Page 201 of Where Broken Wings Fly

That was a close call.

Dragging myself inside, I grab another beer from the fridge and wrench the cap off with my teeth. I should have put a bullet between those fuckers’ eyes when I had the chance, even if it got me arrested.

“Kill? That you?”

“It’s me,” I grumble back.

Both splayed out on Zach’s bed, a half-empty bottle of liquor between them, I find the twins exchanging furtive whispers. Taking another sip of my beer, I prop myself against the doorframe.

“Ran out of wood to chop?” Zach asks, lacking his usual fire.

“I couldn’t just sit there after today.”

Micah takes another drink from the bottle. “We were talking about what to do.” He winces as he swallows. “Zach thinks we should leave Briar Valley with them.”

“Seriously?” I frown at him.

Zach nods solemnly. “It isn’t safe for them here, and I won’t let her run alone.”

“We’re all safer here,” Micah disagrees with him. “We can defend ourselves.”

His twin cuts him a scathing look. “Nowhere is safe.”

I’ve never once considered leaving Briar Valley. Never. Even when my parents died and left me up shit’s creek with two kids to look after, it wasn’t an option that crossed my mind. This has always been my home.

It’s the last remaining connection to my folks, and the place where I intended to grow old. All that changed when she came along. Willow. The town isn’t the centre of my world anymore… she is.

“What do you suggest then?” Micah sighs.

“We leave immediately. Tonight, if we can.”

“No,” I interrupt. “Micah’s right. Running without a plan is risky and stupid. We can protect Willow and Arianna from here. The whole town is behind them.”

“And if this nut job threatens the other people hiding here?” Zach points out.

Violence hums through me in a low current.

“Then we kill him.”

Micah flinches. “Kill him?”

My mouth waters at the thought. “I don’t need any help in that department.”

“This plan doesn’t work if you land yourself in prison for first-degree murder.”

“I won’t get caught then.”

“You expect us to help?” Zach scoffs.

Reaching into the pocket of my jeans, I finger the cool item buried inside. “Nope, Dimitri Sanchez is my kill. But there’s something else we need to do together.”

Palm outstretched, I show the sparkling engagement ring to them. I dug it out of the family safe earlier. It was a crazy fucking idea that formed in my mind after coming so close to losing both Willow and Arianna.

I let the twins study the white-gold band, studded with a gleaming sapphire. It was my mama’s ring, left to me in her will. Since the idea hit me, I’ve become certain it’s the right call.

Willow is my whole fucking world. I don’t give a shit what it takes, I have to keep her by my side for the rest of our lives. This life means nothing to me if she’s not in it.

“Kill?” Zach’s eyes are saucer-like.

---