This Fearless Girl (St. Clary's University #2) - E. M. Moore Page 0,118

the area until he meets my gaze and relief washes over his face. Stone runs toward me, pulling me from the ground and holding me to him. “Christ, Dakota.” He pushes me away so he can see my face. He checks my clothes, and his eyes bulge out of his head. “Are you hurt?”

I shake my head. “Not me.”

He yanks me forward, placing his lips on mine, kissing me with such ferocity that he nearly topples us both over. He cups the back of my head. “I was so worried.”

Movement from the corner of my eye catches my attention as Rissa’s father gets to his feet. He reaches in the waistband of his pants, glaring straight ahead. I turn to find his line of sight and see Cole there directing his guys on what to do next.

I shove Stone out of the way. Pulling Wyatt’s gun free, I aim it at Rissa’s father. The black glint of his own gun shines in the stream of sunlight, and I see everything so clearly right now. He’s going to kill Cole. His smiling ass is so happy.

“Get down!” Ninja roars, barreling toward Cole.

I pull the trigger.

Rissa’s father grabs his throat as a stream of blood shoots out. He crumples to his knees, his eyes wide with fear. I lower my gun and turn to find Cole. He’s nowhere to be seen. Running forward, my gaze darts everywhere until I find him underneath Ninja’s large form.

I breathe out a sigh of relief. Ninja glances at Rissa’s father, who’s fallen on his face now, his wife and daughter moving toward him, sobbing. Then, he spies my gun at my side. “You were right, Boss. I like her.”

Cole shoves the guy off him, getting to his feet and dusting his clothes off. He lifts his eyes to meet mine. “You killed him for me? Now I’m going to feel like shit for what I have to tell you.”

I swallow. I’d forgotten about Cole needing to confess something to me.

Stone moves forward, wrapping his arms around my waist from behind. I block out Rissa and her mom’s cries as two of Cole’s men reach them to sort things out. I don’t care what happens to them. I didn’t even care about killing her father except that he was about to shoot Cole, and it suddenly felt so wrong to have him dead. Stone moves his hand over my arm. “Give me the gun, babe.”

I let him take it from my fingers.

“That was a hell of a shot,” Ninja says. “Right in the throat.” He chuckles like it’s funny.

“He can consider it payback.”

“Payback?” Stone questions.

“Yeah.” I swallow after emotion hits me hard and fast. “It’s Lucas,” I say, turning toward the guy who was once my biggest enemy. “People tried to kill us in the mountains. Lucas is hurt. He’s in the hospital. We tried to reach you.” I know it’s fucking petty to be calling him out about a phone call right now when the house and yard is littered with dead bodies that came out of fucking nowhere, but yeah, still bitter about it.

“My dad took my phone.”

“Where’s your dad now?” Cole barks. “Any ideas?”

“He’s resourceful.”

Stone’s mom approaches us. I glance away. The last time I saw her, she was in my father’s house. A man’s house who, according to all accounts, she only pretended to be in love with.

“Mom, why don’t you go inside?” Stone suggests.

Cole nods at Stone’s mom, and the other Dragon member who accompanied me here moves close to her. “Dakota?” she says, shrugging him off.

I don’t have anything to say to her.

“Take her in the house,” Cole finally orders.

His mom shrugs the guy off again. She’s surprisingly able though she looks worse for wear. “Dakota, honey, I have to tell you something.”

Stone moves toward her, gripping her arm to keep her steady. She’s a lot thinner than when I saw her last. Her face is gaunt, and a little pale. Tears stream down her cheeks now. What gets me, though, is the pure love that shines from Stone’s eyes.

It makes me break. It makes me want to look at her.

As soon as I do, she smiles, and the cracks in her lips split. Okay, I don’t like the woman, but I’m not completely heartless. “Please?” she begs.

“What is it?”

Cole’s face darkens, and he disrupts my view of her, standing in front of me with his arms crossed. “What she’s about to tell you is that I killed your father.”

My mind swims. The world tilts in front of me, and for some reason, the only thing that keeps me grounded is staring at the tattooed fire on Cole’s neck.

“The thing is, she doesn’t know what she’s talking about, because yes, I killed Clark Wilder, but that bastard wasn’t your father.”

“W-what?” I stammer. I feel like I’m on a dingy in the middle of the Pacific Ocean during a raging storm. His words don’t make sense. Nothing makes sense.

Cole moves closer. He reaches a finger under my chin and lifts until I’m staring into his dark eyes. “I have a story to tell you, baby girl.”

Wow!! That was crazy, right?! Thank you for following Dakota and her guys on their journey! I appreciate you all.

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About the Author

E. M. Moore is a USA Today Bestselling author of Contemporary and Paranormal Romance. She's drawn to write within the teen and college-aged years where her characters get knocked on their asses, torn inside out, and put back together again by their first loves. Whether it's in a fantastical setting where human guards protect the creatures of the night or a realistic high school backdrop where social cliques rule the halls, the emotions are the same. Dark. Twisty. Angsty. Raw.

When Erin's not writing, you can find her dreaming up vacations for her family, watching murder mystery shows, or dancing in her kitchen while she pretends to cook.