“You could have just handed over the flash drive,” spat Byron. “Now you can watch her die.”
“You’re a pathetic motherfucker who needs to get laid.”
“Maybe. How about I start with this fat bitch?”
The next moment was a whirlwind. A deafening sound made her ears ring and Byron’s weight briefly pulled down on her, nearly making her fall. When he was on the ground, she used her metal rod to hit him, kicking the knife away.
Then she realized he was already dead. She froze, the pipe falling to the ground with a thud. There was a lot of blood. She felt dizzy, the entire world whirling around her like a sci-fi movie. All she could hear was his voice, the soothing sound pulling her under until everything went black.
****
Callie stretched out her legs, the soft sheets felt like Heaven. She stayed like that for the longest time until reality struck her hard. She opened her eyes and bolted up into a sitting position. That hurt.
“Relax, baby. You’re safe.”
She looked around. It was their bedroom.
It felt like only seconds ago she was in that dark junkyard facing imminent death. It took her a while to get her bearings. Evander was sitting on a chair pulled up close to the bed. He was alive, and so was she.
“What happened?”
“Do you think I only carry one gun?” He smiled. “I couldn’t stand the things he was saying to you. I put one right between his eyes.”
That would have been extremely close to her head since Byron had been using her as a human shield. But she didn’t question him about it.
“How did I get here?”
He shrugged. “Full circle. Reminds me of our first encounter.”
She chuckled, but it hurt her ribs. He’d saved her, carried her here. It was hard to believe.
“You need to rest. The doctor said nothing’s broken but you’ll be sore for a while.”
The doctor? She couldn’t believe how deeply she’d been out. There was nothing she could remember before blacking out in that junkyard.
“Are you sure he’s dead?” she whispered.
“Very sure. You have nothing to worry about ever again.”
“Until the next time,” she said.
“There won’t be a next time. Your mother blackmailed Byron many years ago. She got some incriminating files of his and tried to use them against him. It cost her life. She hid the flash drive in her jewelry box.”
“My jewelry box?”
He nodded. “He thought I was with you because of what you had.”
“Is it true?” she asked. Fear of rejection flooded her system.
“Are you kidding me? I just found that flash drive when I was trying to find you. Until he showed up, I knew nothing about it. In fact, I thought he was after me for something.”
He stood up, walking in half circles while rubbing behind his neck.
“You’re right, though,” he said. “This isn’t the life I want for you. Not by a longshot. I can’t protect you all the time. I was an idiot to think I could. You’d be better off with a civilian, someone safe, predictable, and not fucked-up in the head.”
A tinge of fear burned her veins. He sounded so decided, final, and it terrified her.
“No, I don’t want anyone else.”