Page 23

Turning to look at Birch, I heard a loud pop. Covering my ears, I ducked my head and threw myself into the sand. I didn't have to see it to know what it was. Someone had just fired a shot.

With my face in the sand, a second shot rang out, echoing across the water and forcing a herd of seagulls to lurch into the air, cawing and scrambling away.

Peeking out over the crook of my arm, Birch was standing beside Nick with Antoine on his knees in the cold wet sand. The tide had started to come in, splashing over Antoine's thighs as he glared up at the sky.

His face was empty, cold and emotionless. He wasn't crying, he wasn't begging or pleading for his life. Two sets of feet laid on either side of him, their heels sinking into the dirt.

Lifting his gun, Birch placed the barrel against Antoine's forehead, directly in the center. “You never did know when to stop your dick from talking.” Clicking the hammer back, he cocked his head into his shoulder as the corner of his lip twitched. “Fuck, who am I kidding. You've never been anything but a dick. You wanted to buy my girl. . . you're father had the balls to threaten my family—that was a line no one should have crossed.”

I heard the gun go off, and it all seemed to happen in slow motion. Blood exploded out the back of Antoine's head, painting the beach in red. His eyes stayed open, glossing over as he swayed for the longest second of my life. Toppling back, his body folded unnaturally, arms tucked under his waist, feet bent and twisted in the ground.

I was in shock. Unable to look away and unable to close my eyes, I laid there and watched Nick and Birch as they rolled the men into the water and let the waves steal them away.

A high pitched ringing cut through my skull so I cupped my palms over my ears, trying to make it stop. My heart was racing inside my chest, unsure if what I had just seen was real.

“Cyprus, are you okay?” Birch jogged through the sand, crouching down and petting the top of my head. “It's alright, Love, he won't be able to threaten you again.”

“You killed him—” Blinking wildly, I clutched my hair with my hands and rolled onto my back. “You didn't have to kill him.”

“Yes we did.”

“No!” yelling, I threw my hands into the ground and pushed myself up. “You didn't have to kill all of them! They hadn't actually done anything!”

“Yes, Cyprus, he would have. It wouldn't have stopped here. They not only threatened you, but they threatened our very existence. We can't have that, we won't tolerate that shit.”

“They're people, Birch! You can't just go killing people because they make a threat!” Yanking my gun out of my waist, I dropped it to the ground. “I don't want this, I don't ever want this again.” Taking a long step back, I held my hands up.

Birch lunged forward, trapping me in his arms and forcing me against his chest. “Cyprus, those men traffic women. They take women and they sell them, they would have done that to you. They would have come back for you, we had to stop them.”

“What?” arching my neck, my brows tangled in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“He's right, Sweetheart. They weren't going to give up just like that, he would have tried to get you another way. I've known that family for a long time, and usually I just turn my head to what they do. But Georgio fucked up this time. He did the one thing he shouldn't have, he fucked with my family.”

Shaking my head, I broke free from Birch's arms. “You don't know that.”

Nick stood at my side and slid his hand down over my head, smoothing my hair against my back. “Honey, this wasn't unjustified. You mean the world to me, you mean the world to my son. I won't risk an asshole like that laying in wait to take you away.”

My eyes zeroed in on the stained beach, watching the waves clean away what was left of Antoine and his family. “You're sure of that? You really think they would have done that?”

“Cyprus, have I ever lied to you before? Have I ever given you reason to think I was some cold-hearted killer?” Nodding no, Nick smiled in that same comforting way he had done years ago when he found me. “That's because I'm not. I do what's necessary, and those men should have died a long long time ago. They got a free pass, until they threatened you. I don't have tolerance for that shit.”

Pinching my elbow, Birch drew my attention back on him. “He's telling you the truth, those men were awful. The world's a better place without them anyway. We probably just saved hundreds of lives by erasing them.”

Holding out his arm, he motioned for me to come closer. Birch wrapped his big strong arms around my ribs, pressing firm hands into the center of my back. “I love you, and I'm here to protect you. You're all I care about. I'll do anything to keep you safe.” Kissing the top of my head, he laid his cheek against my gritty hair. “I'd die if something ever happened to you.”

A deep seeded need to be loved and accepted, cared for and protected, made being in his arms a comfort. I loved and trusted Birch. I loved and trusted Nick like a father.

These men had been my saviors, and they had always stood by their word.

I had to believe that they were right. I had to give in to the horror and see it as a gift.

They had saved me again, they had solidified my existence on this earth for a second time.

How could I question that?

How could I doubt the nature of their intentions?

I knew these men and what they stood for. . .

At least I thought I did.