Chapter 23
-Hailey-
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The back door crashed open and boots pounded through the house, but all I could see was the blood… so much blood… spreading in a dark pool from Matt’s body.
Logan skidded into the living room, gun drawn, his green eyes wild as they locked onto me first checking for injuries – then dropping to Matt.
“Fuck,” he breathed.
River and Monty burst in behind him, weapons raised. River took one look at the scene and immediately turned to cover the front windows. “Cops’ll be here in two minutes flat with that gunshot.”
Logan was on me in an instant, his hands rough as they cupped my face. “You hurt? Look at me. Are you hit?”
I shook my head numbly. The gun slipped from my fingers, clattering to the floor. “I didn’t mean to… he was gonna… shoot
me.”
“Shh.” Logan crushed me against his chest, his heartbeat slamming against my ear. “You did good, Ace. You did exactly what you had to.”
Monty crouched by Matt, pressing two fingers to his throat. “Still alive. Barely.”
Logan’s arms tightened around me. “River, call the cleanup crew. Now.”
I clung to Logan’s cut, the leather creaking under my grip. “We have to call an ambulance-
The front door burst open, cutting me off.
Officer Andrews stood in the doorway, her gun drawn and her eyes wide.
“Drop your weapons,” she said calmly, somehow managing to cut through the haze in my head.
Logan’s grip on me didn’t loosen, but I felt him tense.
Monty slowly raised his hands, his Glock dangling from two fingers. “We’re not the problem here, Officer.”
Andrews stepped inside, her gaze darting from Matt’s bleeding body to Logan holding me, to River standing by the window.
“I had a bad feeling,” she said, her gun still trained on us but her voice softer now. “Parked a few houses down. Ran Matt’s name through the system… saw the recent reports.”
Matt gurgled weakly on the floor, his hand twitching as he tried to grab at the wound in his chest. The sound made my stomach churn.
“He’s still alive,” Logan muttered. “Should call an ambulance.”
Andrews glanced down at Matt, her expression cold. “I don’t think that’s necessary.”
The words hung in the air.
I stared at her, a lump forming in my throat. “He’s dying,” I whispered.
“And the world’s a better place for it,” she said, holstering her gun. She stepped closer to Matt, crouching down to examine him with clinical detachment. “Men like him,” she said coldly, “don’t deserve second chances.”
13:05 Mon, Dec 22 M
Chapter 23
Logan’s grip on me tightened, but I barely felt it. My head was spinning.
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“You shot him in self–defense,” Andrews said, standing up and looking directly at me. “That’s the story. I’ll make sure it
sticks.”
River whistled low under his breath. “Damn, Officer. Didn’t take you for the sympathetic type.”
Andrews shot him a sharp look. “I’m not. I’m just tired of cleaning up after men like him.”
Logan exhaled and I felt him relax a little bit. “You’re sure about this?”
She nodded, pulling out her radio. “I’ll call it in. Self–defense shooting. Perpetrator deceased at the scene.”
Matt groaned again, his eyes fluttering open for a moment before they went glassy. His chest stopped rising.
“He’s gone,” Monty said, standing up.
Andrews nodded again. She turned to me, her gaze softening just a little. “You okay?”
I wasn’t. My hands were shaking. My whole body was. But I nodded anyway.
She stepped closer, her eyes scanning me. “You’re gonna need to come down to the station, give a statement. But I’ll make it quick. You’ve been through enough.”
I nodded again.
Logan tilted my chin up, forcing me to meet his gaze. “Look at me, Ace. You did what you had to.”
His words should’ve comforted me, but all I could think about was the blood… the look on Matt’s face as he went down.
Andrews stepped out onto the porch to call it in. I saw her wave to curious neighbors who were peeking out their front windows.
I clung to Logan. His leather cut was warm under my fingers. I tried to breathe, but my hands wouldn’t stop shaking, no matter how tight I gripped him.
“You’re okay,” he kept murmuring, his breath warm against my ear. “You’re okay, Ace.”
Officer Andrews stepped back inside, her radio crackling as she gave her report. Her voice was calm, detached, like she’d done this a hundred times before. “Suspect deceased at the scene. Confirmed self–defense.”
Monty stepped in front of Matt’s body, trying to shield me from the sight. The blood had spread too far, pooling beneath him in a dark, glossy stain. I couldn’t look away.
River was at the window, peering through the blinds. “Neighbors are gettin‘ nosey,” he muttered. “We need to clear out before this turns into a circus.”
Logan nodded. “You guys go. I’ll stick around, follow Hailey to the station.”
“No,” I whispered. “You need to go, too. You weren’t involved.”
“She’s right,” Andrews said. “Ambulance and backup are on their way.” She glanced down at Matt’s body. “For show, mostly.” Her eyes flicked to Logan, to the patches on his cut. “You three should probably clear out before they get here. No reason to involve your club in this. It’ll only complicate things.”
As if on cue, I heard sirens in the distance.
I watched Logan hesitate, his jaw flexing. His green eyes burned into mine, and I could see the conflict in them – the need to stay versus the logic of leaving.
13:05 Mon, Dec 22 M
Chapter 23
ས༧༠7༦
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“Go.” I whispered again. “Please.”
He exhaled hard through his nose, then planted a kiss on my forehead. “I’ll be close,” he murmured, his voice rough. “Call me when you’re done, I’ll pick you up.”
I nodded. My throat was too tight to speak.
Monty and River exchanged a glance before heading out the back door. Logan lingered for a second, his eyes gliding over me like he was memorizing every detail. Then he turned and followed them, disappearing into the night.
The house felt colder without him.
Andrews stepped toward me, her expression soft. “You ready? We’ll make this quick.”
I nodded, but my legs felt like jelly as she helped me to my feet.
She guided me outside, her hand gentle on my elbow. Two more cruisers pulled up to the curb, followed by an ambulance. The flashing lights were blinding, but I still noticed the neighbors gathered on their porches, whispering and pointing.
I kept my eyes forward, focusing on Andrews‘ cruiser. She opened the door for me, and I slid inside, my hands still trembling.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
