Page 121 of Hide Little Traitor

“If you get the chance to run, you run as fast as you can. You got me?”

“I can’t leave you here,” she whispers.

“It wasn’t a request, Duchess. Do as you’re told.”

I don’t give her a chance to argue again before I focus my attention on the gun pointed at us.

This is far from the first time I’ve been held at gunpoint, but it’s different when Chloe’s life is in danger. The thrill I’ve come to crave is missing, and in its place is terror.

“To the road,” he orders.

“Just take me,” I say calmly. “You don’t need her. She’s nobody.”

The words burn as they fall from my lips, but just like every cruel word I’ve said about her over the years, it’s necessary.

“Boss wants the both of you.”

Chloe sucks in an unsteady breath behind me, and I long to reassure her, to tell her everything is going to be okay, but if I allow him to take us to a secondary location, I can’t keep that promise.

Taking a step toward the road, I keep my eyes trained on the gun.

Chloe follows my lead, her hand grasping the back of my shirt as if it’s the only thing keeping her from falling apart.

The sound of gunfire at the motel gets louder when we step back onto the side of the road, and I notice another man beside the van, the back doors wide open.

Fuck.

I curse myself for not grabbing another gun on my way out of the room, but there weren’t any to spare, not when I was leaving them a man down and under fire.

“Step away from one another,” the guy by the van orders.

Chloe’s hold on my shirt tightens as she sucks in a stuttered breath.

Fear radiates off her in waves, and I would do anything to take that away from her right now.

She does as he says, stepping out to the side until there are a few feet between us, and I feel every inch of that distance.

He points the gun at Chloe, motioning for her to get into the van first.

I want to scream at her to run, beg her not to comply, but she won’t.

If there’s one thing I know about Chloe, it’s that she won’t leave me behind. Even though I’ve been endlessly cruel to her, I’ve hurt her at every opportunity, I tortured her fucking father in front of her and almost allowed her to be killed, she still wouldn’t leave me, and that’s how I know I’ll never be good enough for her.

I’ll never be worthy of her light.

Tears fall against her cheeks as she steps forward.

Her eyes flick up to meet mine, and the fear staring back at me is worse than any pain I can remember.

I move before my mind can talk me out of it, my need to protect her forcing me forward without assessing the risk.

“Damon, no!” Chloe shouts, shaking off the masked assailant by the van to sprint toward me at the same time the other guy pulls the trigger.

The gunshot slices through the quiet night, and I brace for the pain.

But it never comes.

A small body slams into me so hard they knock me off balance.

Pain radiates through my tailbone when I hit the ground, my head swimming for a moment as I try to get my bearings.

But when the world stops spinning and I’m left staring up at Chloe, it’s not the pain in her eyes that catches my attention.

It’s the blood seeping through her sweater and onto her hands.

The last fifteen years flash through my mind.

Every cruel word I said to her.

Breaking my own heart over and over to protect her.

Denying myself the only thing I ever truly wanted.

But as I stare at the growing crimson stain, I realize it wasn’t enough.

Because when it really mattered, I failed her.

To be continued…