And I wanted to see Kyle…
Oh, I wanted to look into those blue eyes right this instant, and feel the infallible safety and protection that poured from him into me.
But the knowledge that I was Rachel’s only intended victim, in a sick way, eased my mind.
I watched as Rachel shoved Cam, hard, causing her to hit the refrigerator.
Rachel turned to face me and I closed my eyes, unable to watch. I didn’t want to see her pull the trigger that would end my life.
“It didn’t have to come to this. If you had just left when I told you,” she growled. “Goodbye Delia.”
I heard Cam scream before Rachel pulled the trigger.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Kyle
Yellow plastic tape surrounded the building.
“Holy shit,” Derek cursed, rushing for the house.
I couldn’t speak; I was too busy pushing past paramedics and cops.
“Sir, you can’t go in there,” a police officer told me, holding his hand out in front of my chest. “This is an official crime scene, please step back.”
“Fuck you, this is my house. My girlfriend and baby are inside that house.”
I slammed against him, but two more officers came over to hold me back.
I listened as the officer spoke into his walkie-talkie. “The owner of the house claims there is an infant inside the building.” He paused as he listened to the person on the other side, then huffed loudly. “Move fast, leave nothing unturned.”
“What the hell is going on?” Derek demanded. “Will someone fucking tell us something?”
“Young man, step back and let us do our job,” the officer said, focusing on Derek.
I shrugged free.
“Step back?” I shouted, pushing the cop in the chest. “That’s our house. Goddammit, my family is inside that house and you’re not telling us shit. How the fuck, do you expect us to calm down and stand back?”
A hand grabbed my arm and tugged.
“Mr. Carter, can you tell us who may have a grudge on you and your family?” a female reporter asked, shoving a microphone in my face.
I pushed the microphone roughly away. “What are you talking about?” I demanded, pushing forward.
“Sir, if you don’t step back and let us do our job, we will restrain you,” another officer said, as he dragged me back.
“Fuck you,” I snarled shoving him out of my way.
My arms were jerked behind my back, and I was cuffed, and forced to my knees.
“Calm down, sir,” the officer said sympathetically.
I was just about to tell him to kiss my ass, when a thunderous noise erupted from inside the house.
My chest heaved as my brain registered the sound.
It could only come from one thing; a gun.
*****
Lee
The gun went off, and I collapsed...But I was still breathing, still conscious.
My ears were ringing from the sharp bellowing sound, and for a brief moment, I thought that surely someone would come.
Two loud gunshots on a busy street; someone was bound to have heard.
I thought I could hear people outside, but I wasn’t sure if it was wishful thinking...
The kitchen tiles were cool against my back.
Everything hurt, even my fingernails, but that was good.
It meant I could feel my body.
I was still in my body.
I tried to move, but there was weight, a suffocating heaviness on top of me, that hadn’t been there before.
Struggling to breathe, I opened my eyes and screamed.
Cam.
Cam’s bloodshot eyes were open, and staring lifelessly into mine.
The weight of her body on top of my chest was crushing my airways.
Fear escalated through me, as I managed to drag myself out from underneath her.
Laying Cam on her back, I hovered over her anxiously. Her body was still, she was too still.
“What did you do?” I cried, while running my bloody hands over her chest, her arms and her stomach. “What’s wrong with her? What did you do?” I screamed, as I checked her pulse.
I couldn’t feel anything; my hands were shaking so badly.
I couldn’t see anything wrong with her.
She looked fine. She must have passed out, that was it. The shock must have caused her to faint.
Cam is fine. She is okay. She isn’t bleeding.
My eyes roamed over her, and that’s when I noticed it; the steady flow of blood coming from the back of her head, staining her golden hair, pooling on the kitchen floor.
“NO.”
I covered her mouth with mine and tried to breathe air into her lifeless lungs, but…I could barely breathe, blood gurgled in my mouth.
“She shouldn’t have bothered to try and protect you.” Rachel laughed, and it was an, evil, toxic, bone-chilling sound. “You’re not worth saving. You’re not worth anything.”
I didn’t look up at Rachel.