Page 57 of Reckless Games

“I’m not?” He chuckles.

I shake my head, slowly watching him. Evan doesn’t take me seriously, and that’s fine. His underestimating me is for the best. It’s why I keep my nose clean in public and let my father and brothers handle the rest.

But it doesn’t mean I won’t do what needs to be done when cornered.

Evan’s gaze narrows, and he’s gripping the gun tightly, raising it once more.

“You don’t get to ruin my life and live happily ever after, Adam. Everyone has a price to pay.”

And I pay mine, every day. Not that he realizes it.

He lets out an exhale, blinking just long enough that I feel Cillian shift behind me. The sudden movement captures Evan’s attention, and he spins to point the gun at Cillian.

It’s too late.

I get to him before he has a chance to pull the trigger, knocking him into the snow. My hand finds his throat, slamming the back of his head to the ground as I land my other fist on the side of his face.

He’s still disoriented from the crash, and he loses his grip on the gun from the force of my hit.

Kneeling over him, I grab his gun. The shot rings out in the otherwise silent forest. An echo that makes Lake yelp. This isn’t the first time I’ve killed a man, but I was hoping to break that to her in a gentler manner.

It’s all in the open now.

I’m not a good man, and that’s what it will take to protect her.

I look over my shoulder and Cillian nods, tucking his own gun away. Once more, he picks up his phone and starts directing the scene.

Climbing up, I walk back over to Lake and kneel beside her. Her eyes are saucers filled with an emotion I can’t name.

“I’m sorry you had to see that.”

She glances in Evan’s direction.

“Don’t look at that, baby girl.”

“He’s dead.” She’s in shock. Her chattering paused and her knuckles white with how hard she’s clenching my jacket.

“Yes.”

“He tried to kill me.” Her gaze darts to mine, quick, focused.

“He did.”

It makes me sick because it’s my fault. And as much as I’d like to think Evan’s death solves that problem, I know it’s not the case.

“This is what—”

“Stop.” Lake reaches out and takes my hand in hers. “Don’t you dare try to use this to back out of us. I already know who you are, Adam. You don’t scare me.”

“And I appreciate that, baby girl.” Bending down, I fight my smile and plant a kiss on her forehead. “But I wasn’t going to try to back out.”

“You weren’t?”

“No.” I shake my head. “I was going to say—this is what follows me. It’s messy, complicated. My life is so far from your small town, I can’t even connect them. But I can’t lose you. I won’t survive it. So if you run, I’ll chase. Every time. And from here on out, I promise I’m going to keep you safe.”

Lake blinks back tears, tightening her fingers’ grip on mine. “I know, Adam. And I trust you to do that.”

It’s reckless. Naïve. But I need her more than the air in my lungs. Her trust fuels the pulse in my veins.

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