Anika tries to jerk free of his grip, but he squeezes her upper arms, causing her to scream out in pain. Instead of releasing her, he flips her around and shoves a knife under her chin, pulling her back against his body, he starts backing away.
“Glenn you've had your fun, now it's my turn. Anika's coming with me.” His eyes are the only indication of his state of mind. Wild fury, with dilated pupils he drags Anika backward.
“Glenn?” She pleads. Blood trickles down from the corner of her mouth, and the room falls silent. His eyes shift to hers taking in the fear as they plead with him silently to save her.
“Shut up!” Rhemi screams.
Glenn sizes up his enemy. The noise fades from the room as he seeks his target and fires. Rhemi screams, dropping the knife as the bullet barely misses his ear and sinks into the plaster wall behind him. Glenn cocks the rifle again.
“The next one will be through your forehead!”
Rhemi shoves her away from him, and Anika runs behind Glenn just as Allen and a stable hand burst through the kitchen door with pistols.
“You could’ve killed me!” Rhemi screeches.
Allen takes one look at Anika and punches Rhemi. No one moves for a second until Anika laughs, startling everyone and then begins to sob in earnest. Glenn hands his father the rifle and doesn't speak. He picks her up and strides from the room, carrying her straight up the stairs and into her bedroom.
Alone in her room, Glenn sits in her favorite chair as she sobs and waits for her tears to slow. A basin of water is on the table next to the chair, and he gently dips a cloth into it and lifts her chin. A bruise is already forming on her cheek, and he tenderly wipes at the swollen corner of her mouth, washing the blood off.
“You don't have…” Glenn silences her with a look, and her tears start again. His gentle touch is her undoing. Anika knows she shouldn't be in his arms, or alone with him, but she can't bring herself to let go just yet.
Glenn sighs when she folds back into his arms and rocks her, waiting for the trembling in her body to stop. He savors the feel of her and struggles to calm his own savagely beating heart. When she tries to push away, he holds on, “Not yet,” he pleads.
Glenn blows out a shuttered breath, and she realizes for the first time that he is trembling too. Anika relaxes and buries her face in his neck. His warmth, surrounds her, his scent fills her, and she finds at that moment, peace for the first time in years.
“I’ve killed a lot of people Anika during the War, but never once did I do it because I wanted to.” Anika leans back and stares at him. He traces her face with a finger, and her heart stutters. “I want to.”
“Glenn?” She whispers, and he stands with her, striding to the bed. Her mouth parts in shock when he lets her feet go, and she slides down his body to the floor. The front of her dress is ruined, revealing a purple lace corset and scratches from his nails across the pale skin. Desire strikes fast and hard. He guides her to the edge of the bed and pushes gently encouraging her to sit down.
“You should clean up, I need to go deal with him.”
Anika sits, pale-faced and nods as he turns to leave. Just before he gets to the door, she calls out.
“He’s not worth it, Glenn. We need you here. Don’t kill him.” He nods and stomps from her room.
“Don't kill him, don't kill him,” Glenn chants as he storms down the stairs. A minute later, Rhemi is tossed into the front yard, and it takes his father and two stable hands to pry him off Rhemi’s bloody body.
Glenn laughs. “I didn’t kill him.”
Later when the Sheriff comes to collect him, Glenn leans into the back of the carriage and tells Rhemi, “Don't you ever set foot near me or mine again. The next time you'll leave here in a wooden box.”
“She's trash, Wade! When you're through with her, I'll be waiting.” His father leaps and grabs Glenn pulling him back before he can finish what he started. The Sheriff drives off before he decides to let Glenn shoot him.
“No, she’s not trash, she’s mine,” he growls.
Allen stares at him in stunned silence. Glenn stops fighting his father, shocked by his train of thought. He jerks free and stomps back inside the house.
Glenn is washing the blood off his fists when his Father walks in. Allen steps over the broken chair and steps to the kitchen cupboard, pulling down a decanter of whiskey. Two glasses are poured, and he offers one to his son. Glenn tosses the whiskey back and hisses as it burns its way down his throat.
“The Sheriff says he will hold him overnight, but his Father will pay to get him out.”
Glenn slams the glass on the counter, and Allen falls silent. “I should've killed him.”
“What’s going on with you son? You aren’t a cold-blooded killer...” Allen jumps when Glenn turns and laughs a bitter laugh.
“You can’t be serious, Dad.” He steps close enough to see the streaks of green in his father’s blue eyes. “I’ve lost count of the lives I’ve taken, and I didn’t want to kill any of them.” His hands shake as he pours another whiskey. “He was planning on hurting…”
“Don’t you dare use me as an excuse,” Anika snaps. Both men jump in shock when she stalks to him and jerks the whiskey from his hand and tosses it in the sink. “I won’t be the
