Chapter 58 — A Booming Shot

"Ember, darling. Now what shall we do with you? I can't simply allow my brother to have any means of happiness in his life." He glanced up brooding, a finger tapping his lip. "Oh wait, I know." He strode closer to Hunter and leaned down. "How about I give you a demo of how I dispatched our mother, huh little brother? Hmm...That'll be fun."

"Wh-What do you mean?" Gulping I glanced at Hunter who looked like he was lost in his own world and wasn't coming back anytime sooner.

"Come on, boys. Bring her here."

"No, no. Hunter! Ah, no! Hunter!" I screamed and thrashed against their hold but in vain as they dragged me towards the steep hill. I dug my toes in the soil in an attempt to obstruct them yet luck didn't support me, and the guards pushed me right on Christian's arms.

The pure disdain that ran through my veins against him, scorched the skin everywhere he touched, and goosebumps rose all over me in a creepy manner. My heart skipped several beats in a frightening way as he held me by my neck right on the verge. "Let go of me. What have I ever done to you? Please stop, Christian."

"To be honest, I liked you Ember, but you made a mistake going back to him. You made your life's biggest mistake with my brother. Now I'll have to send you to the same place I had to send the ones that loved him." His smirk broadened as he gazed down the slope. "Looks welcoming, don't you think?"

Unwillingly my eyes darted over the perilous cliff at the deep dark labyrinth of trees down there, and a grim tremor traveled down my spine. I twisted against his clutch, but when nothing seemed to budge him I glowered at him. "Fuck you." Holding his arm I sunk my teeth deep into his skin.

Letting out a groan he jerked his hand away, and I took this as an opportunity to escape to my beloved, but to my misfortune, a hand grasped my hair from behind and with a forceful tug revolved me. Before I could get the chance to take a look something emphatically met the skin of my cheek throwing me to the ground from the impact. For a moment everything went numb, and a beeping sound continuously rang through my ears, my vision darkening.

A sharp pain shot through my skull as my hair was being pulled from behind arching my back painfully. "Bitch! I'll fucking murder you," Christian hissed into my ear, bits of spit flying onto my skin.

Suddenly my hair was spared, and a thud sounded from behind me.

"I said, don't fucking touch her!" Hunter's voice roared through the air.

Shaking the dizziness off I sat up and regarded the scene in front of me, my cheek throbbing. Christian was down on the ground while Hunter stood before him, eyes directed in a murderous glare, and hands balled into fists so hard the veins were popping, and knuckles were white.

For a tiny second fear flashed over Christian's features, but he concealed it right away as a laugh erupted from his chest. "Little brother is angry?"

His minions came rushing but he put up a hand halting them and got up. "Don't. I will handle it." Lifting his hands in front of his chest he balled them into fists, a sinister smirk lingering behind his lips. "I will finish him off myself."

Fear stroke in my heart like a lightening, and I got to my feet. "Hunter, no!"

"You bastard!" Like an angry bull ready to slay the atrabilious matador Hunter drove right into Christian spearing him to the ground just beside the edge, and my hand went over my mouth as another wave of fear churned my insides. Not being able to hold myself I dashed towards the commotion.

"Catch her!" Vienna's bitchy voice commanded, and one of the infernal minions of Christian grabbed me.

"No! Let go of me." My struggles stopped when Hunter landed his enraged fists repeatedly on Christian's face.

"You took everything from me," punch, "You made me hate my mother," punch, "You ruined my life!" another haughty punch was about to descend on the monster's generous face when Christian caught it in the middle.

"My turn." He turned over, and this time Hunter was on the ground while Christian on top repeating history from a moment ago.

"Hunter! Don't hurt him, Christian!"

My pleas went unheard as Hunter threw Christian off him and got up wiping the blood that trickled down his lip. Christian, on the other hand, like the psycho he was ran a finger over his bloody nose and licked the liquid clean, a boorish smile taking over his mouth. They both launched at each other kicking, throwing punches and executing every bit of their hatred towards each other while I watched helpless.

Just when it seemed they were both out of vigor Christian's hand went inside his coat and pulled out an object that glinted in the sun.

"Hunter, look out!" My warning went vainly as before Hunter could react Christian ran it over his arm slashing the flesh as blood began oozing out, and Hunter faltered back.

"No!" Desperate I lifted my leg up and drove the heel of my shoe right on my captor's foot. Letting out a strangled groan he released me, and I ran to the men. Grabbing Christian's hand I yet again sunk my teeth on his filthy skin promising my mouth twenty times of brushing once reached home alive, and as expected he let go of the knife jerking his hand away.

Kicking the weapon off the cliff I hurried to Hunter and held his arm. "Hunter, oh God..." I put pressure on the gash to stop the bleeding. "I'm so sorry I didn't listen to you. I'm really sorry..." My eyes watered, and a tear rolled down my cheek.

Lifting his other hand Hunter wiped the teardrop off and observed me, his eyes soft and concerned. "Are you okay, love?"

I looked into his eyes, and as if everything else was forgotten. My heart pulsated knowing how much he cared. I found my home, my safe heaven where I could drown in peace. But the harmony didn't last long as a gunshot pierced the air, breaking us from our magical trance, and I turned around. A gun occupied Christian's hand pointing right at us. Gasping I stood before Hunter with my hands stretched in attempt to shield him while he was trying to push me away.

"No. No, Christian. Don't do this, please."

"Oh I will. I'll kill you both with one fucking shot," he bawled.

"Yes, baby. Kill them," Vienna shouted coming beside Christian.

"You can't get away doing this," I warned praying for a miracle to happen.

"You want me. Let her go," Hunter spoke switching our position.

"Oh no, brother. I'm not that cruel. I'll send you both to hell together." He loaded the gun and pointed it back at us.

"Oh God..." Throwing my hands around Hunter I held him tight while he tried his best to push me behind, but I didn't budge awaiting the small bullet that was about to penetrate our souls. I had so much yet to conquer in my life, but nothing mattered for I was in my love's arms. I didn't care if I died today because I would be dying in peace.

We didn't even have to wait for too long as a sound of a shot firing hammered my ears as well my heart, and I felt nothing but pure...

Wait...

I literally felt nothing...

Slowly opening my eyes I looked up to see Hunter's bewildered eyes watching ahead, and I followed his gaze, my mouth hanging open. Were my prayers answered? Did the miracle really happen?

A piercing cry from Christian broke my grateful prayers, and I glimpsed at his bloody hand, the loaded pistol slipping causing everyone's breaths to halt, but before it touched the ground and bore a hole in someone's body Hunter hurled himself forward catching it in the air.

"NYPD! Hands up, everyone!" Like a swarm of savior bees the police force came out the woods and captured all the men.

Seeing the threat, Vienna took off towards the forest when an officer blocked her path pointing his gun at her.

"Stand right there!" a familiar voice commanded, and I glanced forward meeting the pair of soft blue eyes.

"Officer Cullman!" I exclaimed.

He nodded at us. "Mr. and Mrs. King."

Turning around the sly vixen ran towards us, to Hunter to be precise and posed her big green eyes in which possibly was supposed to be puppy eyes but somehow ended up resembling fisheyes. "Baby, please save me. No matter what you say I don't believe you. I know inside you're still my Hunty."

And that was it.

Drawing my fist back I drove it right on her donkey face, feeling satisfied as I heard a crack. "Bitch, his name is Hunter, and he is mine."

On Officer Cullman's signal another officer rushed and began hauling her with him. I looked behind to see Hunter watching me with admiration written all over his face, and a ghost of a smile playing on his lips.

"I hated that nickname as well."

I let out a giggle. "That felt good."

A presence before us grabbed our attention. "Mr. King, that was a wise movement. I gathered our friends here asap your message was delivered. We raided Mr. Delgado's house and rescued your former employee. Your security head Chris is handling it."

"Is he alright?" I queried.

"Yes, Mrs. King. He's in the hospital." He directed his gaze back to Hunter. "We also found out the attack on your private jet was caused by Mr. Delgado."

Right then two officers dragged Christian past us as he yelled profanities at us.

"Don't worry. He's going in for a long time," the officer assured.

"He did more than that. He killed Hunter's mother and grandfather. He confessed it," I informed and glimpsed at Hunter to see his face going impassive at the mention of his lost family.

The Ranger regarded us shocked and sighed. "That'll get him a lifetime prison sentence." He gazed down. "Mr. King, you need medical attention." Turning around he called another officer, and a beautiful young girl with blue eyes and red hair approached us. "Ms. James, would you please call the paramedics?"

"Yes, sir." Looking at us she gave a polite smile and left.

Not long after the paramedics hurried towards us, and two of them supported Hunter towards the ambulance while I followed behind, a commotion halted our movements. I gazed towards it, my eyes widening.

A cop lied on the ground with his hands on his bloody nose as Vienna stood a few feet before me, lips red from blood, and a gun in her hand pointing right at me.

"No!" Hunter's alarmed voice reached my ears followed by heavy desperate footsteps.

"Adieu, bitch." A smirk revealed her bloody teeth as her finger drew the trigger, and an ear-splitting boom quieted the atmosphere in the hill.