Reign (Sin City Outlaws #1)(70)

Zeek cups my cheeks and looks me all over. My lips tremble, my hands shaky as I try to hold onto him. His lips are moving, saying something, but I can’t make it out.

“Jillian, are you okay?” Sound finally fills my ears, and I nod frantically, clinging to him like a lifeline. This was my first near-death experience. They say you have many when you’re a sheriff, something I eagerly agreed to when I signed up, but now I’m not so eager.

Lowering his hand, he thumbs my neck.

“You’re bleeding.” His face goes hard, his eyebrows slowly pinching together. His eyes cloud over with that look he gets when he’s unstoppable. Much like the Hulk, but instead of turning green, Zeek, turns dark. His eyes mimic his train of thought—there is none. His only focus is releasing his fury, and drawing blood.

Looking over my shoulder, he steps around me and marches angrily toward the body on the floor. He aims his gun at the guy, shooting another bullet into his skull. I jump and look away, my heart resuming its panicking pace.

“I’m sorry this happened, Jillian,” he mutters. Balling my hands under my chin in an act of security, I look back at him. His eyes are trained on Gentry, willing the guy to come back to life so he can take it away again.

“I’m sure you’re used to this kind of thing, though.” He inhales a large breath and shoves the gun in the back of his jeans.

“No-no, I’m not,” I stutter, my eyes falling on the head that is exploded across my kitchen floor. “They prepare you for this kind of thing, yes, but I just froze when he grabbed me. I should have fought back. I’ve never—”

Cool hands grip both side of my head, Zeek’s concerned face coming into my line of sight.

“Breathe. I’m here, Jillian. I’m always here, and I will never let someone hurt you. Ever. You reacted perfectly. If you had tried to fight him, he would have killed you. Then I would be dead, because I would have turned him inside out, along with anyone who came in sight. My guilt would never ease if I lost you because of who I am. ”

I lick at a tear sitting on my lip and just nod, not sure what to say or do. My emotions are running rampant to the point I can feel myself shutting down, trying to regain control.

I knew being a sheriff I would see a life taken right in front of me. I just never expected it to happen in my own home, or by the hands of someone I care about.

My kitchen just became a crime scene.





ZEEK


“That’s the guy Alessandra said they were looking for today,” Jillian states, her back turned toward me.

We couldn’t find the f*cker, so I resorted to my resources—the dirty cops in my pocket. I ball my fists, wishing I could have taken the life from this f*cker a whole lot slower.

“I need to call this in, explain what happened. It was self –”

“No!” I interject.

She whips around, her face pale. “What do you mean ‘no’?”

“Exactly what I f*cking said, no.”

“Why?”

“Because if you call this in, they’re going to wonder where the rest of his brothers are. Then I’m going to have to lay low… which means I can’t be with you. That’s not happening.”

“Where are the rest of his brothers Zeek?” Her voice is low, almost like she’s scared to ask me.

“They’re dead. That shootout you were at? Yeah, well, I retaliated.”

“That day when I picked you up…” Her eyes flash with recognition. “But there were no bodies.” Her head shakes, like she doesn’t want to believe she’s in bed with a murderer.

“I work fast,” I reply.

Rubbing her forehead, she looks at Jacob. “So, what? You going to take him and hack him up in my bathtub now?” Blood drips from her neck, and my face goes serious.

“I’m going to have to call in my boys. Get a doctor over here to look at your neck.”

She stumbles on her feet.

Taking a large step, I grab her by the elbow to steady her. She’s not all right; she’s in shock.

“Sit on the couch.”

She doesn’t fight me, just sits, her hand on her head.

Pulling out my phone, I text Felix.

I need you. Bring Machete, and Mac. You know where to find me. - Z

Twenty minutes later, a knock sounds at the door.

I open it, ‘cause Jillian is still sitting on the couch in a complete f*cking daze.

“Why the f*ck are we here?” Felix snaps. His hair is wet and pulled into a ponytail, looking at me with anger in his eyes.

“Whose place is this?” Machete asks, pulling on his vest.

“You don’t want to know,” Mac replies, shaking his head.

“I found our missing Gentry.” I open the door wider, letting them in.

The boys step in, making the living room seem small.

Jillian looks over her shoulder, and her eyes widen.

“Who’s the chick?” Machete juts his chin at Jillian.

“Jillian, this is Machete, Mac, and Felix.”

“She’s a cop.” Felix glares at her, and anger pounds at my temples. I don’t like the way he’s f*cking staring at her.

“I’m sorry, what?!” Machete yells, his head snapping in my direction.