"Where we love is home - home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts." — Oliver Wendell Holmes
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Chapter 88
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Maggie

Anger surged through my veins like poison. I tried the door handle in frustration, but, of fucking course, it was locked from the outside, too. There seemed to be something else blocking it as well.

What the fuck?

I staggered back on shaky legs. The realization hit me hard – Luke, he never intended on letting me help him or of letting me close to the fight, in order to avoid me getting hurt.

Goddamn it. I should have known better, but I hadn't.

But dwelling on it wouldn't help now; all I could do was hope. Unfortunately, hope was doing little to quell my growing panic, especially with the ominous sounds that followed.

Gunshots, echoing like firecrackers, only much closer this time. I had no idea who they were going into, but just the thought of one hitting Luke....

My hand clutched my stomach, fear gripping me. I was trapped in this room, thanks to fucking Luke.

Sitting here, helpless, though, wasn't a better option. I had to do something from within.

I scanned the room as the walls rattled from impacts and bullets. Amidst the chaos, I heard Luke's voice, strong and defiant, taunting the men apart. It brought me a glimmer of relief.

That relief wouldn't last forever, though. There were seven men left, and one of those was my father. My father who would do anything to get to me. That part had been more than proven over the past half year.

As I took a step toward the door, my phone buzzed in my pocket. It snapped me to attention, and I berated myself for not thinking of it sooner.

I retrieved my phone, forcing my trembling hands to steady. I yanked my phone from my pocket, hissing at myself, "Why didn't you think of this?"

My shaky hands barely maintained a grip around the device, but I forced myself to. As soon as I went to tap at our security app, I recalled myself deleting it just an hour ago.

Shitfuckshitfuck—

Inhaling through my nostrils, I dared myself to push it out with the same force. Panicking wouldn't help anything.

I quickly reinstalled the app, and once it was back, I tapped it with bated breath, the seconds feeling like hours.

Just as the progress circle completed, a loud thump against the bedroom door made me jump.

It was against the bedroom door, so hard that only a couple of more would probably get them inside. That same thump sounded out, again, before the disembodied figure attempted to open the door by the handle, rattling it around until I thought it broken.

Just as I grabbed my gun from my side, it stopped. I didn't lose my aim, either way.

To replace it, though, was a plea from someone who I didn't recognize as Luke, so that helped calm me just for a second, before another gunshot sounded out by the door. It made my ears ring, but through it, I heard something heavy, I assumed the man's body, thump to the ground. Since the door had stopped shaking, as well as the man's pleas, I knew who was behind it.

Luke's footsteps began to grow farther and farther away, again, so I knew he was getting to the others, now.

From what it sounded like, Luke's taunts and provocations had worked like he wanted. My father, as well as his goons had big egos, as most men did when it came to fights. They wanted to take him on by themselves, rather than taking the smart approach and just jumping him together. It was dumb on their part, but heavily beneficial on ours.

With haste, I accessed the security app and selected the live footage. The sight in the living room was gruesome, bloodstains and injured men, but none of them were Luke.

My stomach rolled, but I pushed on. I saw two more bodies before I realized my eyes were glistening. It was both out of fear and relief that none of them were Luke.

The gunshots had ceased, and I couldn't decipher if that was good or bad. It either meant that Luke was taking them on by hand, which was good because he was more than capable, but bad because there were so many. My father wouldn't let it be a fair fight.

I switched to a view that showed all the rooms at once. On the bottom right, I found him. Zooming in on Luke, I saw that my guess was right; he was going at it with the hands with one of the men.

I watched intently, but even from a distance; I couldn't miss it. Luke was winning.

They were in a guest bedroom; Luke had wisely closed the door behind them to prevent surprise attacks. The opponent, around 5'9" and wiry, fought with agility, but his footwork seemed sloppy.

This observation held true when he couldn't react in time to Luke's punch. For some reason, Luke's knuckles were already bruised and bloody, but the punch still held enough strength to make you see stars. The man's face turned red, spitting out curses before regaining his footing, rushing at Luke, who I realized was so close to the bed for a reason.

As the man lunged, Luke deftly dodged, sending him tumbling between the nightstand and the bed. Without hesitation, Luke grabbed him the men's neck, lifted him, then slammed his face into the nightstand a total of three times before I had to look away. The last thing I cringed at was the sight of cracked skin, as well as bloody teeth falling to the ground like raindrops.

I fought my disgust and glanced back to see Luke. He was reaching for his second pistol when movement in another room caught my eye.

A man, full of menace and armed, emerged from the kitchen and entered the room next to Luke's. When he jumps out, Luke won't see it coming in time, just like in the hallway with the knife.

My eyes darted back to Luke, but he was occupied reloading. Shit.

Despite my battered state, I focused on a solution. We could lock and unlock doors through our app. When he and I wanted to annoy the other, or if we just wanted to make the other laugh, we would fuck around and lock each other or the both of us in different rooms, together. It was how we played hide and seek with Fang, too.

After checking that I had it right, I selected the room where the lurking man was and locked it, his attempt to escape too late. If he wanted to get out, he would have to shoot the handle, which would give away his hiding spot.

If Luke hadn't barricaded our bedroom door in, I could use the feature to get out, but he had me trapped.

Relieved, I turned my attention back to Luke, who was moving with the stamina of a horse, despite his grazed side and the small scratch on his cheek, concealed by the blood from the other men. I kept an eye on him, locking doors when men approached him, buying him time.

Just as I started to search the live feed for my father, a heavy thump against the walls called my attention. I glanced back to the phone for answers.

A heavy thud against the walls drew my attention; another fight had started.

One man had Luke pinned against a wall, choking him. Panic surged inside of me, but it didn't last long.

When an attacker is attempting to strangle you, there's usually an instinct to pull and scratch at their hand in order to loosen the grip, despite it being useless. It was how I attempted to get away from the fake cop that night, and again, it was proven to be a loss.

Yet, out of everything, I had expected...this was the one that stunned me most.

Instead of futilely struggling, though, darkness blanketed his expression over. It reached its peak when Luke dropped his hands just for a second before jamming his fingers into the attacker's eyes. The assailant screamed in agony, allowing Luke to grab him by his shoulders and slam him onto his rising knee, resulting in a sickening crack.

Holy shit.

I was awestruck. Genuinely. 

I knew that underground fighting didn't exactly teach 'fair fighting,' but they definitely taught enough to be considered useful in different situations. Luke had been there for nearly a decade, and had won enough matches to get to where he was now, and I could see those same lessons and matches coming back even harder, now. I also knew that he had helped train Kade, who was one of the best, for his fight against Chivo all those years ago, but I had never actually considered why until now.

A gunshot brought me back, and I continued to watch, ignoring the gore for survival's sake. I knew that seeing and hearing all of this would have an effect later on, but the rush of adrenaline and the will to survive made me not give a fuck.

When the law handled it, these men were set free without any further consequence, and they knew that. They hurt me as a child, because they knew what their consequences would be: none. I was done.

They deserved every bit of what occurred today. I didn't give a shit if I sounded like a maniac. It was either kill or be tortured and killed, right now, and I wouldn't hesitate in making sure Luke and I survived this. I could worry about the rest later.

Luke had mentioned eight men; now only two or three remained. The tactics had shifted; they were hiding, and Luke had adapted, knowing my role in locking them in rooms.

The house fell silent, unsettling me. It meant someone was planning, likely the mastermind. My father remained elusive. He was hiding from Luke on purpose.

I looked to my phone, again, but I didn't see any live bodies inside. Luke remained as silent as the house, but was just as alert, so I knew he was having the same suspicions as me. They were either hiding in the spots that the cameras didn't catch, or they were outside.

I went with the second option first, and hurriedly went to the live footage on the outside of the house. As soon as it loaded, I studied the angles over, carefully. It was harder to decipher since it was night time, but when I caught the tall, looming figure in our backyard, I froze.

All we had back there were tons of Fang's toys and summer furniture, but I couldn't miss it. By the bushes, right under the kitchen window, another man stood. I spotted the glint of his gun in his waistband in the moonlight, but that was all I needed to see.

Because, from his position, he had a clear shot on Luke, who was in the fucking kitchen.

Breathing became a foreign concept, replaced by panic, frustration, and the realization that I couldn't get out of this room to warn Luke or prevent what was about to happen.

No.

Fuck that. I was hardheaded for a reason. I was getting the fuck out of this room, by any means necessary.

Only over my dead body would I let anything happen to Luke. I didn't give a damn if he didn't like it.

I jerked myself out of bed, casting a quick glance around the room.

Idea. I needed an idea on how to get out of the room, but—

When I looked at the window, I knew that Einstein didn't have shit on me.

On a mission, I stashed my gun in my jeans to move quickly. I grabbed a shirt from the dresser and wrapped my fist in it. In the bathroom, I dragged out a chair to reach the window. The house was only one story, so I didn't have to worry about the fall.

Ignoring the pain in my side, I positioned the chair and pulled myself up. I wasn't going to let it stop me, though. Not right now.

I didn't take the time to brace myself for the impact, cocking my arm back and slamming my fist into the window, but it wasn't shit like the movies, so it wasn't a one hit type of thing. It wasn't any help that it was expensive glass, either.

Despite the pain coursing through my wrists, I didn't stop until I had a sizable hole in the glass. I hadn't even thought of this shit until now. Not until it came to Luke's life.

I cleared away as much glass as I could before forcing my body through the window. Some shards grazed my skin, cutting and burning, but I pushed through. The pain didn't matter right now.

I landed on my feet, barely avoiding a stumble. I was out.

The man was on the other side of the house, not too far, not too close. I could work with that.

Moving quietly, I rounded the house to where I had last seen him, my feet lightly brushing against the lawn. I reached the other side of the house, staying behind the wall to avoid detection.

As I spotted the man, another gunshot rang out from inside the house. My heart raced, just as it always did, but I couldn't afford to get distracted.

My father had left this man outside for a reason—to take out Luke when all else failed. And that moment had arrived. Their men were dwindling, and soon, would be nothing.

The man, unaware of my presence behind the brick, rose from his crouched position and reached for his gun, but his fingers barely grazed it before he heard the click as I disabled the safety.

In the darkness, I saw his eyes widen with alarm as he fully drew his weapon and spun around, but it was too late. I couldn't afford to think about anything else; any hesitation, and he would seize the advantage.

My finger applied pressure to the trigger until the gunshot echoed in the night. My ears still rang from the sound even seconds after it had faded.

I didn't try to get it perfect. A bullet was a bullet. Mine apparently worked well, since after it hit the man, all movement ceased from his crumbled figure.

My grip had grown shaky around the gun. I felt my legs barely carry me to his stance, where the green grass below him had shaded red. I didn't know if my shot had killed him, but it still frightened me.

This was my first time ever having to use a gun on a person, and regardless of him being a terrible one, it didn't take away the lost of air in my body. I didn't know if it'd go away, but—

Bang!

My head jerked up to the kitchen window at the shot. My ears were too startled to catch whether or not a body had followed.

If it was Luke's, though...

I thought my heart had a bullet in it itself at the thought. It might as well if the thought became reality.

I couldn't head back to the room, now. I had to know.

Luke was going to kill me if he saw me, I knew that, but I didn't care. I didn't give a damn about putting myself first, or shit else. I had to know if he was okay before anything.

I pressed on despite the ache in my ribs as I circled the house. Climbing the front steps, I fought the pain that seared through my sides. I knew it would only get worse once the adrenaline wore off, but I'd deal with it later.

Without hesitation, I pushed the front door open. My eyes quickly found the brawl.

Luke was on top, throwing the deadliest of punches one after the other. The man beneath him was writhing, trying to evade Luke's punches but failing miserably. His every move seemed to guide Luke's fists.

The door slammed against the wall as I entered, the loud thud drawing their attention. Both of them turned their heads in my direction. Shock flashed across their faces, followed by unbridled anger in Luke's eyes when he saw me.

His voice boomed through the house, "Maggie..." He attempted to control his rage, but his nostrils flared, and his glare pierced through me, even through the blood. His voice made me jump, "Norris, you get your ass back in that room, right now, do you hear me?"

I remained in place, my grip tightening on my gun. I couldn't tell if it was shock or fear of something happening to him that kept me rooted, but I didn't budge.

Luke narrowed his eyes at me, the warning evident. The man beneath him seized the opportunity and threw a punch, prompting Luke's retaliation.

Before he acted on it, though, Luke shot another glare at me, his voice steelier than I'd ever heard it, "Go, Maggie! Now."

I snapped to attention. My legs should have moved forward, but I stumbled back before regaining myself and rushing back to our room.

Just as I reached the hallway, another gunshot echoed behind me. My body tensed, and I turned, despite Luke's orders.

A breath of relief I didn't know I was holding escaped me at the sight. Luke had risen from the man's chest, which now had a hole in it.

Luke's chest heaved from the physical activity as he wiped his blood-stained hand across his forehead. My startled body shifted toward him again. He was okay.

As I took a step in his direction, an arm snaked around my neck, pulling me back into someone's body. The same arm knocked my gun from my hand.

At the sound of the clattering gun, Luke spun around.

My skin crawled as I realized who had me. Their foul breath reached my face, and simultaneously, the cold metal of their gun pressed against my temple.

"Well, wasn't this fun?" my dad mused, frustration lacing his voice. "I hate to end it so soon, but it's gone far enough, now. Maggie and I, though, we're gonna head—"

Luke's reaction was lightning fast. He aimed his gun, shaking his head at my dad. "Only over my dead fucking body."

"It's over, now, Luke. Give it up."

"Nothing's over until you have a goddamned bullet in your skull." Luke's glare turned deadly. "Let her go."

My dad scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. "Do you really think I'm gonna do that?"

"I don't give a shit what you think you're gonna do with her," Luke gritted out, stepping closer, eyes locked on my father's. "I promise it won't ever happen while I'm here."

I winced as my dad pressed the gun harder against my head. "That's the problem, isn't it?"

Luke's expression turned ice-cold. "Let her go."

"You first," my dad hissed. "I mean, what the hell hooked you on the girl in the first place?" A scoff escaped him. "Just let her go, Luke. You're a Vaudest. She's a—"

"She's mine. She always has been mine, and she always will be mine."

My heart soared at his words, but it quickly froze as my father pressed the gun against my head again. My jaw throbbed from his grip, but I couldn't escape.

My dad took a step back, dragging me with him. "That was your first mistake, amongst many." His grip tightened around my neck, despite my nails digging into his skin. "You fell for her. You helped her. You nearly lost your life today for her—"

"And, I'd do it again, a million fucking times over," Luke stated, turning the safety of his gun off. When he saw my dad intentionally dig into my injured rib, his anger flared. "Let her go."

"I can't do that. Not after what she put me through. This is all I have left after what you did today. If you shoot me, then she goes right down with me," he hissed. I whimpered as he applied more pressure to his arm. "Don't make this any harder than it has to be, Luke. She was never going to make it out. Not with the debt she owes."

Luke clenched his jaw, muscle ticking. "Maggie, baby, look at me, okay?" His voice gentled, meant only for me. It drew me in before anything else, "I need you to look at me, yeah?"

I nodded, keeping my eyes locked on his, finding solace in them. They were the place I could always return to when I thought I was lost.

"It's gonna be okay." He nodded with reassuring sincerity, and despite the anger in his eyes, softness pushed all else aside for me. "I'm not gonna let shit happen to you, do you hear me?"

I nodded frantically, keeping our gazes locked together. His own gathered mine in a reassuring hug that I recognized as true.

"As sentimental as that was..." my father's voice sent a shiver down my spine. It was as haunting as it had been a decade ago, and it managed to waver my peace all over again. "I hope that you weren't stupid enough to believe him, Maggie."

Luke took another step closer, but it was the same one my dad took toward the door.

"How about this?" he continued, tightening his grip around my neck. "You stay here. You let her and I leave in peace. I take Maggie, and—"

"I'll empty a round into you before you even touch that front door with Maggie still in your arms, Owen," Luke bit out, anger seething in his voice. His grip remained unyielding. "Try it."

"Come on, damn it," my dad hissed, voice laced with plea and annoyance. "We can pretend that none of this shit even happened. You can be free. Doesn't that sound good?" I saw his grip tighten around the gun. "You'll—"

"Norris," I heard Luke call to me, ignoring my dad. "Let me see you again, beautiful."

My glistening eyes opened, finding his.

His eyes stayed locked on mine, determination blazing. "Do you remember our first fight here? How you knocked me back on my ass with that ice pack after I pissed you off?" His chuckle was small, and he nodded encouragingly with a smile that I knew, from one look, was much more. "I need you to think real hard about it for me, yeah? About what we fought about."

I stared at him, confusion knitting my brows. My head was too fucked to get it right away, but all of my memories with him never got too far.

It took only a second more before I made the realization.

Luke noticed the shift in my face and took a step closer. "That's my girl." Nodding in approval, he continued, "You remember it too, don't you, baby?"

I quickly nodded, recognizing the significance.

With a nod, Luke's eyes turned to me, then to my dad's side, and flicked his head. It was a swift, silent signal.

"This shit never had to be this big. It was never supposed to be this big, but it's over. I've won. I always win," my father sneered, completely oblivious to Luke and my side conversation. He jerked me again. "You know what? I'm done with the deals. I'm either taking her, or I'm taking her life. There is no in-between—"

Summoning all my strength, I jerked my elbow forward and slammed it into my father's side, where I had stabbed him before.

He cursed, wheezing from the pain. His grip on my neck loosened, and I managed to break free.

Luke fired his gun as soon as I was out of harm's way. His shots hit my dad's knee and arm, giving me the space to move away from the danger.

Without hesitation, Luke grabbed my wrist and yanked me over to him. My body barely responded due to the pain, but I made it to him.

Just as he went to tuck me behind his figure, my father launched himself at us. As soon as he did, Luke caught up, and pushed me in the other direction, far away from them. It was meant to stop me from getting tangled in what was to come.

I hit the ground again, gasping for breath that my lungs weren't helping provide. The pain in my ribs was excruciating, but because of the push, I was far from any risk of danger.

Because of his tackle, my dad had managed to land on top. His punches were weak from the injuries, so he was missing the majority of them, but that wasn't what got me. It was the rage settling in his face, the same exact one he wore before stabbing Jax that night.

Luke was stuck under him, but was hitting my dad's injuries and dodging all of my dad's hits while still throwing his own punches. From the weight of and the rage behind them, they were enough to knock my father out soon.

I would give him only a handful more before he gained the upper hand. It was about to be over. Thank God.

Through my wheezes, I managed to pull myself up so that I was standing. Fuck.

Just as I straightened up, I got a better view of what my father was planning. To his side was a gun that had fallen from either Luke or one of the other men. Since he was drastically losing the fight, his hand had started to edge toward the gun.

My mind nearly closed up with fear. He was going to shoot Luke.

I scanned the area frantically, my eyes darting past the bodies and the spilled blood. Right beside where I'd landed, I spotted the same gun my father had knocked out of my hand earlier.

With adrenaline coursing through my veins, I reached for the cold metal, gripping it tightly. In mere moments, the gun was in my hands.

My father's hand closed around the gun, raising it slowly. His punches had ceased from weakness, and his head was beginning to slump from how hard Luke was beating him, but he still wouldn't give it up.

Both of our fingers clicked the safety off simultaneously, and he didn't notice because of that.

I willed my unreliable vision to focus. The blood in my veins felt like it was boiling beneath my chilled, goosebump-covered skin. Despite my trembling arms, they held steady throughout the ordeal.

I didn't breathe. I didn't aim.

Instead, I pulled the trigger.

The bullet went through his neck. It wasn't intentional, but it still had the same damaging effect.

My father's shock made him freeze before his body reacted for him, stumbling off of Luke. Blood gushed from the side of his neck, where the bullet had went. His hands raised to the skin as he attempted to stop the bleeding, but it was no use.

A cough came from him, then another that made blood splatter over his chin until it landed on his shirt. His wheezes were growing more hoarse. It was the only sound that echoed through the house.

Even through the bruises and cuts Luke had given him from his punches, his glistening eyes found mine through it all.

And, in them, I saw fear for the first time in my life. It was different, though.

There was a difference in just being scared, and being scared because you knew, once upon a time, you were the one doing the scaring. He knew it was time to be terrified, and he knew exactly why.

"Don't..." he barely choked out, his eyes widening. "Maggie. Please. I'm your...your father. I'll leave..." The blood he was choking on blocked his words. Fear took his entire being over, and the plea in his eyes managed to make him look like a kitten. The hand on his neck tightened as he attempted, "Please—"

I aimed, again.

This time, I let the past twenty fucking years of pain, of tears, and of rage for this day control my aim. Then, I let the dream of never being tired, of never being afraid, and wanting to live the life I was rightfully owed coax me into pulling the trigger.

The final bullet went in between his eyes, and it was the quickest. That was the last sight I caught before he collapsed, his body landing amongst the others, with a loud thump and a stream of blood to follow.

I stood frozen in place, my arms refusing to fall, even when I knew it was safe. Tremors shook my body, leaving me wondering if they were natural.

My gaze remained locked on him.

"Maggie," a whispered voice broke through, the only one that could make its presence known.

I didn't budge. My shaky gaze only shifted when Luke entered my line of sight.

He gently took the gun from my grasp and simultaneously pulled me close. After setting the gun down, he wrapped his arms around me. "Come here."

I closed my eyes, resting against Luke's chest. "He's gone," I whispered. "He's..."

"He's gone, Norris," he whispered back, planting a kiss on my forehead. "He's gone. Forever."

I nodded, the realization a mix of fear, relief, and freedom. The possibilities now stretched endlessly before me.

I had envisioned this day ever since I was a child. I hadn't pictured the exact setting, or the circumstances, but the end result never changed. I had waited years for this moment, but truly, I'd never thought I'd find the relief that was in me, right now. After doing this, I thought my life would be damned, that I would be damned, but it wasn't true.

The monster was gone, his life taken by the one he had taken the most from. Those parts, the ones he so selfishly kept and harbored, would never be restored, again, but now that he was gone...perhaps, I could make my own. And, if I couldn't do that, then I could find a new version of them to put in place.

I had never felt a relief like this one. Two fucking decades of weight had been lifted off my chest. I felt light. Free.

I was free.

The very realization tore me in half, then stitched me right back together by the future's hopeful hand. I was finally free.

I held onto Luke for dear life. Both our bodies trembled, but we were relieved to be trembling because it meant we were alive.

Tears welled in my eyes as I felt him cradle my head against his chest. I wasn't sure if our hearts raced from the physical activity or the proximity, but mine matched his, calling for the man it beat for.

"I'm gonna walk us forward, okay?" he mumbled against my head. "I need you to hold onto me when I do, and don't look anywhere else. I don't want you to see any of this."

I nodded and clung to him. I was deadweight at the moment.

Quickly, he led us to our bedroom, the only room untouched by the violence outside. I was grateful for that.

As soon as the door shut, Luke went to the bed, where my phone lay. He grabbed it swiftly. "The security system probably already alerted 911, but I'll send another alert just in case."

I nodded, realizing I hadn't even considered that earlier, lost in the chaos of the moment.

As he placed the phone down, we gravitated back to each other.

"Shit." His hands cradled my face, his eyes filled with concern. "Are you okay, Maggie?"

I thought for a moment. For now, nothing could dampen the feeling inside me, one I finally controlled.

I was in control, now. My past, present, and future belonged to me, no one else. And, I would get to live it with the man who loved me for all three. The one right in front of me. The feeling that the realization brought me was of one I knew didn't have a label.

My nod was a bit choppy; my body was still jumpy. "I'm okay. Are you?"

He nodded, his expression softening. "I'm okay, baby. Come here." He pulled me close again. "Are you sure you're okay, angel?"

I nodded once more. "I am." This time, it was even better. "Are you?"

"As long as you are." He nodded against my head. "And, I'm so goddamned mad at you, Maggie," he hissed, tightening his grip. "Why didn't you stay in the room? You could have gotten hurt. You were—"

"There was a man waiting outside, ready to shoot you, you idiot," I sniffled into his chest, shutting my eyes. "I couldn't stay there knowing that."

He huffed, a familiar sound that made me smile despite the tears. "Brat." My laugh mixed with a sob. "Prick." His chuckle ended with a relieved sigh.

I sighed through my tears. "You saved my life," I whispered against him, my throat heavy. "I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you, Luke."

"Don't." He kissed my head gently. "I wasn't going to lose you, Maggie."

Gratitude overflowed, and words couldn't express it. "Thank—"

"I don't wanna ever hear that shit, Norris. Ever. I'd do it all over again," he said seriously, shaking his head. His voice lightened. "Besides, who would I have to tell me the stupidest of jokes if you weren't here?"

A small laugh bubbled in my chest. My voice was small through the sniffles. "So, you're admitting that you like them now?"

"I'm telling you that I love anything if it's from you."

I melted into him before squeezing his waist. "Nice to see that you finally understand how I feel about you." A hint of pink crept up his neck, making me smile before it fell into, "How did you know my father's gun wasn't loaded?"

That was the hint he gave me. Our first fight in the house had been about when I pointed a loaded gun at his dad and brother that I thought was empty.

"I remembered that I unloaded all of the guns his men had the moment I got them down. Your father left his on the couch when I first came in, and I grabbed it earlier. There was no way he had a loaded one. I didn't want to risk him trying to break your neck or anything, though." He kissed my head again. "You elbowed the shit out of him, though, Maggie. That's my fucking girl."

"Me?" I leaned back to get a view of my love. "You kicked ass out there left and right." I lifted my hand to stroke at his matted hair, but I could barely keep my limb up with my shaky nerves. "Don't forget who taught you all that you know, though."

Luke chuckled and kissed my wrist, a kiss bigger than anything. It was one we never thought we'd have again.

Before I could focus on the sensation, he was craning his neck, and I was pulling him down for a quicker reunion. Neither of us hesitated to capture each other's lips.

The kiss was intense, expressing our longing, anger, fear, relief, and everything else. The one that was my favorite, though, that I would get to experience and grow with the person who brought it out and gave it to me: love.

Tears mixed with our connection, but he deepened the kiss when he felt them. I nearly turned it into a meltdown when he broke it.

Yet, when our eyes met, I realized that was the last thing I wanted. My favorite blues held mine in an embrace that I never wanted to end.

"I'm so pissed at you," he mumbled, despite kissing my head with extra tenderness. "I'm so fucking pissed at you, Maggie Norris." Another kiss where I could feel his scowl building against my forehead. "You're in so much trouble, right now, you know that?"

At first, I thought he was talking about me leaving the room, but I debunked it. The only other thing was his father.

My eyes lowered to the ground. "You know?"

"You can bet your pretty ass I do, and I'm gonna stay mad for the rest of my life, because of it," he grumbled. I felt him stroke the back of my head, earning my chuckle, and a, "I don't believe that."

Luke scoffed. "You better, because it's happening."

For the first time in nearly a month, I felt like I was home against him. There was nothing better than it.

"I'll spend the rest of my life making up for it, then, if you let me. I'll say this before anything else, though..." Meeting his eyes, I locked my arms around his waist, careful of his graze. "I'm real sorry. I promise I am." My voice cracked as I added the last bit, softly, "And, I missed you. A lot."

Luke's expression melted back at me. He muttered a curse to himself before sighing. Our matching expressions mirrored the ache we had set off with our separation, before he was pulling me back into him.

"I missed you, baby," his voice sang like a melody, setting my heart aflutter. "I missed you so much."

Just as I prepared to respond, the sound of car doors closing outside interrupted us.

My initial thought was 911, but I quickly dismissed it; there were no flashing lights or sirens. It had to be more of my father's men. Fear gripped me from both sides as I released Luke, searching for a weapon.

Sensing my hesitation, Luke tightened his hold around my waist. "It's just the group, baby."

I turned slowly to face him. "Why are they here?"

A sheepish smile played on his lips as he shrugged. "They came to celebrate my dad's arrest and us getting back together, too. Levi even got a separate cake with 'the assholes are back' on it, just for me and you."

I couldn't help but laugh and make a mental note about discussing Luke's dad later. It all made sense now, thinking back to the call with Kimberly and Raven. My amusement grew as I playfully squeezed Luke's wrists. "Confident of you to assume a party would be necessary, though, pretty boy."

Luke grinned, his handsome face lighting up. "I wasn't giving up on us that easily, Maggie. Not for anyone or anything, not in a million years."

My heart raced as I grasped his hands tightly. "We'll talk about everything later," I reassured him, my smile softening as I gazed into his eyes. "To save you the embarrassment of canceling a party, though..." I lifted myself on my toes to kiss his cheek. "You're mine, and I'm yours."

Luke immediately understood my meaning, and I didn't need to say more. My heart confirmed it all.

His eyes sparkled with adoration, and a hint of humor shone through. He took my hand and led us through the house, careful to shield me from the gore.

Finally, we found a clear spot and paused. His gaze locked with mine once more.

"Wasn't it a smartass of mine who told me to stop with the subliminal bullshit?" He raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile on his lips. Those dimples, I had missed them more than I realized. "I need a straight answer, Norris. No bull—"

I kissed him, a kiss that spoke volumes, a kiss that I hadn't even thought myself capable of until it was against his lips.

Luke responded, holding me close, his grip a lifeline to confirm that this was real. It was. It always would be.

As we broke apart, I had to steady myself to keep from swooning after the dizzying kiss. Luke seemed equally affected. Our smiles mirrored each other's.

"I gotta go and tell them to stay outside." He flicked his head toward the door.

I nodded. "We'll have them meet us at the hospital. I want you to get checked," I said. At his stubborn expression, the one he always wore before arguing his hardheaded heart out, I shifted my gaze into a glare. "Argue with me, right now, Luke. I dare you to."

His chuckle weakened my glare. "There's my girl." His gaze roved over me before returning to my eyes, brimming with affection. "I've missed the hell out of her."

I kissed his cheek to convey my feelings, and Luke accepted it with a warm smile. Then he motioned toward the door. "Stay here, away from the scene for a minute. I'll let them know to stay outside."

I nodded, relieved not to witness any more of the gruesome scene. Luke kissed the tip of my nose and then my cheek before turning to address the group.

Just as he did, I heard it.

My eardrums twitched to collect as much as the sound as I could. The click of the safety being turned off on a gun.

My senses went alert. My head jerked in that direction, but when I saw it, my heart fell.

The man Luke had been fighting, the one I had walked in on, was now on his feet, gun in hand, and aimed directly at us. What sent chills down my spine wasn't just the gun but where it was pointed.

At Luke.

My heart, soul, and everything alike screamed along with me, "Luke!"

He spun around, grasping the situation. He reached for his gun at his waistband, but it wouldn't be quick enough. Something else had to be. We were mere inches apart.

In that life-or-death moment against the man who had given me life, I didn't hesitate. I never would. I'd risk my life every time to give him the chance to live his without his father, as he deserved more than anyone.

Without a second thought, I surged forward, placing my body between Luke and the gun, almost knocking us both down. Despite our size difference, I managed to cover him until I was sure the bullet would hit me before him.

The gunshot echoed through the house. I couldn't distinguish one from the other; they were both too close.

One rang so close to my ear that it burned, a sensation I knew would have consequences, but I ignored it.

Instead, I understood its meaning. It meant that Luke had taken a shot too. The body falling behind us confirmed it.

I turned around, my breath caught. My eyes scanned Luke rapidly, fearing I might miss an injury.

I couldn't tell too well if there was one, but he seemed fine. I think. I was sure.

"Maggie..." Luke's voice trembled in a way I'd never heard before.

Luke didn't get scared, not unless it was about me.

I didn't know why he was looking at me that way, and I didn't care. I just wanted him to be okay.

But when I glanced down and saw the blood staining Luke's shirt, somehow turning my tank top even redder, my heart sank. The white fabric was darkening with each passing second.

The realization of what had happened hadn't struck me as hard as it did until I looked up, and saw the panic stricken settlement in my lover's eyes.

One of us was shot.