Becca’s head snapped to the right at the sound of footsteps in the woods. Rowan was running right for them. She almost fell to the ground in relief. He was here. He would save Emma. He would find a way to get them away from Nick.
The hot panic that made her heart race started to fade slightly. The tears dried from her eyes. He was here to save them. Now that she knew there was a way out, her fear became determination.
Nick looked over, too, and saw Rowan. He pressed the gun harder into Emma’s head and she whimpered. Tears continued to stream down her face. She looked at Becca, desperate and terrified. How could Nick do this? Hadn’t he done enough damage to them already? Now to put Emma through this. Just when they thought they were safe. Just when they thought everything was going to be fine.
When Rowan had shown up in the farmhouse, she’d felt the same relief she felt now. Her gratitude washed over her like a wave coming to sweep away all the anxiety and tension. When he tore the pipe from the wall, she wanted to tell him right then that she loved him. That she’d love him forever and would give herself to him fully. Any man who would do that—that would risk himself and his guys and go to such effort to save her had to be worth it. Had to be good. There could be nothing bad in this man.
But then Nick had shown up, just when they thought they were rescued and all was well. They’d been running, so happy to be free. Emma gripped her neck tight with her little arms and cried happy tears. The loose handcuff, its other end still tight around Emma’s wrist, had banged against Becca’s back as they ran, but she barely noticed. She could still hear Emma saying, “Mommy, Rowan saved us. Can he be my new daddy? I like him much better.”
Now she wanted to say, “Yes, Emma. He will be and he will take care of us forever. He will always come for us, always protect us. Always make sure we’re safe.” She would do anything for him. She could never repay him, of course. But she could spend a lifetime trying.
They’d slowed their run to a walk after a while. They didn’t want to get too far into the woods so Rowan could find them easily. When they’d heard footsteps approaching, someone coming to get them, Becca had turned around toward the farmhouse, her face beaming and her heart full of joy. She’d taken two steps to run toward Rowan, to fling herself into his arms and never leave. But then she’d seen his face. It wasn’t Rowan coming to find them and take them home. It was Nick coming after them, a gun pointed at them as he ran.
The terror was so sudden, the shift from joy to horror so abrupt that she froze for too long. Emma had to say, “Mommy? Is that Daddy coming after us?” before her feet loosened and she bolted farther into the woods. But she couldn’t run fast enough, especially not while carrying Emma, and he’d caught up to them.
She’d felt the kick to her back and she’d fallen and sent Emma flying, landing hard on the ground. Emma was crying several feet away, and Nick was right here, on top of her. He punched her in the jaw, then pulled her to her feet by her hair. He’d let go of her for a brief moment to yank Emma to her feet by her arm, and that was when Becca had fought back for the first time in her life.
She kicked him as hard as she could in the knee. It had sent him to the ground, but not for long enough. She’d grabbed Emma and run, but he caught them quickly. This time when he reached them, he tore Emma from her arms, and held the gun to her head.
“Freeze,” Nick said. “Or I will shoot her.”
“That’s your daughter, you monster!” Becca had shouted, hot tears filling her eyes and spilling over.
“Then I guess now’s a real good time for you to start apologizing.”
Becca shook her head.
“Let me hear it!” he screamed. “Nick, I’m so sorry I left you. I didn’t know how good I had it. Nick, I’ll never leave you again. I love you and I can’t wait to get home and suck your dick all night long. Nick, I just want to please you for the rest of my life.”
Becca clenched her jaw.
Nick pressed the gun harder against Emma. “It’d be a real shame if Emma had to die for your pride, don’t you think?”
She’d forced out the words and each one tasted like acid. “I’m sorry for leaving. I just want to please you.”
“How? Say it.”
Her face was hot with shame. “I want to suck your dick all night long.” She squeezed her eyes closed.
“Oh, you do?” Nick laughed. “Well, that’s mighty nice of you. That’s how a wife should be, now shouldn’t she? You’ll come home with me, you’ll do whatever I say, and you will make this up to me. Right?”
She nodded, eyes still closed.
“You will fuck me all day and all night and clean up the mess of a house and cook me a nice dinner. You’ll tell me how much you love me and how much you missed me and how stupid you were to ever think of leaving.”
“Okay!” Becca couldn’t look at her daughter. She didn’t want to see the fear there in her little eyes. But she could see Cuddles still clutched tightly in one hand. At least she had her bunny to comfort her. “Let go of my daughter.”
“Not a chance. Start walking.” Nick nodded with his head toward the farmhouse.
“Take the gun away from her head first and I’ll go with you.”
“You think I’m that stupid? Walk!”
She’d turn to walk and that was when she’d seen Rowan. Running right to them.
Now here he was, coming to save them from Nick. And coughing. Why did he keep coughing like that? It worried her. This wasn’t a cough from a cold. He’d been in the smoky house, sure, but there hadn’t been enough smoke to make him cough like that. What if he had asthma? He might be in danger physically of collapsing or passing out. She would watch him carefully and make sure he was okay. She didn’t like how deep the cough sounded, and she needed him now more than ever. If something happened to him, if he couldn’t save them and protect them, she had nothing. It was all over. She’d have to go back with Nick because she’d have no choice.
They’d all stopped walking when they saw him approaching. Nick still held the gun to Emma’s head. Becca’s eyes met Rowan’s and she tried her best to show her love and appreciation in her gaze. He was all determination, running as fast as he could, sweat bubbling on his forehead, soot smeared across his face. And he looked so amazing in that moment. So perfect and beautiful. Her heart burst with thankfulness and peace.
Rowan didn’t pause or hesitate. Nick turned to face him, still holding the gun to Emma’s head. Before he could decide what to do, Rowan tackled Nick. He dove into the air, his hands grabbing Nick’s arm to pull the gun away.
Nick landed hard on his back. Becca dashed over and snatched Emma away from him. She turned and crouched down. “Go hide in the woods. Mommy or Rowan will come find you.”
“No!” Emma shook her head, tears glittering on her cheek. “I’m not leaving.”
“Emma, baby, I know you’re scared, but I need to keep you safe.”
Becca looked up. More footsteps. But these belonged to two men wearing Jagged Rebel jackets. Rowan’s men. She pointed to them. “Those men are Rowan’s friends. They’ll help you. Go to them.”
Emma looked, but shook her head again.
“Go, and I’ll be right behind you.” She nudged her forward.
Emma ran off, sobbing and looking back at her mom every few feet. Becca made eye contact with the men and pointed at Emma. She watched one run to her and scoop her up. Now that she knew Emma was safe, Becca turned her attention back to Nick and Rowan.
Nick was still on the ground and Rowan sat on his chest. Their hands were locked together in struggle. Rowan held a gun and Nick was trying to wrestle it away from him. She watched just long enough to realize it wasn’t Nick’s gun they fought over. It must be Rowan’s. So where was Nick’s gun?
Becca looked around. He must’ve dropped it when Rowan tackled him. She searched near them, but not close enough for Nick to be able to reach her. Then she saw it. A few feet away in the grass. Nick’s gun.
She inched over to it, keeping her eye on the men to make sure they didn’t see what she was doing. She snatched the gun up. Neither had seen. They were still wrestling, Rowan gaining the upper hand. He almost had the gun pointed at Nick.
Becca wasn’t entirely sure what to do. Nick would never dream of allowing her to learn how to use a gun. That might mean she could fight back. She could kill him in his sleep. And why hadn’t she? All those years he’d hit her and abused her. She should have fought back much sooner. Should have found a way to learn how to shoot or fight. Should have done something, anything, to get away from him. She shouldn’t have waited this long.
She looked down at the gun. It had to be loaded. Nick wouldn’t bother with pretending. Was there some sort of safety? She inspected it more closely, but couldn’t find anything that seemed like it would move or slide to turn off the safety. Maybe this gun didn’t have one, then. She had seen Nick and people in movies pull back the top part of the gun before they shot. She tried to think. Had Nick done that already? And if he did, would it mess things up if she did it again? Well, only one way to know for sure.
Becca pulled back on the top of the gun. Part of it slid and she heard something click into place. It seemed like something had been ready. She’d have to take the chance. If it didn’t work, it wasn’t like things could get much worse.
She looked over toward the direction she’d sent Emma in. One of the men was running back to the farmhouse, carrying her. The other was still coming to them. Good. More back up.
She could just wait. She didn’t have to try to shoot Nick. With him and Rowan all tangled up, she might hit Rowan instead. But she wanted to. She needed to. There had to be some way for her to feel like she’d finally fought back against him. When she’d kicked him earlier, the rush she got from it was so strong, she wanted to keep kicking him. And hitting him. She’d let her fists fly all over him. Except then he had put the gun to Emma’s head. But now Emma was safe. She was away from here where he couldn’t get her. Couldn’t hurt her anymore.
Becca looked carefully at the men, trying to find the best place to shoot. She didn’t think her aim would be good at all, so she’d need to be very close. Nick was on his back, legs stretched out. Rowan sitting on his chest, his feet at either side of Nick’s rib cage. There was no way she could get to Nick’s chest or head. Not even his hands or arm, since they were intertwined with Rowan’s. But his legs were free. And shooting his leg would keep him from getting away, right? It would at least slow him down.
Nick and Rowan were so focused on their struggle that they still didn’t see her. Whatever progress Rowan had made toward getting the gun to face Nick, he started to lose now. The gun pointed sideways, into the trees. She had to do it now, before Nick won. If he shot Rowan…well, she couldn’t even consider that possibility.
Becca stepped closer, held the gun just an inch from Nick’s knee, and pulled the trigger. It was harder to pull that she thought and when she squeezed it, her hand had moved slightly. The shot didn’t hit his knee, but right under, at his shin. The recoil of the gun made her arm fly back and she stumbled. She tripped over her own feet and her butt hit the ground.
Her ears rang from the shot, but she could hear Nick clearly. He screamed in pain, grabbing toward his leg. Rowan had climbed off him, the gun in his hand, pointed at Nick’s face.
Rowan looked at her, a crooked smile on his face. He nodded at her and pulled back the slide on his gun.
“No!” she cried out, and scrambled to her feet.
Rowan gave her a confused look.
“Please. I want to do it.” She still had the other gun in her hand and she went to stand beside Rowan.
Nick squirmed on the ground, writhing in pain. “You bitch,” he spat. “I will never stop hunting you. You’ll pay for this.”
The other Jagged Rebels got to them and stood back, guns ready, watching and waiting. Becca glanced at him and looked back to Nick.
She gripped the gun tightly and lifted it to point at Nick’s head. Rowan came over to stand behind her. He tucked his gun into the back of his jeans. His body was so close and so hot, it filled her with heat. He reached down, his arms sliding along hers, and pulled back the slide on her gun. Whoops. She’d forgotten to reload.
He kissed her neck, then moved her hands over slightly, taking a better aim. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. He whispered, “Shoot, baby,” in her ear.
She took a moment to look down at Nick, to glare into his pleading eyes.
“Becca,” he said, “You wouldn’t kill your daughter’s father, would you? Don’t be silly. I love you. I love Emma and I just want to have a happy family with you.”
“Shut up,” she growled. “I’ve heard enough of your talking for a lifetime. You don’t love me or her or anyone but yourself. I hate you!”
She started to cry and her hands were shaking. She tried to hold the gun steady, but couldn’t. Rowan reached up again and put his hands around hers. He pointed the gun at Nick’s head and held her steady.
She took in several breaths, trying to make her sobs stop.
“Take your time,” Rowan said. “He’s not going anywhere.”
“I know you still love me, Reebs,” Nick said. “Think of our life together, our beautiful house. Didn’t I give you a nice life? We’ll make it even better now. We can have another baby, and we’ll be so happy.”
She slowed her breathing and the tears stopped. His words built the rage in her. Still, after all this, he thought he could manipulate her. He thought he could talk her into coming back to him. He thought he still had control over her. Idiot.
She took another breath and pulled the trigger. This time, since Rowan was holding her, the gun didn’t recoil back as much. It was still loud, though, and her ears rang again for several seconds.
She looked down at Nick. He didn’t move. She had hit him. She had hit him right in the head like she meant to. She looked only for a second. Long enough to see the hole in his forehead, bleeding. But the sight was too much. All the blood and gore. It was too much. She turned and bent over and threw up.
Rowan had still been holding her tight, and now he made sure her hair was out of her way and he rubbed her back soothingly. When she stopped, he brushed the hair from her eyes and wiped the sweat from her forehead. “Are you okay?” he asked.
She nodded and leaned into him. He wrapped his arms back around her.
“Sorry I don’t have any water or anything,” he said.
“It’s okay.” She spat several times on the ground.
“Nice shot,” the other Rebel said. He held out a stick of gum and she gratefully took it and put it in her mouth to get out the nasty taste.
“I had a little help,” she said.
“You did it, though,” Rowan said, rubbing her back again. “You fought back and you won.”
“He is dead, right?” Becca looked at his still body.
“Double check, Nate,” Rowan said.
Nate walked over to Nick, picked up his wrist and held it for a moment, then let it fall. “Dead.”
Becca turned to Rowan and the emotions crashed over her until she sobbed into his chest. He held her and comforted her until she was able to stop crying.
“Rowan, thank you,” she said. “Thank you for coming and saving us.”
He tilted her chin up so her face met his, and kissed her. “Anytime.”