Beneath the Stars (Falling Stars #4) - A.L. Jackson Page 0,132

“Please, Noah. Let’s just go. I’ll stay with you. I’ll stay. I promise.”

He didn’t spare her a glance when he took another step my direction. “Now, your time has finally come due. I’ve sat aside for seven fucking years, actin’ as her glorified babysitter while you came time and again. Filling her head with all your make believe. Turning her against me. Begging her to leave and ruining my chances all over again. Warned you if you came again, it would be the last time. That I was going to destroy you.”

His expression turned cruel. “Finally got rid of her daddy, so now Genny is going to prove her worth by getting rid of your mother and that whimpering bitch, and you’re going to watch her do it. And I’m going to relish in every second of it. Then she’s going to watch me end you…like I’ve been dying to do for seven years, or else she’s gonna die, too. Her choice. Seven years you stole. Promised you, you’d only begun to pay.”

His grin was smug derision. “Knew it was going to be a good night, but I have to admit, the money I found in the trunk of your girlfriend’s car was a nice bonus.”

Genny fumbled forward, beggin’, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Rhys. I didn’t mean to use you. I needed help. I needed you. I cared about you. So much. That’s why I ended us. I was protectin’ you.”

“Shut up, Genny.”

“Rhys, I’m sorry, please, you’ve got to understand. I won’t do this, Noah. Please. We can’t do this.”

Before I could make sense of it, Noah whirled around. “Told you to shut the fuck up.”

Then he pulled the trigger.

For a beat, I was stunned.

No ability to process.

To fathom.

Genny dropped to the ground.

My Maggie and my mama cried out beneath their gags.

That’s all it took for me to snap.

I dropped my gun and charged him, roarin’ as I went.

Eyes blurred and soul slayed and everything I’d thought I’d known gettin’ torn to shreds.

My daddy.

Maggie.

Genny.

My mama.

He’d hurt every single person I loved.

I have a tendency to hurt the ones I love most.

It was him.

I was halfway to him when he spun back around and another gunshot rang out.

A shock through the night. And still I was running, and that was right when Royce and Richard busted out of the trees from behind. They tackled Noah before he got off another shot.

I didn’t slow.

I dove right into that spiral.

Blinded by the fury that eclipsed all reason.

Blotted out coherency and all thoughts of what was right.

I tore into him.

Fist after fist.

“You killed him. You killed him.” Haggard, rippin’ words gasped and shook from my raw throat.

Crack, crack, crack.

Bone crunched and blood gushed and my spirit screamed.

Agony. Agony. Agony.

“You killed him.”

My daddy.

My daddy.

You’re a good boy, Rhys. A good, good boy.

My fist landed on his mouth, knockin’ free teeth. I did it again and again. Unhinged. Unchained. Uncontrolled.

That sickness consuming. One I couldn’t free myself of.

Because I knew nothing right then but hate.

This thirst for retribution more than I could bear.

“You killed him. You killed Genny. You hurt Maggie. You hurt my mama.”

I wailed into him.

But he wasn’t movin’.

Wasn’t fightin’.

And I was bleedin’.

Bleedin’ from the wound in my chest that I was pretty sure he’d inflicted that night seven years ago. Richard dragged me off him as I flailed and fought to bring down another blow.

“Stop, man. You’ve gotta stop. One more hit and you’ll send him to the other side.”

Vengeance cried out for it.

My daddy.

My daddy.

You’re a good boy, Rhys. A good, good boy.

I slumped to the ground.

Unable to breathe.

Chest completely caving in.

Pain sheering and my mind reeling.

I’m so sorry, Daddy. I didn’t mean to. I didn’t mean to.

Maggie was suddenly screamin’. Her spirit tore through the air like a tempest.

Whipped the trees into a disorder.

The blackened sky was an endless abyss behind her.

I blinked as I looked up at her.

Her gorgeous, stunnin’ face brutalized by my mistakes. Tears streamed from her eyes and those sweet hands were on my cheeks. Her fingers scratching into my beard.

“My stallion. My stallion. You came. You found me. I knew you would. You’re okay. You’re okay. We’re going to be okay.”

I reached up and fiddled with a piece of her black hair. “Look at that…a goddess beneath the stars lookin’ down over me. Must’ve died and went to heaven.”

And my daddy’s voice filled my ears. Sank into my consciousness.

“And then every once in a while, God makes someone extra special. Someone who is more vulnerable than