Page 125 of Forged in Rain

“Sh,” I hiss, but she just shrugs. “Relax, she’s getting in the shower.”

“Iris—”

“You want the gun?” she asks, tipping her head to the side.

Her dark eyes are blank, a void I can’t see past, and with a shiver, I look away.

Obviously, this would be easier if she goes but what would he do to her? I don’t fucking know, and that’s the problem.

“I’m not giving you a choice. Where’s the meetup? The farm? I’ll go alone,” she says.

“Wait,” I grumble before following her out the door.

We’re silent as she pulls from the drive and heads back to the place that terrified her so much, she shook the entire way home.

What now?

“What’s the plan?” I ask, licking my lips.

She glances at me sideways. “We go in together, confirm your mom and Joey are there, and shoot the fucker.”

“What if they’re not there?”

She shrugs, and I look away. Can I live with myself if something happens to Iris?

My chest burns and I rub the ache before holding up my shaky hands with a frown.

We’re about to kill a man. How do I feel about this? Relieved. Sick. Scared as fuck.

I’m glad I haven’t eaten anything because I’m pretty sure I’d have puked it back up by now. Wiping my hands on my jeans, I look over the horizon, at Iris, and back to my knees.

I press my foot against the floorboard, hoping to slow the car down. We’re going too fast. I’m not fucking ready. But all too soon, Iris turns down the old dirt road, and the abandoned farmhouse comes into view.

She doesn’t bother to stop until we’re past the house and right outside the creepy barn. The doors are wide open, and I suck in a breath when John appears on the threshold.

His wintry eyes take me in before they flicker to Iris and shine greedily. I sink in my seat at that because I knew I shouldn’t have brought her, and if we lose, she’s going to be the one to pick up the dirty pieces.

I can’t fucking breathe, and guilt roils in my acidic belly.

Iris puts the car in park and her gaze never leaves John as she whispers, “The gun is between the seats.”

“Okay,” I say, sucking in a sob when she exits with her head held high. She’s putting up a good show despite the fact she’s shaking like a leaf.

I open my phone and send a quick text to Cyn before shoving my hand between the seats. My fingers jam against the console, and I bite back a curse as I pull the gun free, all the while pushing my door open.

John’s focused on Iris, but I can’t reveal the damn gun, so I duck between the door and the car, shoving the huge-ass weapon in the back of my pants before walking toward my doom.

It’s my only coherent thought, but I leave the door open for a fast getaway, although I’m pretty sure we’re going to die.

John turns his icy pale eyes my way, and I shiver, goosebumps rising along my skin. His thin lips pull into a wide grin and my skin prickles, but I clench my hands against the urge to end it right now, my already jittery limbs noodly.

Cocking his head to the side, he turns to Iris so quickly she has no time to react, and with a pop to the mouth, he says, “Kneel.”

Iris staggers back before dropping to her knees and bowing her head.

With wide eyes, I watch as he strokes her hair, like a lover, before crooning, “I forgive you.”

She’s shaking so badly, I can see the tremors from here, but she says nothing. My heart clenches brutally at her subservience, and a weird mewl escapes my throat.

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