Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 95080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
“I do,” he confirmed, sounding apologetic. “I was happy when Turi was alive. I was different. It’s like how you were happy before he cheated on you, but now you’re not.”
“I am very happy with how things turned out,” I said honestly, thinking of Cord. “And if I can be happy, so can you, Lucien.” And it would have been true before Tim Stanson. But maybe years from now, if he ever got out of prison… “There can be a new life for you. I’m sure of it.”
“I tried,” he said tiredly. “I did. But there’s nothing left, Tracy, and I’m sorry about that.”
“Why are you sorry?”
“Because I wish I’d met you before Breckin did.”
I smiled at him. “But you would have only seen Turi in me too. Cord’s the only one who just sees me.”
“I hope he can forgive me.”
“Please,” I pleaded with him, wondering where the hell Cord was. “Don’t hurt me. Don’t hurt Celia.”
“No one walks away,” he assured me, then suddenly yelled, “Breckin needs to pay for Turi! He destroyed him! He destroyed me!”
“Turi took his own life,” I argued quietly, trying to lower his volume by speaking softly. “He made the choice, no one else.”
“He was only eighteen! What the fuck did he know about the rest of his life? He had no idea he could ever get over Breckin.”
“You were his friend. Why didn’t you tell him you were there for him?”
“I couldn’t!”
“Because you were scared he’d reject you.”
“He wanted Breckin!” he screamed at me. “Breckin was his love.”
“But you never even gave him the chance to choose you. He never knew you loved him. You can’t blame Breckin if Turi never knew.” It was hard keeping my voice low and even when I was this terrified.
He took a deep, settling breath as he lifted the gun. “You’re right. Logically I know that, but my heart will never agree,” he said calmly. “So let’s see how Breckin likes losing his love and his baby.”
“Freeze!”
Oh thank God.
“Drop the weapon!”
The relief was so overwhelming that for a moment I thought I was going to do a face-plant.
I heard a shot, like a pop, and stood there, frozen, before I heard another, and Lucien screamed as he went down, suddenly buried under three policemen. I was startled when Cord appeared in front of me, holstered his gun, and ran his hands frantically over me.
“Honey, are you hurt? He shot at you point-blank.”
But I wasn’t hurt, and when Cord grabbed me and hugged me, almost too tight, squeezing the breath out of me, I had enough presence of mind to ask him to check on Celia.
He manhandled her, spinning her in his hands, checking everywhere, and when she smiled at me before she fainted, I knew we were both okay.
“So he missed,” I said to the man I loved as he held Celia in his arms like she weighed nothing at all.
“Yes,” he agreed, and then his mouth dropped open.
“What?”
He tipped his head at me. “Look at the collar of your jacket.”
Turning my head, I noticed when I pulled on the collar that right above a riveted snap was a perfectly round hole.
“Motherfucker,” I groaned. “This is one of my favorite jackets.”
The muscles in Cord’s jaw clenched.
“Aw, c’mon, that was funny,” I teased him as Lucien was dragged to his feet. “Give me a kiss.”
He looked like he wanted to punch me.
I puckered up. “Please, baby.”
He didn’t move.
“Because I’m no one else’s love but yours.”
I got one for that even with him holding Celia between us.
The chief and two of his deputies met me, Cord, and Celia at the hospital. I was fine, but we had to make sure she was okay. Plus, there was the fact that the woman did not want to let go of my hand. She was certain I had saved her life. And though I knew that was crap, she insisted on telling anyone who asked that I was a hero.
When Breckin and his family arrived, Celia was lying in a bed, and I was sitting on one chair, my legs stretched out on another. I was pleased to see him go right to her. I was an afterthought, and I found that fitting. When he finally checked on me, all he got for his trouble was Cord in his face. He would have retreated quickly, but I stopped him.
“I need to ask Breckin a quick question,” I told Cord, and he stalked a few feet away, out of earshot but facing us.
“Trace,” Breckin rushed out, leaning toward me, hands out, ready to touch me.
“No,” I said quickly, which drew him up short. “Just be honest with me right now.”
He crossed his arms.
“Lucien thinks that what you saw in me was that I reminded you of Turi. Is that true?”
He scowled at me. “What?”