Page 149 of Driftwood Daffodil 3

Clarity smacked me in the face sucking air violently back into my lungs.

I was shoved.

I looked up to see Simon coming, when something pushed me back onto the ground. It was all fuzzy, like the person yelling at me.

Wait a minute… I knew those eyes.

My brows pulled together as I coughed out, “Memphis?”

“Oh my God, Nova.” I could feel his hands patting my body as his face came back into focus. “Are you hit?”

He looked so scared. His eyes were wide and wiry, and there was panic written over every inch of his expression.

“No,” using my arms, I groaned and pushed myself up. “I don’t think I’m hit?”

Maybe I was? It was a lot harder than it should’ve been to push myself up. I would’ve given myself a quick check if Memphis didn’t throw his arms around me and squish me up against him.

“Don’t ever scare me like that again.”

“It wasn’t my fault.” I muttered into his chest.

I didn’t tell someone to fire a gun. He did fire it, didn’t he? Or did I just hit the ground so hard it sounded like he did? What the hell was he thinking? Had he completely lost his mind? He really needed to get some help. If Gio got a hold of him…

“Where’s Simon?”

Memphis twisted his face to the side. I followed his stare to where Atlee had Simon on the ground, about twenty feet awayfrom us. He had that same look on his face I saw that day at home ec.

“Motherfucker,” Atlee growled and smacked the butt of the rifle on his face so hard I cringed at the crack of bone.

“Does he have to be so rough?”

Memphis cocked a brow down at me. “He tried to shoot you, Nova.”

“Yeah, but there are better ways to deal with it.” Like prison where the other criminals went.

Memphis huffed out a sigh. “You can’t save everyone.”

“I can save him.”

I was still shaking from the adrenaline pouring through my system, but everyone deserved a second chance. Although, in Simon’s case this would be a third chance.

“I love how much you care.” He kissed my forehead and added, “but maybe you should think of yourself, just once.”

I was cut off before I could respond.

“Nova!” Gio came running up and he looked more terrified than Memphis did. “Jesus fucking Christ.” I was ripped out of Memphis’s embrace and wrapped up in his. “Thank fuck. Are you okay?”

“Maw Maw wouldn’t like you using the lord’s name in vain.”

“I think she’ll forgive me this time.” Gio nuzzled the top of head, warming my scalp with his breath.

Then like someone flipped a switch, his relief morphed into rage.

Gio lifted his head and glared at Atlee. “Don’t you kill that fucker, I’m not done with him.”

“Don’t worry,” Atlee tipped his gaze down to Simon. “We’re just having some fun.”

Simon spat a mouthful of blood and snarled, “fuck you.”

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