“I am thinking ahead. I think you’re going to let me walk out that door and you’re going to be gone by the time I come home in the morning.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” he said. “You aren’t safe here.”
“Then go stay with Ian, wherever he is.”
“I’m not going anywhere without you.”
I shook my head. “I’m not leaving with you, Logan.” He took a step toward me and I took a step back. “Please, Logan,” I begged as I squeezed my hand around the gun, scared to lift it to point it at him. “Don’t put me in a position where I don’t have a choice.” I knew my uncle. When it came to my safety, things like reason didn’t reach him, only the need to get me safe. I still had to try, though. “I won't kill you, but I will shoot you where it’ll hurt. The foot or maybe the leg. Either one will keep you from getting your revenge on Mr. X.”
“You really think I’d choose revenge over your safety?” he asked.
“I honestly don’t know.” My hand holding the gun shook a little. “I’ve lost everyone, Logan. Don’t take them from me, too.”
He let out a frustrated noise and began pacing. “What do you think will happen if X finds you? What do you think he’ll do to them?”
“He won't find me,” I insisted.
“With how reckless you’ve been, I wouldn’t be so sure.” He stopped pacing and put his hands on his hips.
“He won't,” I repeated.
“I hope you’re right,” he said. He nodded his head once. “Go.”
I backed away slowly; the training he’d given me wouldn’t let me give him my back. Once I stepped out on my porch, I saw the guys waiting for me there out of the corner of my eye.
“Goodbye, Logan,” I said and walked away.
No one spoke until we were all inside the guys’ house.
“I’m probably a minute from breaking down,” I told them.
“Give me the gun first,” Knox said, holding out his hand.
I nodded. I released the clip and placed that into his hand. Then I pulled back the slide and dumped the live round that was in the chamber into my hand. The slide snapped back into place with a loud click. I caught their impressed looks as I handed over the gun and bullet.
“Where are you going to put it?” I asked Knox.
“In my safe with mine.”
My brows lifted. “You have a gun?”
“Why do you sound so surprised?” he asked.
“Because of how you acted when you found out I had one,” I said.
“How many guns do you have?” Creed asked.
“I’d say a lot,” Colt said. “You saw how big that gun safe was in her panic room.”
“I do own a lot of guns,” I said. “Most are hidden in different areas of my house. I keep one in my car. The rest are in the safe.”
Creed cursed.
“They make me feel safe,” I said a little defensively.
Creed held his hands up. “Have as many guns as you want, Shi. You clearly know how to use them.”
I sighed as my thoughts returned to Logan. “That was rough.”
Keelan wrapped an arm across my chest and rested his chin on the top of my head. “Ice cream or popcorn?”
I smiled a little. “Both.”
He kissed the top of my head. “I’ll go get that while you pick a movie.”
Knox disappeared down the hall toward his bedroom as Keelan headed for the kitchen.
Colt grabbed my hand and pulled me against him. “Comedy or superhero movie?”
“Definitely superhero,” I answered.
“DC or Marvel?” Creed asked as he picked up the remote to the TV off the coffee table.
I thought about it. “Surprise me.”
Creed smirked. “Do you still have on the same panties?”
I blushed and shook my head. “I had to change them.”
Colt looked from me to Creed. “So much for getting ice cream.”
“We got ice cream,” Creed said.
“Afterward,” I mumbled.
Creed grinned proudly and asked, “Which panties do you have on now?”
“Joker.”
“The best Joker it is,” Creed said as he scrolled through their digital library on their TV.
I frowned. “By best, you mean Heath Ledger, right?”
Creed shook his head as he scrolled toward the Joker movie starring Joaquin Phoenix.
Colt chuckled and took a step away from me. “I think I’ll go help Keelan.”