Page 129 of Watch Me Burn
He won’t make it far. The satellite I had redirected to watch Luna will record wherever he goes. Cade and I will find him later once I’m sure Luna is safe.
Then I’ll let my monster out, and Caleb Hunter will pay for this.
Chapter thirty-three
Damien
Hunter staggers toward the door, leaving a trail of blood on Luna’s hardwood floor. As he reaches the threshold, his legs give out. The internal injuries from my kick, combined with the blood loss from Shadow’s attack and the alcohol in his system, finally overwhelm him.
He collapses, tumbling down Luna’s porch steps in a tangle of limbs. His head strikes the bottom step with a sickening crack, and he goes limp.
Luna rushes past me, her medical training overriding everything else.
“Don’t move!”
She hurries down the steps. I follow, watching as she kneels beside him. Even in the dim porch light, I can see it's too late. Hunter’s breathing is shallow and wet, blood bubbling at his lips. His eyes are wide with panic, but there’s a growing glassiness to them that speaks of severe internal trauma. I've seen enough death to know when a body is shutting down.
“Punctured lung.” Luna’s hands move over Hunter’s chest. “Multiple rib fractures, internal bleeding. Possible brain injury.” She presses her fingers to his neck, checking his pulse. She looks up at me, her hazel eyes unreadable. “Pulse is thready.”
I feel nothing. No regret. No concern. Just cold satisfaction that the threat to Luna has been eliminated.
She turns back to Hunter. His breathing comes in wet, labored gasps.
“Caleb, can you hear me?” His eyes drift unfocused, staring past her at nothing.
“Call 911.” She starts CPR. It’s futile, and we both know it. The damage is too extensive. No amount of effort will change that.
“Luna. There’s nothing you can do.”
She ignores me, continuing compressions with desperate movements. Tears stream down her face as she works, but we both know it’s over.
“Luna, stop.” I step closer, laying a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Sweetheart, he’s dead.”
She shoves my hand away, falling back on her heels. Blood from Hunter’s injuries stains her hands and clothes.
“Don’t touch me.”
The words hit like a sledgehammer to the chest. I step back, giving her space as she wipes her bloody hands on her jeans with shaking fingers.
“I need to call Karen.”
“She’s already on her way. Cade called it in when Hunter first showed up.”
“Cade?” Her head snaps up, eyes narrowing. “How did he know to—”
The rhythmic thump of helicopter blades cuts through the night air. We both look up as spotlights sweep across the yard, illuminating the gruesome scene.
“You should go inside and get cleaned up. I’ll handle this.”
“Handle this?” She chokes out, horrified. “Like you handled him? What’s your plan, Damien? Another cover-up? Another body disposal?”
Her accusation cuts deep because it’s accurate. My first instinct is damage control, protection, and elimination of evidence. It’s who I am.
“If necessary.” I won’t lie to her. Not anymore. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
The helicopter lands in the gravel parking area in front of the wolf enclosure.
“You killed him!” The words explode from her like shrapnel as she stands. “He’s dead because of you!”
