Page 76 of Saving Blood

“Shut the fuck up.” The gun wavers slightly in my tight fist.

“I’m sure she never bothered to tell you, but I was the one who popped her luscious cherry.” Hector waggles his tongue. “Along with numerous other . . . firsts.”

My heart slams against my ribs. Like watching a car accident unfold in front of my eyes.

“In words you can understand—I fucked her first. I experienced all her firsts.” Hector bares his teeth in a feral grin. “So, whenever you fuck her from now on, you can remember I was there?—”

“Stop,” a voice cries out behind us.

I whip around to see Maxine hoisting herself over the side of the tailgate, then charging toward us. “What the fuck?”

“Well, isn’t this convenient? She can tell you herself.” Hector’s lips twist into a satisfied sneer. “Tell him I’m wrong, Maxine. Tell him I wasn’t your first.”

MAXINE

The air in the dark night stills like even nature is taking a breath, anticipating my answer.

I flank Blood and glare at Hector. “This ends now.” I’ve seen Hector’s self-satisfied expression too many times in the past.

“Not until you admit we know each other intimately,” Hector taunts, daring me to contradict him. “Isn’t that right, Maxine?”

My heart bangs inside my chest as I fight against the fear he’s instilled in me over the years. His boundless control cured over years of intimidation is omnipresent, chilling me from the inside out.

“Tell your new lover how you worked him on my orders and how you even fucked him on my?—”

Blood’s gaze flits from me to Hector. “I said, shut the fuck up.”

“I think you have a right to know,” Hector continues.

“Only because you forced me.” I charge forward, and Blood grabs me. “Only because I wanted to live another day.”

“Ahhh, but the way you moaned. The way you?—”

“You can’t control me anymore,” I yell, drowning out his painful words, forgetting anyone else stood behind me in the dark night. “I won’t allow it.”

“Easy to say now because your protector has me at gunpoint.” Hector grins. “But by the look on his face, I’m guessing he doesn’t know about you and me.”

“There is no you and me. There was only you taking advantage of me.”

“The way you gave yourself to me. The way?—”

“Shut up,” I scream, my control slipping with his every word.

I glance at Blood, but his focus remains on Hector. He’s fighting his emotions and throwing up his outlaw façade to ignore Hector’s words, refusing to give him the reaction he craves.

I ease into his side and gaze up at him, then cover the hand holding the gun with mine. I slip my forefinger through the trigger, and his eyes meet mine. “No, I won’t let you.”

I lean into his ear. “This isn’t about you and me; this is about your power in Tijuana and my freedom.”

“I won’t let you be a part of this,” Blood whispers.

“Too late.” I brace my other hand around his wrist. “For my freedom, I’m willing to risk anything—even you.” I grip Blood’s hand tighter. “Don’t let your feelings for me influence what needs to be done.”

“He probably won’t be able to stand the sight of you,” Hector’s words cut into our standoff.

A low growl rumbles in Blood’s chest. He shifts his deadly gaze to Hector, and we squeeze the trigger—together.

My hand jerks against the pressure, then the gunshot rings out, pealing into the quiet night. Hector’s body flinches, then collapses to the dusty earth. An eerie silence fills the air, and I focus on Hector’s crumbled body, knowing he can never hurt me or anyone else ever again. I draw in the warm night air, and for the first time, my lungs expand without the shudder of anxiety.

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