Not for a Moment
Page 24
“Why?”
“Why not? I’m just having a little fun. You’re all about fun, aren’t you? Besides, I’ll be saving the lives of so many women. Women, who unlike my mom, will get to see another day.”
“Rachel—”
I pulled the trigger. A slug tore a hole through his heart. Leo’s body collided with the concrete. Scott rushed over to me.
People screamed. Some dove for cover, thinking there would be more bullets.
Not my intention. I did my job.
“Put the gun down,” Scott intoned as if I didn’t understand the direction.
I held out my left hand, crouched low, and placed the weapon on the ground. I watched the life flow out of Leo, wondering if that was what Matt experienced in his final moments.
Within seconds, Scott grabbed my wrists and handcuffed me. Right before he read me my rights, he squatted down and placed a syringe and a bottle of ketamine in Leo’s jacket pocket. Once done, he removed his gloves and then escorted me to his waiting car.
Inside the vehicle, Scott called dispatch and requested that someone pick up the body. Then he pulled out a clipboard and wrote down some details as I sat in the backseat.
“Did you get all of that?” I asked.
“I did. I’m reporting it as a justifiable homicide.” He faced me. “Why did you shoot him, Rachel? We had enough evidence to lock him up for good. He would have gotten the death penalty.”
“True, but rotting away in a jail cell was too good for Leo. Matt didn’t get that opportunity.” I glanced out the window. “Besides, one person shouldn’t be able to destroy another person’s world. Leo in prison and facing a lethal injection just didn’t seem harsh enough, not after all the lives he took.”
Scott nodded. “One more thing.”
“Yes?”
“How did you know?”
“That it was Leo?” I smiled. “He’d told me that he had traveled to California. When he disappeared, I wondered had he gone back. Then I found the postcard in his closet. It was sheer luck that I ran into him in Santa Monica. His gait gave him away. Leo always walked with a slight limp. Masquerading as Patrick, he tried to hide it, but I saw it. Frankly, I’m surprised nobody else noticed.” Hell, I’d forgotten about his hobbled way of walking when we met up at the bar. “Curiosity got the better of me. That’s why I stayed a month.”
To be honest, I played stalker. I watched Leo like a hawk, noticing peculiarities—how he never took his coffee black, he only drank top-shelf whiskey or dark ale, and how he lived off of pizza.
“What you did was dangerous, Rachel.” Scott chastised me and then returned to his report.
Also true, but sometimes you have to make a choice. Ignore the scream inside dying to get out. You have to find yourself. Stand up and fight, no matter the risk. Sometimes you had to believe in yourself more than the fear threatening to overwhelm you.
It was the only path to justice and true freedom.
THE END
Thank you for reading!
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed Rachel’s story! The idea came from the numerous news stories I heard of innocent people victimized because of an erroneous belief system. As my main character learned no place is truly safe. It’s up to each of us to maintain an awareness to stay protected.
Writing a villain was a new experience for me. I’ve written bad guys, but never one who was so mentally deranged. Leo/Leon stayed with me long after I wrote the end.
Authors love feedback, and I’m no exception. Let me know how you like the series. I even want to know what you’d like to read more of. You can send me a direct message at sfbenson@authorsfbenson.com and visit me on the web at www.nadirahfoxx.wordpress.com/blog.
Finally, I need to ask a favor. If you’re so inclined, I’d love it if you’d post a review of Not For A Moment. Loved it, hated it—I just want to hear your feedback. Reviews are tough to come by these days. Readers can make or break a book. Thank you, once again, for reading Not For A Moment!
Gratefully yours,
Nadirah Foxx
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
A special thanks goes to my editor and friend, Tia Silverthorne Bach. You’ve taught me a lot on this journey.
Thanks goes to the amazing team at Deranged Doctor Design. I so appreciate how they can take minimal information and create art.
Of course, I can’t forget my husband and my daughter. Thanks for putting up with my crazy, long schedule and giving me the opportunity to do what I love.
Last, but not least, thanks Mom and Dad—for without them none of this is possible.
ALSO BY NADIRAH FOXX
Taming the Beast
(A Havenwood Falls Sin & Silk Novella)
The Collector: Awakening
(A Havenwood Falls novel)
Delivering Sin
Shadow Love
Flirting with Death
(A Havenwood Falls Sin & Silk Novella, coming in August)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nadirah Foxx is the alter ego for author SF Benson. This persona is fond of dark, twisted romance featuring suspense and adventure. She also loves a good paranormal tale. Her characters are always flawed, but they always find a way around the obstacles and demons of life.
Connect with Nadirah on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NadirahFoxx/
Twitter: @nadirahfoxx
Blog: https://nadirahfoxx.wordpress.com/blog