“It’s Chad,” he warns me, and I hear the safety on his gun click off.
16
Ava
Chad fires a bullet and Kai pushes me to the ground, covering my body with his own.
“Go in the house,” he says frantically, then he’s being yanked from me and I see one of Chad’s best friends sock him in the face, causing blood to squirt everywhere.
But Kai’s a street fighter. He’s on the guy in an instant, punching him in the nose. Kai makes the hit he received from the guy look like a Sunday school class.
The guy's nose breaks with a loud crack and tears instantly spring down his face, and he lands an uppercut to Kai’s stomach.
“Kai!” I scream. Regardless of how much of an asshole he’s been, I don’t want to see him hurt.
Pain lances in my head and I screech. Kai looks over at me, a murderous glint in his eye as he glares at whoever’s behind me. I turn around and it’s some bitch who used to hang around Chad and his gang.
“Dumb bitch!” I yell, cocking my fist back and punching her square in the nose. It hurts a bit, but the expression on her face makes it worth it, and just eggs me on that much more.
She grunts and I waste no time, aiming a swift kick to her knee.
“You dumb little cunt,” she screams, holding onto her leg. She grits her teeth then my face jerks to the side as she slaps me on the cheek. I slap her back, and I unleash all my anger onto her. I grab pieces of her hair and tug, making strands come out. I land hit after hit on her. She delivers some harsh blows back, but I’m numb to the pain in this moment. I feel like nothing can stop me. I'm on cloud nine.
I’m confused at first when she suddenly crumbles to the ground, but then Ava stands behind her holding a shovel.
“She’s not dead, is she?” I ask.
Ava shrugs. “I doubt it, but at least she won’t be an annoyance for right now.
“Thanks,” I say, spitting blood onto the ground. I cut my tongue on my tooth with one of her slaps.
Ava nods, and we turn to face the chaos together.
More of Chad’s men had shown up at some point and my stomach jumps to my throat when I find Kai. He’s fighting off two of Chad's friends, and Killian is doing the same. River and Damon are tag-teaming another couple, both of them laughing as if this is a party or some shit. River holds one guy by the hair while Damon twists a knife into his eyeball. The sound that leaves the man's lips will haunt my nightmares forever. I almost throw up at the sight of the now dead man. Even though he’s likely extremely evil, I would not wish that fate on anyone. My heart is thundering in my chest and it’s as if I’ve lost my hearing in my shocked panic, but my eyes zero in on Kai. As much as I hate to admit it, I’ve become attached to him. It’s like I’ve suddenly developed an understanding of my mother. She always used to tell me my dad was like a star in space and she couldn’t help but admire his light. In my opinion, my father is nothing but a black hole that sucks stars in and then traps them, suffocating them until there is nothing left. It’s my choice if I’m going to let Kai bring me down, but the way he’s been lately, I don’t think that’s what he wants to do.
So, now when I see one of Chad's friends sneak up behind Kai with a knife, I let out an earth shattering scream.
“Kai!”
He looks over at me, and just as he turns, the guy's knife slices him on the side. I start running toward him, but he shakes his head. “Desiree, no!”
But I don’t stop. I keep running toward him.
My face meets the gravel as I’m knocked into the ground. Chad stands over me, looking pale and sweaty.
Good.
His wound must be killing him.
I smile up at him. “Howya doin?” I ask with mock sweetness. “Must not feel too good being in pain, huh?”
He growls, kicking me in the ribs. I scream, turning onto my side.
“Fuck you,” I heave out.
Thankfully, he’s weak right now so I’m not in as much pain as I should be. I turn onto my back and lift my leg, kicking him in the stomach.
He grunts and his eye twitches in rage, but I only smile up at him.
I go to sit up, but gasp as my side throbs with pain. I grit my teeth through it and make myself stand anyway. I glance around our surroundings, looking for Kai. I almost fall back down when I see him. He’s like a raging beast, trying to get to me.
But he’s fighting off three of Chad’s friends while blood drips down his side.
“No,” I whisper.
But then I’m backhanded. I hear Kai roar in the distance, but the taste of coppery blood fills my tongue. Tears stream down my face in pain, rage, and frustration.
Chad stands before me, looking the scariest I’ve ever seen him look. All sanity has left his eyes.
“You fucking bitch.” He spits on the ground at my feet. “I could've given you so much. We could’ve run this town together.”
“Are you fucking delusional?” I scream. “I would have never ever loved you, you dumb fuck.”
I kick him as hard as I can between the legs and he howls. I laugh maniacally, finally feeling power for the first time.
Chad’s murderous face morphs into complete hysterics as a wide smile spreads his lips. “This isn’t the end, Des. There’s so much more. So, so much more you don’t even know about.”
But then I watch as Kai comes up behind him, and slits his throat clean across.
