Page 127 of Mended Fences

Then he fired.

The impact slammed through me like a freight train—hot, sharp, world-tilting.

“Chase!” Elena screamed.

Pain exploded through my shoulder like a pipe bursting under my skin. My knees buckled, and I crumpled to the ground, pain ripping through my arm, my side, my everything. My ears rang. My body screamed. But all I could think was?—

Elena. Luci.

I tried to reach for them—my hand slick with blood, body refusing to cooperate.

Peter surged forward.

I watched, helpless, as Elena lunged to protect Luci. She fought—scratched, kicked, screamed—but Peter was bigger. Crazier.

He shoved her.Hard.

Her head cracked against the corner of the changing table as she went down. Dead weight. Not moving.

“No—” I gasped, crawling, dragging myself toward them.

Peter grabbed Luci—still screaming, face down and flailing in her sleep sack where she’d rolled out of Elena’s arms—and bolted.

By the time I reached Elena’s side, the nursery door banged against the wall, left swinging open.

I heard sirens in the distance.

But he was gone.

Gone with my baby.

And all I could do was press my bloody hand to Elena’s skull, beg her to wake up, and pray I didn’t black out before I could get her help.

Chapter Forty-Eight

ANDY

Now, May 2025

I wasthe closest unit when the call came in.

Silent alarm, residential. Flagged high-priority. Sable Point address.

Chase and Elena’s.

My gut twisted before dispatch even finished the call sign.

Last time I responded to a call from Elena, she’ been brutally assaulted by her piece of shit ex and Chase went fuckin’ unhinged. That night cracked something open in him—and in all of us. Not long after, he’d wrecked his bike on the county road trying to outrun his own goddamn demons.

Put Charlie in a coma. His baby sister. Still doesn’t remember the crash.

I floored it.

Two minutes out.

The cruiser lights washed over the houses like a demented Bomb Pop. My pulse thudded in my ears. This wasn’t just another call. This was my friend. A good one. A guy who’d clawed his way back from hell and built something beautiful out of the ashes. If anything had happened to that baby...

I couldn’t think about it.