Page 85 of Coff

Then Nelson drops his gun and collapses onto his side next to me. “Who the fuck are you?” Nelson grits out.

I look to see who Nelson is talking to. Ozzie is standing next to us. He kicks Nelson’s gun away. I scramble to stand up.

“Her protection,” Ozzie says, nodding to me.

“I called Brian, and he’s sending an ambulance,” Logan says, “and other support.”

I have no idea what other support is, and right now, I don’t care. “Duke?”

“Over here,” he says.

I run to him. He’s leaning against the wall, breathing hard. Then I notice the blood. “Did you get shot?”

He nods as he lifts his shirt to reveal a bullet wound in his side.

“He’s been shot!” I shout to the guys. That’s when I realize they are focused on Nelson.

“Who’s coming after Duke?” Logan asks.

Nelson laughs, then coughs. “Everyone.”

“No!” Logan says. “Wake up!” He shakes Nelson.

Ozzie pulls him back. “He’s gone.”

They both stand up, and Nelson’s lifeless body lies there.

“He’s dead?” I ask.

“Yes,” Ozzie says.

While I should feel bad that a man died, I don’t. I hated Nelson. Instead, I feel lighter. Freer.

Car doors slam outside. Ozzie goes to check it out. He runs back. “Paramedics are here.”

He leads them to Duke.

“Ma’am, we need you to step back,” one of the paramedics says.

Logan grabs me by the waist and half leads, half carries me out of the hallway.

“I need to go with him,” I say.

Logan holds me tight. “He’s going to need surgery. I’ll make sure you’re there when he gets out.”

Surgery. The reality of the situation hits me, and I turn in Logan’s arms. “Is he going to die?”

He pushes some of my hair behind my shoulder. “I’m not a doctor. I can’t say.”

I break out of Logan’s grasp and run to my brother. “Duke, don’t die on me. I need you.” Tears fall from my eyes.

Duke holds out his hand toward me from the stretcher as they wheel him out of the house. “I’ll try not to,” he says.

I’ve had a love/hate relationship with my brother for years. But when it comes down to it, he’s really the only family I have left. And the only one who understands all I went through. Hell, I married a monster for him. The least he can do is survive now.

“Let’s go,” Logan says as he leads me to the rental car.

Ozzie is already behind the wheel. He helps me into the passenger seat.

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