Page 69 of Wicked Oath
The guy holding me pulls me around my car and ducks, keeping his gun trained on me. I can barely see over the edge of the car as James, Owen, and my dad get into a shootout with James’ men, or rather, his ex-employees.
“Just hold on tight,” the man growls into my ear. “You’re what’s going to get me out of here alive.” He opens the passenger door and pushes me inside, looking around before scrambling into the passenger side himself.
A bullet hits the car window, and I use this distraction as I climb into the driver’s seat and get out of the car.
“Hey!” the man shouts. “What the fuck?”
I stay on my hands and knees as I search for a place to hide. The large man gets out of the driver’s side and reaches for me, pulling on my hair. When I scream, I see my dad look over in my direction. His eyes narrow as he runs over and pistol-whips the guy on the head, sending him to the ground. I gasp in relief when the man lets go of my hair.
I get out of the way as Dad stands over the guy and shoots him in the head. I’m practically hyperventilating as my dad runs over and crouches defensively over me. “Honey, are you all right? Are you hurt?”
I shake my head.
“Ok, good. Just stay here.” He motions for me to hide behind the car. “I have to help your brother and James finish this fight.”
I grab his arm before he can leave. “Will you be all right? I can’t lose you, Daddy.”
“I’ve been in this business for a long time. I know how to handle myself in a shootout, don’t worry.” He kisses the top of my head. “But, man, I’m getting tired of this shit.”
I smile slightly. “Maybe it’s time to retire.”
“Maybe.” He glances over his shoulder. “I need to get back in there.” With one more smile, he runs back into the fray of men.
I stay crouched and watch as the three most important men in my life risk their lives to save mine. Before this day began, I had no idea all this chaos would happen. Truths revealed. Fights to the death. And now, a shootout between James, my family, and his men. What a twisted world I live in.
I keep my eyes clenched and my ears covered as the gunshots ring until the sound suddenly stops.
I crack one eye open, then the next to see all James’ men lying on the ground. Thoughts barely form in my mind as James races over to me.
“Olivia, are you all right?” He cups my face, searching for any injuries.
“You’re alive.”
“Of course, I am. I told you I know how to handle myself in a fight.”
I lean into his arms and let him wrap me up in a hug. “I thought you were dead there for a minute. I was so scared.”
He squeezes me. “I can’t die that easily, trust me. I’m a Kelly. We’re made of strong stuff.”
“What happened between you and Owen?”
As if on cue, Owen comes traipsing over. “He almost beat me in our fight, is what happened. But … he spared me.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Does this mean you’re done bothering my husband?”
Owen shrugs. “Never say never. But,” he holds his hands up as I open my mouth, “I promise to back off, ok?”
I nod, satisfied for now.
“While I appreciate that you two are getting along,” my dad says, “we really need to get out of here before the cops come. That was a lot of gunshots. I’ll send some of my men to clean up this mess, but I’m not sure they’ll get here before the cops do.”
James and I stand up with James’ arms around me. “I, for one, am ready to take a break from all this fighting.”
“Me, too,” Owen admits. “I like proving to everyone that I was right about James, but it’s exhausting being angry all the time.”
Dad pats Owen on the shoulder. “That’s my boy. You’ll make a great leader one day.”
“And as I leader myself,” James says, glancing around at all the bodies, “I need to get a new batch of men. This time, ones who are loyal.”
