Page 184 of Make Me Trust Again
He’s crazy.
Completely and utterly out of his mind.
“John, we’re divorced. And I know you proposed to Lucy. You can’t…”
“I don’t fucking care!” he screams, taking a step toward me. My throat bobs as I swallow. It’s like my body is locked in place as he rants, the arm holding the gun flailing around. “I can do whatever the fuck I want. You left me. You ruined my life. I don’t get to play football. I’m stuck in this Godforsaken town trying to sweet-talk the losers that live here instead of earning millions, and it’s all your fault. So no, you don’t get to leave me in my misery and be happy with somebody else. I won’t let you be happy. You. Are. Mine. Until death do us part, sweetheart. That’s what you promised.”
Hearing the nickname Chase uses for me coming out of John’s mouth leaves a bitter taste on my tongue.
The corner of his mouth lifts in a smile. “Until death do?—”
He takes a step closer, just as I hear the rushing footsteps.
John must hear them as well because he looks over my shoulder, his eyes narrowing. I suck in a breath, when from the corner of my eye I see Chase lunge at him, his fingers wrapping around the hand holding the gun as he jerks the other hand away, pushing Kyle away from John.
Kyle stumbles forward, and I can feel my heart sink into my gut.
“Kyle!” I call out his name as I run toward him, my arms wrapping around my son’s trembling body and pulling him to my chest as I step away, shifting so I’m between John and Kyle,while Chase and John continue struggling over the gun. Low grunts and shouts echo in the air, the noises dulled by the sound of the music playing in the distance.
“You’re okay.” I kiss the top of Kyle’s head, pulling him back so I can look over him, my hands running over his face and body to reassure myself he’s really fine. “You’re going to be okay.”
Shadow’s body brushes against my legs as she wants to get to Kyle, who’s pushing me away. “Chase. Mom, he’s?—”
His words are left hanging in the air as the loudbangpierces through the air.
Kyle’s body goes still in my arms as I look over my shoulder, my ears ringing from the blast. It feels like all the air is kicked out of my lungs as I look at Chase and John just in time to meet Chase’s wide eyes.
Time seems to go to a complete standstill, everything falling into the background, the sounds dulling as those hazel eyes I love so much glance at me from a distance, pulling me into their depths.
“Go,” he mouths as he stumbles back to the ground, a red stain spreading over the pale blue shirt he’s wearing.
“Dad!”
Kyle rips out of my arms, running toward the two men, and I follow after him. My heart is beating wildly inside my chest as my feet eat the distance to my boys.
From the corner of my eye, I can see the gun slip from John’s hand before he turns around and runs away, but I’m too focused on the man lying on the ground to pay him attention. There is shouting around me, but I ignore it all as I fall down to my knees next to Kyle, who’s staring at Chase with teary eyes, Shadow by his side, licking at Chase’s face. I scan Chase’s heaving chest, his pale cheeks, the way his knuckles are white as he grips his upper arm, the red stain now bigger.
“Ch-Chase…” His name comes out in a stutter. My hands shake as I look over him, unsure of where to touch him so I don’t cause him more pain.IfI can touch him.
“I’m fine…” he grumbles, trying to push upright, only to wince in pain.
“You’re not fine!” I protest, gently brushing his hand away.
“Just a little s-scratch.” He forces out a smile. “Don’t cry, sweetheart.”
I blink my eyes a few times, chasing away the haziness. I press my hands against his shoulders and push him down on the ground, my hand pressing hard over the wound on his upper arm. “Don’t joke about that when you’re bleeding all over my hands.”
“Ch-Chase?” Kyle’s head pops next to mine.
Chase turns to him and smiles, lifting his free hand to ruffle his hair. “Hey, buddy. I’m afraid I can’t sign. I’m short one hand.”
My heart hurts at his lame attempt at joking.
The infuriating man.
“Are you going to be okay?”
Chase lets his hand fall and takes Kyle’s in his. “I’ll be fine in no time. Don’t you worry.”
