Nicole Edwards: Zane

To her surprise, evil was not standing on her doorstep. It was Beau, and he looked like he had just run a mile.

“Are you ok?” Zane asked, pulling him inside.

“Shut the door. Give me your phone.”

While Zane continued to ask Beau what the hell was going on, Beau ignored him, grabbing V’s cell phone from her hand before she had a chance to give it to him.

“They’re both in here.”

“Who the hell are you talking to?” Zane demanded, grabbing the phone from Beau’s hand.

V watched as he listened to the person on the other end of the line, his face void of all emotion.

“Where?”

That was the only question he asked before he hung up the phone.

Zane gripped the doorknob, jerking the front door open before Beau managed to stop him. V heard herself scream his name, that same paralyzing fear surging up from the soles of her feet and extending through every one of her limbs.

“Listen here, you son of a bitch. You want something from me? I’m right here.”

V heard the indignation that dripped from every word out of Zane’s mouth and her body shook. Beau grabbed her, but she yanked out of his grasp, moving to the door.

What was he doing?

God, this couldn’t be happening again. It couldn’t!

That’s when she saw Jake. He was standing on the sidewalk in front of her house, staring across the distance at Zane. She looked around but didn’t see anyone else. Wait. There was someone. Across the street. Her eyes flew back and forth, looking desperately in all of the hidden spots to see who else was lurking there. How many did he bring this time? Could Beau and Zane handle them?

Her heart was beating so fast, she wondered if she would pass out.

“Oh, God.” She knew the words had come out of her mouth, but no one acknowledged her. Not Zane. Not Beau.

Looking past Jake at Zane’s Jeep parked on the street, she saw more feet near the tires. There were at least three people out there, including Jake.

“Breathe, V. Just breathe, honey.” Beau’s voice was strong in her ear. He was still standing behind her, both of them inside the house while Zane was on the front porch.

“Keep her inside,” Zane demanded as he moved down the step.

“No!” she screamed.

“What’s wrong, Vanessa? Worried your little boy toy can’t take another beating?” Jake’s cruel words boomed across the yard.

“I can take anything you can dish out, you bastard.” Zane kept moving forward, and V felt like she was in a glass box, watching the inevitable happen again and unable to stop it.

“Why are you in here? Go out and help him!” she screamed at Beau, trying to break free from his firm grip on her arm.

“If he needs me, I’ll be right there. I promise you.”

What was he talking about? Zane needed him now. There were at least three of them and the others were hiding this time. How many more were there that she couldn’t see? She tried to peer out the door, but she wasn’t close enough to see what might be lurking at the edges of her house.

That’s when she saw a glint of metal in Jake’s hand. There was movement, but V couldn’t tear her eyes off of the... Oh, God! Jake was pointing a gun at Zane.

“Not happening this time.”

The voice penetrated V’s brain, but for some reason, it didn’t sound like Zane. Or Jake.

That’s when she realized that the feet behind the Jeep had moved. Another gun. Only this one was pointed directly at Jake’s head, the muzzle pressed against his temple.

Gage.

Everything went black.

♂♀

The weather was eerily the same as the last time Zane was here. The sky wasn’t quite blue, but not quite gray either. A little cooler, maybe.

Ever since he heard Travis’ voice on the other end of the phone, he knew what was happening. Walking out on the porch had been a distraction he knew had to happen, only he hoped it didn’t end badly. As much as he wanted to tear Jake apart, limb by limb, Zane wasn’t willing to lose V again.

He could’ve embraced the violence racing through his blood, could’ve confronted Jake and taken his chances, but he knew that wasn’t an option anymore. As much as V wanted to protect him, he wanted to protect her even more. Every part of her. Including her heart. He wasn’t willing to take a chance that this time he might not come back. Second chances didn’t come often, and Zane wasn’t willing to ask for another reprieve.

Thanks to Travis, Zane knew exactly what was going down out front. He knew that the legs he could see near the tire of his Jeep belonged to Gage Matthews. He knew the shadow across the street, standing in the hedges belonged to Travis. He was aware that Jake was alone this time.

He was even aware that Jake was packing heat. He was taking a small risk, but he prayed he’d be able to get out of the way if Jake was to pull the gun on him. Which he did.

The man didn’t look steady though. And the gun hadn’t even made it up level with his face before Gage was on him, the man’s Glock level with Jake’s temple. He announced the crap that police officers usually greeted suspects with, and Jake surrendered much faster than Zane had expected.

“Zane!”

Beau’s voice bellowed from inside the house, and he turned and ran back up the steps, the screen door damn nearing pulled from its hinges as he yanked it open. V was lying in Beau’s arms, unconscious.

Her body effortlessly transferred from Beau’s arms to his own and Zane carried her back to her bedroom, kicking the door closed with his foot. Laying her on the bed, he settled in beside her, gently shaking her face and talking to her. She passed out, which was understandable, considering all of those panic attacks that had preceded this little event.

“Baby, wake up. V.” He continued to talk to her until finally her eyes fluttered and those honey gold eyes peered up at him.

“Everything’s ok. I’m right here. Jake –”

“Did Gage kill him?” V questioned, cutting him off midsentence.

“No, baby.” Zane chuckled, staring down at her. “Jake’s not dead. No one’s hurt.”

Her arms latched onto his neck, pulling him off balance and Zane fell on top of her, nearly crushing her with his weight.

“I love you. So much. Please, don’t ever leave me, Zane. I love you.”

“Never, baby. I’m right here. Not going anywhere.” Lifting his head up, he looked into her eyes again, grinned. “Unless you want to head on back to Vegas and check out one of those little chapels.”

♂♀

Note to self... Parents do not like finding out their kids all disappeared to Vegas for a bachelor/bachelorette party. At least not the parents whose last names were Walker or Stranford.

That was the main reason there were so many people gathered behind the main Walker house, beneath tents, laughing and joking while Zoey and Kaleb danced. No, this wasn’t their first dance – at least, not as husband and wife. That wasn’t going to happen for at least a few more weeks.

This little shindig had actually been the brainchild of Curtis and Carl, with a little encouragement from Lorrie – who’d dubbed this Zoey’s bridal shower, although the men were invited. Zane’s parents had teamed up with Zoey’s father to make sure this celebration was done correctly. It was significantly toned down from the party in Vegas, but, if he had to say so himself, this was much more to his liking.

First of all, there were no strippers.

Thank God for that.

Secondly, Lorrie and V had done Zoey right. There were hoards of ladies present, all bringing gifts for the bride to be. Even Regina was present and as soon as V recognized her mother was there, she’d almost cried. That little dog of hers was managing to drum up more attention than the bride to be though.