out of me uncontrollably.
His arms cradled me. “Hey, it’s okay. You’re gonna be okay. I’m here. You’re safe.”
My eyes trailed on the blood covering the floor, and my sobs turned into loud gasps. He shielded me, pressing me into his chest. “Don’t look. It’s just you and me here. He’s gone. I made sure of it. He’s gone, and he’ll never hurt you again. No one will ever hurt you again.”
How could he be so sure? In this place no one was safe, especially not after what happened. What was going to happen to Beth? Would they find out the lies and kill her, too? Would Dusty and I be next in line?
CHAPTER 29
Cameron
When I finally woke up and Doc finished patching me up and filling me with antibiotics, Dusty arrived to the room he’d put me in. Doc gave us some privacy and said he’d return with food.