I point at the big tree that’s a hundred yards or so away. We trudge through the snow, and when we stop in front of the three graves, I pull my hand from Levi’s and brush the headstones clean with my gloved hand.
“Hi, guys. Sorry, I haven’t visited for a while. Things got a little crazy, but it’s nothing for you to worry about.” I move back to Levi’s side and hug his arm. “This is Levi.”
He pulls his arm free from my hands and places it around my shoulders. “I wish I could’ve met you all,” he murmurs. He’s quiet for a while, then he clears his throat and says, “I’m sorry for what my family did to yours, but I want you to rest in peace knowing I’ll take care of Kelcie and love her with all my heart.”
I place my hand on Levi’s chest and lean into his side as I smile at the graves. “Isn’t he the best? I knew you’d love him.”
I hear a car’s engine, but I don’t pay it any attention.
“Levi bought us a farm, and we’ll be moving in soon. I’ll take everything that was special to you with me, but Jordan and I are going to sell the house. I hope you’re okay with that.”
“I’m sure they understand,” Levi says.
“You killed my baby!” Mrs. Adams suddenly shouts behind us, and shocked by the sudden attack, our heads turn to look at her. “Monsters! It should’ve been you instead.”
“What the hell?” I gasp, my heart sinking. I don’t have it in me to handle an argument with Mrs. Adams.
“Jesus,” Levi snaps. “I’m so over this fucking shit.” He pulls his keys out of his pocket and shoves them into my hand. “Get in the truck. I’ll deal with her.”
“I’m not leaving you alone,” I argue. “Besides, you hate dealing with people.”
Sucking in a deep breath, I look at Mrs. Adams. “This has to stop.”
Her cheeks are flushed, and there’s a mean look in her eyes as she glares at me. “You should’ve died with them.” She points at my family’s graves. “I told Colby he was too good for the likes of you, but that boy just wouldn’t listen to me. He could’ve made it big in life, but no, he stayed in Verona, chasing after you.”
“That’s enough!” Levi’s voice thunders, and he moves partially in front of me.
A deranged expression makes her look scary as hell, and I grab hold of Levi’s arm as she spits the words out as if they’re poison. “You played him like a fiddle, and you loved it, didn’t you? You ...You...” She gasps for air before she screams, “My boy just kept giving and giving, and you walked all over him. You broke his heart, but that wasn’t enough. Why did you have to kill him? What did he ever do to you to deserve that?”
Levi takes hold of my hand in a firm grip and pulls me in the direction of the truck while telling Mrs. Adams, “We are done here. You need to get help, lady.”
Suddenly, there’s a crack in the air, and as something slams into the snow near us, I let out a shriek.
As I realize Mrs. Adams just fired a gun at us, shock shudders through me.
“Have you lost your—” My sentence is cut short when Levi hauls me off my feet and runs for his truck.
My bear of a man makes quick work of putting some distance between us while I cling to him, my eyes locked on Mrs. Adams.
She points the gun at us, and when another gunshot fills the air, I scream, “Levi!”
Chapter 30
Levi
There’s a burning sensation on the side of my neck, and cradling Kelcie tightly to my front, I duck behind the truck. A bullet slams into the metal on the other side of the vehicle, and a second later, there’s another blast in the air.
“Jesus Christ,” I gasp, my mind racing to come up with a plan.
“Come out, you cowards!” the bat-shit crazy woman shouts.
“We need to get in the truck,” I tell Kelcie while quickly peeking through the side windows to see where Mrs. Adams is standing. “As soon as we’re inside, you have to duck down. Okay?”
My heart is thundering against my ribs, my mind racing to stay ahead of the situation.
“Y-you’re b-b-bleeding,” Kelcie stammers, her teeth clattering violently as she lifts a trembling hand to my neck. Her gloved fingertips brush over my skin, the wool coming away bloody, and her eyes grow wide with terror.
“I’m fine,” I say to set her at ease. “The bullet just grazed me.”