Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26865 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26865 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
My clothes heat up and stick to my scalding skin as I fight my way to the stalls, trying not to succumb to the smoke assaulting my throat and lungs. The roof at the far end groans and crashes to the hay-covered floor. I have to pick up the pace before I’m crushed under a pile of molten rubble.
I reach the stalls and open them one by one. Instinctively, each of the horses barrels out and makes a run for safety. The pregnant mare is the last. She needs a little coaxing but eventually follows her stable mates out through the flames. I pull my shirt up to cover my mouth and nose and follow behind her. Sweat rains from my pores and my skin tightens and stings, but I can see Samantha now and nothing is going to stop me from getting to her.
I’ve barely taken two steps out of the stable when the remainder of the roof collapses behind me, sending me to my knees. I uncover my face and take my first long breath of fresh air. It stings my nostrils, but my head begins to clear. I return to my feet and walk to where I left Samantha, but she isn’t there and a new panic sets in. There are two more men out here.
“Hey, Stockton,” a male voice calls
My hand automatically goes to the gun I’ve tucked in my waistband.
I’m ready to draw down on him, but then I see him. The coward has Samantha, and he’s using her as a shield. He doesn’t know it yet, but that’s the biggest mistake of his life. I take a step toward him as the rage pumps through me, but he takes his hand from her mouth and wraps his arm around her throat.
“I’ll snap her pretty neck. Don’t move again.”
Panic strikes me like a steel rod through my heart. He has my girl.
“What the fuck do you want? Your beef is with my brother, not us. If she gets so much as a skinned knee, I’ll gut you like a pig.”
“Now, that’s the Stephen I remember. You can pretend to be some high-class businessman, but I know you’re an animal. You won’t let me just kill your brother. You’re a bigger threat than he could ever be.”
“Tell that to your two dead friends,” I say and instantly regret it when I see the terror in Samantha’s eyes. “If I’m the problem, let her go and face me like a man.”
“I didn’t say you were a problem. I said you were dangerous.”
Fire shoots from my eyes as I clench my fists and consider my next move. I can easily break him, but I can’t allow Samantha to be caught in the crossfire. I inch closer, looking for any opening to pounce on him, but he tightens his grip on Samantha and grins. “No, buddy. Don’t try to be sneaky. Don’t worry. It’s all gonna be over before you know it.”
“What is?” I ask and feel a sudden pain in my left shoulder. It takes a second to realize that a bullet has clipped me on the left side. I spin around to find his missing partner pointing his gun at my head.
Samantha screams and I see red. I grab his wrist and twist it until the weapon falls out of his hand. Holding him upright, I punch him in the gut until he vomits on his shoes. An uppercut to the jaw sends him to his knees, and I kick him in the chin. He falls back on his knees like one of those inflatable clowns my brother and I boxed as kids then rolls onto his side where I continue to kick him until the toe of my shoe turns red. I don’t care if he’s breathing. Hell, I hope he’s dead.
The man holding Samantha looks in stunned disbelief, realizing that he’s lost the upper hand. I take advantage of his position and lunge toward him. I point my gun against his temple and snarl, “You’ll be dead before you can hurt her. Let her go.”
He releases Samantha who drops to her knees and crawls away from us. I hear her frantic sobs. I can’t let this piece of shit get away with touching her, but I can’t pull the trigger either. I can’t allow her to watch me take a man’s life. That’s not how I want her to see me.
Still, he needs to be punished for putting her life in danger, so I break every last finger on the hand he held against her throat.
“You said I was dangerous? You were right. You try to take what’s mine and you’ll regret it every time.”
He drops to his knees, holding his battered hand, and sobs. Samantha, now on her feet, rushes to me and falls into my arms. Not ready to admit defeat, the man on the ground pulls a pistol from an ankle holster and raises it. With Samantha between us, I can’t take any chances so I lift my weapon and shoot him right between the eyes.