I started at the sound of Walker’s voice.
His eyes darted from me to his sister and back again. “Someone want to tell me what the hell is going on here?”
Jensen hopped off the counter. “I think it’s pretty obvious. Tuck and I are seeing each other. We were going to tell you today.”
Walker started laughing, but it had an ugly cast to it. “Are you delusional, J? Tuck doesn’t date. He fucks and moves on.”
Jensen flinched as if he had hit her with a physical blow.
I stepped forward. “Not cool, man. I know you’re pissed at me, but don’t take it out on her.”
Walker’s jaw clenched. “Don’t tell me how to talk to my sister.” He side-stepped me and met Jensen’s gaze. “What are you thinking?”
Jensen squared her shoulders. “I love him.”
Walker scoffed. “You love him? And how does he feel about you?”
Jensen shook her head. “That’s none of your business.”
Walker threw up a hand. “Just what I thought.” He whirled on me. “And you. I trusted you. You know what she’s been through, and you decided that lining her up as your next fuck buddy was the thing to do?”
Each sentence might as well have been a kick to the gut. I had known Walker would be upset, but hearing what he really thought of me…it killed something inside. I forced myself not to let it show. Jensen was the most important thing right now. I held up a hand. “You need to calm down.”
Walker shoved at my chest. “The last thing I need to do is calm down.Youneed to get the hell off my family’s property.”
That muscle in my cheek began to tick. “I don’t think that’s your call.”
“The hell it’s not.” Walker started shoving me towards the door, but I stood my ground.
“Stop!” Jensen screamed it so loudly, I’d bet her family next door could hear. She gave her brother a hard push. “This is my house. You don’t get to decide who stays here. Just like you don’t get to decide who I let in my bed and in my life. Tuck is your best friend in the world, and you just treated him like he was shit on your shoe. You’re the one who’s leaving.”
Walker’s jaw hardened. “You’re making a big mistake. And this time, I’m not going to be here to pick up the pieces.” With that, he took off out the front door. A few seconds later, I heard his truck tear down the drive.
Jensen slumped against me. “I never knew he thought that little of me.”
I wrapped her in my arms. “He doesn’t. He’s just losing his mind right now. He’ll come around.” I did my best to keep my breathing even and to not tighten my hold on Jensen too much. I’d never wanted to deck my best friend more in my life. He and I were going to have a come to Jesus talk, and it wasn’t going to be pretty. But hewouldhear me.
The sound of tires spitting up gravel came from outside. Jensen sighed. “What now?” She slipped from my arms and headed to the front door.
I followed her out onto the porch. The way the sun was coming up over the ridge, I could only tell that it was a truck barreling our way.Fuck.What did Walker want now? It skidded to a stop, and a figure hopped out. Whoever it was, was silhouetted against the light, but the voice… I recognized that voice. But it wasn’t Walker’s.
“You fucking bitch.” The figure’s arm raised. Metal glinted in the sun.
I didn’t think. I shoved Jensen out of the way. A crack. Searing pain. And then nothing at all. Just an endless sea of black.
51
Jensen
He was falling.The movement seemed to go on forever. Each inch he fell, ripped at the muscle and sinew around my heart.
He hit the ground with a thud, his body almost bouncing with the impact. I didn’t think, I just moved. Right to Tuck’s side. Where I was meant to be.
Blood seeped from his chest.No. No. No.
“Goddammit!” The yell came from Cody’s direction.
It seemed impossible, but I’d forgotten he was even there. Cody raised his gun again. It was as if some other force took over my body. I reached for the Glock at Tuck’s hip, pulling it from its holster. I squeezed the trigger. A second time. I wasn’t taking any chances.
