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“Forever,” she replied.

Using her adrenaline, she slammed her foot down upon the gas pedal as hard as she could. Before he had a chance to move, the Mercedes sprung dangerously forward through the snow. With the help of studded tires, the heavy vehicle lurched towards her captor. Gaining enough momentum, it brutally slammed into his broad body, causing him to haphazardly roll from the hood onto the windshield. Shattering the tempered glass, his form hurtled straight up into the air and over the entire length of the SUV as it sped ahead. Snapping bone, ripping muscle, and shredding skin in the process.

Pushing on the brake, she steered into a fishtail while the SUV came to a reluctant stop on the frozen driveway. Looking back in the rearview mirror, she caught Kade’s body as it landed on the hard, snow-covered gravel like a torn rag doll. It was a sight that both stunned and sickened her. How could she have done that?

“Oh my God! Oh my God,” she repeated to herself.

Stop it, Lexi. God had nothing to do with this, this was all you!Nikki said, sounding somewhat impressed.He’s not moving, I think you may have been successful this time! Good job! Now get down the fucking mountain before he pops back up like the damn Terminator!

Giving his mangled body one last, longing glance, she placed her bare food on the gas pedal. Gently accelerating down the private driveway, the SUV drove away from Howling Wolf Ranch and towards the safety of the flashing blue lights making their way up the mountain.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Staring out of the back window of the ambulance, Lexi’s red rimmed eyes glossed over as she processed the emotions flowing through her. Anger. Sadness. Elation. Relief. Regret. Mostly regret.

Just what the hell had she done?

Readying a clear oxygen mask, the female paramedic gave her a warm grin. She was trained to always remain neutral, but she couldn’t help but feel pity for her new patient. She had been through a very traumatic experience. The poor woman looked like a beaten puppy.

“You know, we do have more warm blankets to wrap you up in if you want to take off that coat,” she offered, hoping she would allow her to remove the tainted article of clothing.

“Hmm?” Lexi asked, blinking herself into the present. “Oh...no... the blanket on my legs is enough. I’d like to keep this on, if that’s ok?”

Shrugging her shoulders, the blonde gave the coat another once over. Her patient was swimming in the damn thing, it had to belong to the suspect. She couldn’t fathom why she wanted to wear it.

“Sure, I guess,” replied the paramedic, slipping the mask over Lexi’s tear-stained face. “You can keep it on until we get to the hospital. They will make you change, there. Now just take some deep breaths and try to relax as best as you can. We will be leaving in just a second.”

Nodding her head, Lexi took a breath of the cool oxygen and closed her exhausted eyes. Off in the distance, she could still hear the sirens of six police vehicles swarming on the ranch. She didn’t understand why they didn’t turn the bloody things off, it’s not like they had to alert anyone of their presence. Kade was dead.

At least you hope he is,Nikki taunted.

Shaking off her alter’s words, she snuggled herself into Kade’s thick coat. Imagining that his capable arms were wrapping around her, she let her guilt consume her once again. She hoped he forgave her for what she did. Someone had to. God knows she wouldn’t ever be able to forgive herself.

“You’re so lucky you were able to get away from that monster,” the paramedic said, typing notes onto the screen of her tablet.

Instantly bristling, Lexi snapped open her eyes. How dare the blonde say that? She knewnothingabout him.

“He’s not a mon—,” she said through the mask, catching herself before she could finish her sentence.

What was that? Are you actually...defending him?Nikki spat, her tone thick with annoyance.What the Hell? Didn’t I tell you to be sure that killing him was what you wanted to do? Didn’t I tell you to be FUCKING sure?

Slamming a mental door on the bitch in her head, she blinked at the paramedic. Moving her right hand to her left, she toyed with the band of gold circling her ring finger. She didn’t need the voice in her head to make her feel worse than she already did. The damage was done, she needed to live with it.

“Yeah, you’re right. I’m very lucky that I was able to get away from him,” she lied, her voice cracking at the seams.

Winking at her patient, the paramedic lightly tapped her open hand against the metal wall separating the cabs of the ambulance to let her partner know that they were ready to roll. She had already made sure the authorities had alerted the woman’s boyfriend of her status. She hoped he would arrive at the hospital soon. In situations like these, it was crucial for the victims to have their loved ones nearby as soon as possible.

“Well, you don’t have to worry, anymore,” the paramedic said as the ambulance made its way down the winding road. “You’re free of him.”

Suppressing a laugh, Lexi continued to play with her wedding band.She was free of him?If only that were the case. As long as her heart continued to beat, she would never be free from Kade. She was his.

Forever.

EPILOGUE

Frowning at her reflection in the bathroom mirror, Lexi fussed with the loose curls framing her face. She didn’t like how round it had become over the last few months. Her cheeks were so full, she felt like a squirrel preparing for winter. It made her self-conscious every single time she caught an image of herself.

“If you would just stop eating cheesecake, you wouldn’t look like such a bloated cow,” she whispered bitterly to herself.

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