I Hired a Hitman
Page 16
I’m sure every other word is getting lost to the wind as I shout it all back to Daisy, but it doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is that I put him down.
I gain ground on the truck, and when I’m close enough, I pull my pistol out and aim for a tire. I fire, but it pings off the back of the bumper and ricochets off into the fields. I have to be careful, or an innocent farmer could get hurt.
But I have to end this soon, or police will get involved.
I see the driver fumbling with something, and the next moment, a pistol appears in the window. He blind-fires at me, but I’ve already veered right and aimed another shot at his truck.
I slow down as I do, trying to steady my aim, but this time, Demyan catches on and pulls a smart move.
He accelerates, then uses the handbrake to swing his truck around, forming a barrier for me to hurdle toward.
If I can’t react in less than half a second, Daisy and I are about to get flattened against the side of the truck.
I veer left, so sharp that I feel the balance of the bike going out from under me as it lets out a squealing screech of rubber against asphalt. I see the whites of Demyan’s eyes as he levels his pistol at me.
It feels like time is thick and sluggish all around me. I hear Daisy screaming as she hugs me tight, her face in my back. My shooting arm is extended. I bring the sights up, and for the slightest fractions of a second, I can see those whites of Demyan’s eyes through them.
I fire.
My bike skids off the road and into the dirt of the ditch. With the sudden drop, I turn the bike into the fall and keep it from laying down. It’s disorienting, and I can feel my vision spinning, but I can see the truck clearly.
There’s no cover out here, no place for a tight and dramatic shootout, just me and Daisy and a motorcycle.
I level my pistol and aim at the truck again as my vision steadies itself.
Nothing happens.
“Are...we still alive?” Daisy asks.
Without responding, I get off the bike and approach the truck with my gun still out. I don’t see Demyan in the vehicle. I make my way to the door and pull it open, gun aimed at the driver’s seat.
Demyan’s body falls from it, a single bullet hole in his head where my shot landed true.
Epilogue
“You may now kiss the bride!”
The cheers of the crowd ring out so loudly that they nearly drown out the dulcet tones of the small string band. I grin up into Alexei’s handsome face, feeling so overcome with joy. He whispers, “I love you, Daisy. From now until the end of time.” Only I can hear him, but that’s just fine. Those words are meant only for me.
He cups my face in both hands before slowly leaning down to press his lips against mine in a soft, adoring kiss. I lean into his warm touch, trembling with awe and happiness. I never imagined this could be my reality.
As he kisses me, the crowd cheers louder and louder, and I laugh against his lips when I hear the specific hoots and hollers of Harriet and Jolene in the front pew.
“That’s my girl!” Jolene cries out proudly.
When we finally break away from the kiss, Alexei takes my hand in his larger one and we turn to rush down the narrow aisle between the pews dragged into neat angling lines. We could have gotten married in the chapel, but as it turns out, the little church isn’t actually big enough to hold all our guests— because in a town like Broken Pine, a wedding is regarded as a town-wide affair. An excuse for every inhabitant of our sweet little country town to dress up, put on their nicest cologne or perfume, and pile into whatever building is big enough to accommodate us all.
Being that this is a country wedding, and that Alexei and I are both passionate about horseback riding, it only makes sense that our ceremony is being held on his sprawling farmland property. The biggest building on the acreage is this one: the gigantic barn with its vaulted ceilings and unmistakable, centuries-old wooden beams. Even though we obviously worked hard to clean it up and make it spotless, there still remains just a subtle hint of the scent of hay and gunpowder. It doesn’t bother us, though. It just gives the whole event a more authentic barn-wedding feel to it. A bespoke country ceremony, the two of us surrounded by the people who adore us, by those who have known me and known my family line for decades and decades. And now none of them can look at me with pity anymore. I’m not just the lonely, overworked daughter of Jacob Jenson these days— I’m the smiling, laughing, glowing new wife of the most handsome and charming man in town.
Through me, the townspeople have learned to adore Alexei. They see how well he treats me. How he protects and cares for me. They know he’s the reason why I smile. And he’s also the reason for my natural glow… because even though we haven’t told everybody just yet, I’m pregnant. I’m just now beginning to show, and I chose a wedding dress appropriately— an empire-waist gown that cleverly disguises the start of a noticeable baby bump. The doctor has assured us that we will be having a boy, and we already plan to name him after my father.
The ceremony fades into the reception, the band striking up the country music while we eat amazing food cooked with love by Harriet and her crew from Maud’s Diner. Barbecue, fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, green bean casserole— and of course, an elegantly rustic wedding cake big enough to feed an entire town of hungry folks. Of course we don’t all fit neatly inside the barn, so the reception spills out onto the bright green fields, with long wooden tables of charmingly mismatched lengths and shapes. We eat happily, my guests laughing and talking and making toasts with their champagne flutes while Alexei and I sit at our own table, lost in love and over the moon.
After the meal, the sun is beginning to set as the music swells louder and couples take to the makeshift dance floor. Alexei leads me to the center of the floor, the two of us spinning and twirling joyfully together.
I have never known happiness like this. The threat against our lives is over. The man who attacked me, who tried to take Alexei down, was just a rogue agent of the mafia out for revenge. His mission was not sanctioned by the Bratva, and so they viewed his defeat as a triumph. Plus, Alexei promised me that they’re giving Demyan’s son a better life, without constant fear.
And Dean, well... It turns out more people than I thought knew he wasn’t all that he seemed. The entire town seemed to let out a collective sigh at his tragic, accidental passing, and more than a few people whispered to me that they were happy I found a good man.
With the continued blessing and protection of the Brotherhood, and the love and embrace of the townspeople here, our life together is off to one hell of a beautiful start.
As the moon rises to hang over the dance floor like a luminous white lantern, I lean into Alexei’s arms and kiss him.
“I love you, Alexei. More than anything in this world,” I whisper to him.
“I never knew quite exactly what I was searching for when I came all the way out here,” he says softly, “but now I know. Every misstep, every bend in the road, every so-called mistake— it has all led me to you. We were meant for each other, Daisy, and I will cherish you until the end of my days.”
I used to live day by day, afraid to think about the future. But not anymore. Now, I am excited to see what the future holds. Every single day brings more joy, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life this way.
Also by Alexis Abbott
Romantic Suspense:
Alexis Abbott’s Bound to the Bad Boy Series:
Book 1: Bound for Life
Book 2: Bound to the Mafia
Book 3: Bound in Love
Alexis Abbott’s Hitmen Series:
Owned by the Hitman
Sold to the Hitman
Saved by the Hitman
Captive of the Hitman
Stolen from the Hitman
Hostage of the Hitman
Taken by the Hitman
The Hitman’s Masquerade (Short Story)
Romantic Suspense Standalones:
Criminal
> Ruthless
Innocence For Sale: Jane
Reclaiming His Girls
Sights on the SEAL
Rock Hard Bodyguard
Abducted
Vegas Boss
I Hired A Hitman
Killing For Her
The Assassin’s Heart
Romance:
Falling for her Boss (Novella)
Most Wanted: Lilly (Novella)
Bound as the World Burns (SFF)
Erotic Thriller:
The Dangerous Men Series:
The Narrow Path
Strayed from the Path
Path to Ruin
About the Author
Alexis Abbott is a Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling author who writes about bad boys protecting their girls! Pick up her books today if you can’t resist a bad boy who is a good man, and find yourself transported with super steamy sex, gritty suspense, and lots of romance.
She lives in beautiful St. John's, NL, Canada with her amazing husband.
Connect with Alexis
Get an EXCLUSIVE book, FREE just as a thank you for signing up for my newsletter! Plus you’ll never miss a new release, cover reveal, or promotion!
Romance Novels to your Email
Do you want amazing book deals delivered right to your email address every week? Here are some of my favorite newsletters for readers:
Alexis Abbott’s Newsletter
Hot Stuff Romance Newsletter
ExciteSteam Romance Newsletter
BookBub Newsletter
My Romance Reads Newsletter