Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88889 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88889 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Just as I press dial, I also manage to slide the deadbolt back, but before I can open the door, Colby grabs hold of my shoulders and yanks me backward.
I lose my footing and fall to the floor between the kitchen and the living room, my phone flying from my hand and sliding beneath the couch.
No!
My head snaps back to where Colby is securing the deadbolt, and I catch a glimpse of a gun tucked into the back of his pants.
Oh, Jesus!
I scramble to my feet, and instead of running away, I lunge at Colby in an attempt to get ahold of the gun. Something connects hard with my chin, and I bite my tongue, a coppery taste quickly filling my mouth.
“Fucking. Stop,” Colby roars before he slaps me so hard, I swear I see stars for a few seconds.
Those precious seconds are all it takes for him to tackle me off my feet. As my side slams into the hard floor, the air whooshes from my lungs, and my vision goes spotty.
Colby forces me onto my back and straddles me, then grips hold of my jaw. He leans down until his breath hits my face. “Why do you love him? Why do you give him what’s always been mine?”
My tone is biting as I sneer, “Because Levi is everything you will never be.”
A look of heartache tightens Colby’s features, and I’m so freaking confused when tears roll over his cheeks. “I love you, Kelcie. I’ll do anything for you.” He leans closer, and I begin to slap him again when he tries to kiss me. “Pick me,” he breathes against my mouth, and I squeeze my lips tightly together while letting out a strangled shriek.
Nothing I do helps to get him off me, and I cry, “Stop, Colby!”
“No. I’ll make you see we’re meant to be. You just need to give me a chance.”
When I feel his hands working to undo the button of my jeans, a fear I had hoped to never feel again floods my body.
I scream my head off, and I fight harder than ever to get away from him.
I hear barking, and the relief hits me so hard, I begin to cry hysterically. There’s a crashing sound somewhere behind me, and as Colby finally moves backward, Lick flies right over me and sinks her teeth into Colby’s arm, her body slamming him onto his ass.
I scramble away until I reach the couch while Levi charges Colby, who’s pulling the gun from behind his back.
“Noooooo!” I scream, my hand flying to my mouth.
It feels as if time slows down. I hear Lick viciously snarling as she lets go of Colby’s arm, darting around him to get to his other side. I see the dark metal of the gun and hear the crushing blows of Levi’s fist connecting with Colby’s face.
The gunshot is so loud I jerk. Lick whines, and the men freeze.
God. No. Please, no!
I crawl to them as Levi lets go of Colby and sinks back onto his haunches while Lick crawls to him, her ears pulled back.
“Levi?” I whimper, and as I get closer, I see blood flowing from a hole beneath Colby’s ear.
Levi pets Lick as he turns his head toward me, his breaths rushing over his parted lips. There are droplets of blood on the side of his face, and I use my hand to wipe them away before I curl up against his chest. When Levi’s arms wrap like steel bands around me, a wail tears loose from the deepest part of my soul.
I thought Lick was shot. Then I thought Levi was shot.
Those two thoughts are the reason I break down. Not because Colby attacked me, but because there was a chance I could’ve lost them.
Chapter 28
Levi
Keeping ahold of Kelcie, I climb to my feet before I lift her bridal-style into my arms. When I back away from Colby’s body, I hear sirens.
I contacted the sheriff’s department after I got the call from Kelcie and heard muffled sounds of her and Colby fighting. Hanging up on her so I could let the police know what was happening is officially the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. It felt like I was abandoning her.
Turning around, I walk out of the house and take Kelcie to the truck, where I bundle her into the passenger seat. I indicate for Lick to jump in before instructing her to stay with Kelcie.
Lick lies down partially on top of Kelcie’s lap, her ears pulled back, which tells me she’s still in attack mode.
“Good girl,” I say as I pat my dog’s head so she’ll relax.
I press a kiss to Kelcie’s temple, and as the sheriff’s cruiser comes to a screeching stop, I say, “I’m going to deal with the mess. Stay here.”
Tears keep spilling over her cheeks, and seeing the angry red handprint on her face makes it unbelievably difficult to walk away from her.