The Bad Boys' Reluctant Woman(46)

The guy was clearly on drugs.

“Put the gun down,” Tristan said. “There is no way this ends with you leaving. Who shot the men?”

“I did. They’re traitors. All fucking traitors. That bitch came walking in, and she needed to go. The only one I want is this bitch. She’s been dodging me, and I want payment.”

“Not going to happen.”

“Where is Steve?” Connor asked.

“Dead.”

“Guess again,” Steve said. A baseball bat swung for Bill.

“Zoe, duck,” Connor, Jake, and Brent shouted.

She did as they asked, collapsing in a heap on the floor.

Bill went down as Steve rained blows on Bill’s body. Tristan cuffed Bill, then moved toward Vicki.

Brent went to Zoe, as did Jake and Connor. She was whimpering on the floor, tears streaming down her face.

“We’ve got you, baby,” he said. “I love you, Zoe. I love you so much.”

Jake and Connor said the words as well.

She cried harder. “I thought he was going to kill me.”

“No, that was never going to happen. We wouldn’t have let him.”

“You all came for me,” she said. She winced as they moved her into their arms. “My head hurts.”

“I’ve called an ambulance,” Stefan said.

“I love you,” she said on a whisper. They each held her close. The unmistakable sound of sirens filled the air. Tristan picked Vicki up and carried her outside. Connor, Jake, and Brent followed behind the ambulances as they both went in the direction of the hospital.

****

Jake stood in the waiting room with Brent, Connor, and Tristan. They were waiting to see if the two women were fine. Zoe had taken a severe hit to the head while Vicki was worse. She’d been pregnant, and the baby had been lost the moment the bullet hit her. Vicki was in surgery.

Tristan looked like a tortured man.

The doctor came down the hall. “I’m looking for a relative of Zoe Howard.”

“That’s us. I’m her fiancé,” Jake said. There was no way they were not getting married. Zoe was their woman, no matter how reluctant she was to admit it.

“She’s fine. The bang on the head was hard, and she’s got a bad headache and will have for a few days. There is some swelling on her face and bruised ribs, but nothing rest won’t cure. We’re keeping her here overnight just in case. You’re free to go and see her.”

“What about Vicki Phillips?” Tristan asked, standing up.

“She’s still in surgery. I’m afraid you’re going to have to wait.”

Zoe was sitting up in the hospital bed as they walked in. She smiled, which was promising.

“How do you feel?” Brent asked, taking her hand and kissing it.

“Like I’ve been ten rounds with a bus and lost. My head hurts, and my whole body aches. The fucking bastard kicked me in the ribs when I was down and out of it. I wish I could knock him around a bit. See how he likes it?”

“He’s not going anywhere except jail,” Jake said.

She smiled. “I heard what you guys said before the ambulance came. I want to know if you meant it or if it was down to a spur of the moment thing.”

“If we meant what?” Connor asked.

“That you love me. I understand if you don’t. I just want to make sure all the facts are right before I say anything.”

Jake, Connor, and Brent took seats next to her. They reached out touching her body.

“I love you so much, Zoe Howard. I’ve never been in love with such a reluctant and independent woman before in my life,” Jake said.

She chuckled.

“I didn’t know how I felt until I thought I’d never see you again. I love you, Zoe. There is no way you’re leaving us. I won’t let it happen,” Brent said.

“You own my heart and soul, Zoe. You understand me, and I was never in doubt of how I felt. I love you completely,” Connor said.

She reached out to all of them. “And I love you three so much. When I woke up and saw he’d taken me, all I could think about was all of you. I love you all so much, and it scares me. I’ve never felt like this before in all of my life.”

It was the best news Jake could have hoped for. From the looks of his two friends, it was the same for them.

“I think you need to tell them, Connor. Now is the best time to put the past to rest,” she said.

Jake frowned. Connor shut the hospital door, sat down, and began to tell them the truth about his past. All of them cried at the news. It hurt more than anything he ever thought possible. His best friend had been in pain and hurting, and he’d not done anything.

When they left the hospital room, Jake knew they would all be different. They would never be the same again.