Chapter 168: Lynn Hudson
930words
Finally! Where the hell had he been?!
"You put the gun down first, Pig!" Diego yelled back at Micky.
They were in a gun showdown and I had no idea what would happen next. My nerves were all over the place and I couldn't help but feel like something horrible was going to happen. My eyes flitted between the two men, wondering who'd surrender first.
"I don't want to shoot you, Diego! Put the gun down!!"
"Diego, listen to Micky!" Drake shouted. "Please!" The sorrow in his voice was evident. Diego was still his little brother whether he wanted to acknowledge it or not.
"Why?! So he can send me to prison?! No fucking thank you! I've got ten million dollars on that airplane and Mom and I are leaving the country. You owe us this much, Drake!"
"I'm giving you five seconds to lower your weapon, Diego!!" Micky shouted.
But Diego had other plans. He turned the barrel of the gun right on me as my breath hitched in my chest. I squeezed my eyes shut as Drake's begging plea filled my ears.
"Diego, no!! Kill me! Kill me!!"
Bang! A single shot went off before several rounds blasted from Micky. My ragged breath left my lungs as Drake tackled me to the ground. I didn't feel pain anywhere in my body besides the excruciating pain from my ribs when Drake tackled me.
"Oh my God! Baby, please!"
Drakes hands traveled all over my body as he vigorously searched for a bullet wound. He found nothing. We both let out an exhaled breath before our attention moved to the hangar.
"Get down on your knees!!" Micky screamed as he pointed his gun at Drake's mother.
She dropped to her knees without hesitation as my gaze landed on Diego's lifeless body on the concrete. His eyes were still open, staring blankly at nothing as the lights were turned off. Blood trailed from his mouth and chest as it pooled around him. Hudson was dead.
My gaze whipped to Drake as he stared at the scene in front of him. His eyes held onto Diego for several long seconds before he blew out a breath and looked over at me. There was so much sadness in his eyes but the relief on his features spoke volumes. Diego was taken down and his mother was being arrested. The threat had been eliminated.
Drake pulled me into his arms, kissing the top of my head before he blew out a breath of relief. He helped me to my feet a moment later as we watched Micky handcuff his mother's wrists. It was crazy to think that moments ago we were faced with imminent death, but had dodged it once again. I couldn't help but wonder if this was finally the last of our troubles. Drake and I had been through so much and all we wanted was to be together, living our life as one. Why couldn't people leave us alone?
Micky spoke into the walkie talkie attached at his shoulders, asking for transport and EMT assistance. Then he turned to us and nudged his head. "You two get out of here. I'll take it from here."
I slipped my hand into Drake's hand and squeezed hard. "Take me home, Drake," I whispered.
He stood there for a moment longer and stared at his dead brother and cuffed mother. It was almost as if he were silently saying goodbye to both of them in one form or another. His little brother was dead and his mother was being placed under arrest, yet Drake stood there with such a calmness that it soothed my soul. He was okay with what had happened, wasn't he?
"Come on," he finally rasped as he pulled me toward the Audi.
Once we were back in the car, he pulled my hand to his mouth and gently kissed me. My heart melted for this man as he peered up at me.
"I'm so sorry," I whispered.
As much as it killed me that his family had done what they had done, one of them was murdered tonight and the other would never see the light of day again. They might have been out of his life for a hot minute, but they were still his family. I thought back to Kathy and Gene Williams back in Washington and I knew what it felt like. They might not have been my blood family, but it wasn't easy watching them go to prison for life.
"There is nothing for you to be sorry about, lynn. They deserved what they had coming to them. I'm just glad Diego's blood is on Micky's hands and not mine." He framed my face, staring into my soul. "It's done. Let's go home and put this behind us, okay?"
I nodded without saying a word, knowing Drake needed a moment to gather his thoughts. He tore away from the hangar as I peered into the side mirror and watched Diego's lifeless body disappear the further away he drove. It was finally over. We could finally move on with our lives together. Nobody could take us down and we'd proved that again tonight. I glanced at Drake and knew in my heart that I was crazy to doubt that I was ready to marry again. I wanted to be Drake's wife. It would be an honor to marry this man and hold his last name. Lynn Hudson. Yeah, I liked the sound of that.
