12. Rory

I'm heading back to town when my phone rings. I pick it up and hit the speaker. "What's up, Cody?"

"Man, some of the guys that are close to the gate are hollering that there's an accident and they're trying to get to the car but some guy is shooting at them. All hell's breaking loose and I think that the car is Callie's. Whoever it is, we need to get them out of there. This guy sounds crazy and that storm is moving in fast."

"Fuck, fuck, fuck!" I slam my fist into the steering wheel and jerk it, slamming my foot down on the gas. "That motherfucker."

It takes what feels like hours but is probably only minutes for me to reach the border of the ranch and its gates.

As soon as I get close I hear gun shots and I pull my truck over to the side of the road, grabbing my shotgun out of the back. I check to make sure it's loaded and jog lightly up the track and then behind a copse of trees that grow alongside the fence, my eyes widening when I see the two cars. One is behind the other and it's obvious that it's pushed the first car into the fence. I groan when I see that it's Callie's car. The copse of trees is close to the accident but it's still gonna have some open real estate that I have to cross.

Two of the guys come running up, breathing heavy. "What the hell man? Who's this guy and what's he doing here?"

"My girl is in the car and she's got a stalker ex. That's him." I point at the blond guy shouting and waving a handgun around. He's trying to get to the car but the guys keep putting bullets by his feet which is pissing him off big time.

"Leave me the fuck alone! She's mine!" He screams and raises the gun again, firing at nothing but air.

I'm guessing he doesn't know how to shoot which is why he only grazed Donut the other night. One of the new hands, Jacob nods at me.

"What do you want to do, boss?"

"I'm gonna confront the asshole. I don't think he can shoot worth a shit. I'm going over there and put myself between him and Callie."

He groans. "Do you think that's a good idea?"

I grunt. "Probably not. But I'm not letting him get near her. Have you guys seen her move?"

Both of them shake their hands. "Okay. So I need to see how she's doing too."

I step out of the woods and head for the cars, trying to get close enough to tackle the asshole if I can. Trying to put myself between him and the woman I can't live without. The wind skitters around my booted feet and I feel an occasional drop of rain.

My heart seizes when I see her blond head bent over the steering wheel, her body limp and unmoving. I can't see how bad she's hurt but it's obvious that she's unconscious right now.

Before I've gone halfway there, the dickhead sees me and the gun jumps as he whips it up to his eye.

"You," he mutters under his breath. "You're the asshole that slept with my girl."

"She's not yours," I answer calmly, maneuvering until I'm between his pacing body and the steaming hunk of metal that has my love inside it.

"She is!" He screams and the gun jerks, going off, the bullet hitting me in the shoulder.

I grunt and race at him, slamming into his body and grunting as I take him down hard.

We hit the ground and I grit my teeth from the explosion of pain in my shoulder.

But it doesn't stop me from hammering my fist into the dick's rabbity fucking face. He screams and drops the gun as my fist connects with his jaw, his nose, anywhere I can reach.

"Who the fuck do you think you are? You don't want her unless someone else does? Well, fuck you man! She's mine. My fucking woman!" I keep hammering at him with every damn word, my vision blurring red with rage.

I struggle when someone grabs me, hollering. "Boss! Hey! Leave something for the cops!"

Jacob jerks at me, his blue eyes concerned as he holds me away.

I point my finger at the piece of shit lying in the grass. "I'm leaving you for the Sheriff but you better pray that she's alright or I'm gonna come back and finish you off." I groan when I finally feel the pain in my shoulder but I think it's only a graze.

And I whirl on my booted heel and race to the car where one of the guys is tugging at the door. I push him out of the way and yank at it, swearing when I realize that it's locked and the window is rolled up so we can't open it.

I grab the gun and run to the other side of the car, slamming the butt of the shotgun into the window over and over, roaring when it finally cracks and I can finally hammer it until it's shattered enough to get to the lock.

A piece of glass scrapes along my wrist and I gasp but it doesn't stop me. Pain recedes as I finally get the fucking door open and jump inside, my throat tight, my pulse pounding in my head as I reach out and touch her pale throat.

I almost fucking cry when I feel her blood moving under her soft skin.

"She's alive!"I holler. "She needs an ambulance though."

One of the guys hollers back that it's on the way but my eyes never leave her pale face. Her lip is busted open, blood on her cheek and there's a huge bruise on her forehead where she must have hit her head on the steering wheel or the window.

But she's alive. I hit the lock button to unlock the door and then back out and walk over to the other side. I squat by the open door. My fingers caress her skin and I pray like I've never prayed in my life.

Because she is my life. I don't think I can live without her. I don't think I'd want to. Gentle rain washes over me and I ignore it, eyes locked on my whole world until the ambulance gets there.