Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 69398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
He laughs, showing a row of perfect white teeth. “What did you say?”
“I said no,” she tries again.
“Lennon,” I whisper, pleading with her to stop.
I know how men like this work. They’re dangerous and they don’t back down. It’ll only make him angry and when that happens, he’ll do something stupid. I can’t have my friend killed here tonight, but that’s what’ll happen if this doesn’t stop soon.
“No, you need to leave,” she tries again, squaring her shoulders.
She might be doing that, but I can see her terror.
“Get over here,” he growls, waving the gun at her. “I will start shooting. You’re coming with me.”
“No,” she tries again, “no, I’m not.”
He lunges towards her and she side steps, trying to escape but he’s too quick. I’m shoved out of the way as he grabs at her, his hands going around her throat. She screams as he starts to squeeze. Her face goes red as she gasps and claws at him. Where is the gun? Where is it?
I see it on the floor, to my right. I could reach it, but I’ll have to go past them.
Lennon screams again, thrashing.
“I’ll fucking kill you, bitch. You won’t get a second chance in this world without me,” he roars, shaking her, his hands tightening around her throat.
“Stop!” I scream, grabbing at his arms, trying to stop him.
He uses his elbow to slam me out of the way.
It’s the exact chance I need. I drop to the ground and crawl towards the gun. I pick it up, stand, spin around, and aim it at him. “Let her go or I’ll shoot!”
He doesn’t even flinch.
Not a single movement.
He squeezes harder. Lennon is gasping for breath now, her face going an ugly shade of purple. He’s going to kill her. Seconds, she’ll be dead. I’m frantic and screaming, roaring at him to stop but he isn’t even hearing me. Lennon has stopped screaming now, and her eyes roll back.
He’s bellowing about killing her.
I don’t think.
I clench my eyes shut and pull the trigger.
The gun goes off with a loud bang. A mighty thump has me opening my eyes to see him slumping down to the ground. Blood. So much blood. It’s splattered everywhere, mostly all over Lennon who is now on the ground, her eyes closed, her body limp. No. No.
I drop the gun and run towards her, dropping to my knees and grabbing her shoulders in my hands, shaking her. “Lennon, please wake up.”
She’s not moving. Her skin is still a dark shade that’s terrifying. I shake her again, and then I feel for a pulse. She has one, she’s still alive. I kick myself into action and start CPR. Within a few seconds, she’s gasping and her eyes flutter open. She croaks and makes a whining sound. Then, she looks at me and whispers my name.
“You’re okay. It’s okay,” I say, over and over, almost robotically.
Then I look over to the man on the ground, face down, blood pouring from a hole in his head. I killed him. He is dead and it’s because of me. I just took a life. I drop to my knees, trembling. Lennon sits up slowly, looking ill and like she’s struggling to move. She glances at Tiger, and then looks at me and starts to cry. “You saved my life.”
“He’s dead,” I sob. “He’s dead.”
She stares at him.
I need to think.
I don’t know what to do, but I have to do something.
I push to my feet and go to the front door, locking it.
Then, I pull the shades closed, walk numbly to my phone and call Bohdi.
“Hey beautiful,” he answers.
“Bohdi,” I sob. “I need help.”
“What’s goin’ on? What’s happened? Talk to me.”
“I...I killed him.”
“Who? Fuck? Who baby?”
“Please come. Call Alarick. Please.”
“I’m coming. Hold tight.”
I hang up the phone and walk back to Lennon, who is in the same spot, her eyes blank and she stares at Tiger. She looks at me and I sit down beside her, putting an arm around her shoulders. “It’s okay, it’s going to be okay.”
“You saved my life. You did that for me.”
“He was going to kill you,” I say softly. “I had no choice.”
She hugs me tight, pressing her face into my chest. I hang onto her until Bohdi bangs on the front door, bellowing my name. I stand slowly and walk over, unlocking it to see him outside. The second he sees me, his eyes widen. I know I’ve got blood all over me because I’ve been holding Lennon who was covered in it.
“Are you hurt? Fuck. What happened?”
“I’m not hurt,” I whisper.
Then I step aside and he walks in to see the mess on the floor, the mess that was left by me. I did that. I killed that man.
“What happened?” Bohdi asks.
“He came in looking for Lennon,” I say in a quiet voice. “He was her ex or something. She had run away from him. He found her. He started choking her, and I couldn’t stop him. I threatened to shoot him, but he didn’t stop. He was going to kill her. I didn’t think, I just shot him. I killed him, Bohdi.”