Page 127 of Hush (Fighting Fate)

I turned back to see Isaac’s gaze trained in the direction Kaeli had gone. Growling, I punched him in the arm. “Stop fucking staring at my girlfriend, douche.”

Isaac rubbed his arm and grinned. “She’s pretty damned hot though,” he said, earning himself another jab.

“You’ve done pretty well for yourself there though,” Adam said, a little bit of pride in his eyes.

I was pretty damned proud of myself too. I knew she was a catch. That was why I was determined to not let her go.

“I would ask if she had any friends, but I sure as hell saw her friends the other day,” Isaac said. “I’m fucking positive girls didn’t look like that when I was a senior.”

I shrugged. Other than noting they all had their swimmers on, I didn’t really pay attention to what they looked like.

“Don’t fucking tell me you didn’t notice,” Isaac said incredulously.

“All I saw, dude, was the puddle of drool at your feet.”

Micah and Adam laughed.

“I was waiting for his tongue to roll out to the floor,” Adam said.

Eli nudged Isaac with his shoulder. “I’m with Isaac on this one. Those chicks were hot. Especially the red head.”

“I don’t think I really saw the red head,” Isaac said. “That tall blonde one had most of my attention.”

I shook my head at them. I was never going to be able to bring them around Kaeli’s friends again. Especially when the guys from the band were around. That would definitely not end well.

“Hey, you guys heard of that band Fighting Fate?”

Eli nodded. “Yeah, they’re pretty awesome. I saw them play at The Crypt a few months back. Why?”

“They’re friends of Kaeli’s. Her best friend is the bassist’s sister, and she goes out with the lead guitarist.”

Eli looked impressed. “Awesome. I heard they’re going on tour with The Dark Hybrid.”

“Yeah, they leave in a couple of weeks.”

I saw Isaac’s gaze snap up to the house then he frowned. “Did you hear that?” he asked.

“What?” I strained, listening.

“I thought I heard something break,” he said, looking confused.

Before I could even comprehend what he’d said, I heard the unmistakable sound of a gunshot.

My body froze for a total of one heartbeat before it leapt into action. Dropping my drink onto the table, I turned and bolted for the back door.

The first thing I saw when I ran inside was a scattering of things over the kitchen counter and broken bits of glass over the tiles. Rounding the corner to the dining room, I froze, trying to process what I was seeing.

Aaron was hunched over by the dining table, his hands clasped over his chest and blood oozing between his fingers as he staggered backwards, and Kaeli was half crumpled on the floor, her back leaning awkwardly against the cabinet.

Her hair was a complete mess, as was her dress, and she had red marks on her forehead and cheek. Her face was as pale as I’d ever seen someone, and she was breathing like she was having trouble getting enough air.

And in her very shaky, very unstable hands, was my Glock.

Fuck.

I heard my brothers behind me, heard Adam telling Eli and Micah to keep everyone out. I heard Dad’s voice in there somewhere too, but all my focus was on Kaeli, and making her safe.

Aaron was stumbling, trying to get himself to the front door. As I slowly moved towards Kaeli, Dad, Adam and Isaac moved towards Aaron. When I was within touching distance of her, I crouched down.

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