Page 60 of Slashes in the Snow
I left her unprotected.
I left her, plain and simple, and it was the stupidest decision I have ever made.
We pull up to Kira’s in record time.
Jumping off the bike, I punch in the code to the front door and barrel inside.
“Spread out. Shake it down,” I order the others.
Hawk, Vet, and Breaker all go their separate ways as I pull the gun from my pants and creep upstairs.
The house is as silent as a morgue. Making my way down the hallway, I come to Kira’s door. Pushing it open slightly, I inspect the room.
Nothing’s out of place. No one is here.
“Clear,” I hear Hawk yell from the first floor.
Sigh of relief.
“Kira,” I rush inside her room and bang on the door. “Kira, it’s me. Let me in.”
Nothing. I wait. “Kira. Open this fucking door, or I’m going to break it down.” I bang harder. A mix of fear and panic asphyxiating me.
The lock finally clicks, and I hurry inside. I find Kira in a ball in the corner, shaking and crying and . . . her fuckin’ hair.
“Kira.” I fall to my knees and gather her into my arms. She’s limp and lifeless and terrified. “It’s okay. You’re safe now.” I hug her tightly, thanking Jesus she isn’t hurt. Well, physically anyway.
She sobs in my arms, and all I can do is hold her until she lets it all out. She clings to me like I’m life. Like I’m air. Like I’m the sea she uses to escape.
When she finally settles, she looks up at me with red, puffy, fragmented eyes.
It destroys me.
I did this. My pride allowed this to happen.
“I’m so sorry, Snow.” I kiss her head.
“Someone was here. They cut my hair.”
Jesus, she’s been reduced to a scared child. I’m falling to pieces inside.
“I know. I’m getting you out of here.” I haul us both up to our feet. I walk Kira out of the bathroom and head for her closet. I grab a book bag off the floor and hand it to her. “Pack it, and let’s go.”
“Where are we going?” She holds the pink backpack warily in her hands.
“Outta here. You’ll stay with me until we can figure out whoever this psycho is.” I finally take a good look at her. A real look at her. This motherfucker really did a hack job on her hair. It’s nearly all gone, the ends choppy and all uneven. “Change. C’mon, hurry up.” I grab her toothbrush and comb out of the bathroom and throw them in the bag.
Kira puts on a pair of three-quarter-length jeans, and leaves on the flowy white tank top she’s wearing. She throws a few more items into the bag, and then we’re out.
When Kira notices her reflection in the mirror hanging in the hallway, she stops dead in her tracks. She inspects herself, touching her hair like it’s a foreign object.
She looks over at me and the tears start to well again.
“It’s okay; we’ll fix it.” I take her face in my hands. “You’re still beautiful, and still my Snow.”
Kira doesn’t humor me with a response. I’m sure there are a cyclone of emotions spinning inside her right now, many I’m responsible for.
I lead Kira downstairs where Hawk, Vet, and Breaker are waiting.
