Page 109 of Swerve (Boosted Hearts 1)

She shrugged. “What can I say, I was offered a lot of money for you.”

“So that’s why I’m here?”

She snorted. “What did you think this is? A happy reunion?”

“Why did you kill Scott?” I asked, still trying to buy time.

“The night he attacked you, he was supposed to bring you in, the buyer was all set, but at the last minute, he decided he couldn’t do it.” Her expression turned bitter. “He’d developed feelings for you and decided to save you by running away with you instead. When you didn’t cooperate, he tried to force you. You turned his head, like the slut you are. You spent too much time with this piece of shit.” She shoved Neco’s head. “And his whore mother.”

I hated the woman in front of me in a way that went far beyond that word. “Celeste was more of a mother to me than you ever were.”

Her eyes narrowed, but she carried on, like I hadn’t even spoken. “Then Scott started hacking into my email and phone accounts and found out we were still negotiating with Edwards. He tried to stop me, warn you, but I got to him first.”

Neco, who had been sitting quietly through all this, moved suddenly. His hand shot out, grabbing for Valery, knocking her back. She collided with the wall, hard. Neco’s ankles were still tied to the chair and he only had one hand free, but Valery rolled out of the way before he could get a better hold on her.

She shot to her feet, gun aimed at me, screaming, telling me not to move, as she came at me. Grabbing my arm, she pointed the gun to my head.

Neco yanked the gag from his mouth, then held up his free hand in surrender. “Ruby was right, Valery. You won’t get away with this.” His eyes slid to mine then back to her. “There’s not even a buyer for Ruby anymore. He’s dead. Taking her is pointless.”

She stilled. “You’re lying.”

“I put the bullet in his brain myself.”

“I don’t believe you,” she screamed.

I checked out the windows. Nothing. It felt like we’d been in this living room for hours, but it could only have been minutes. I knew the guys were out there somewhere, or at least I hoped they were.

“We’re going to leave now,” Valery said. She was freaking out, sweating and shaking. “And I’m going to make sure you don’t follow.”

I knew exactly what she planned to do. “No,” I whispered. “Stop this now, before you make things worse for yourself. Put the gun down and walk away. I won’t try and stop you. Neither will you, right, Neco?”

He nodded. “Put it down, Valery.” His eyes slid back to mine, and I knew what he was telling me.

We both knew she wasn’t going to put down the gun. It was up to me.

She shook her head, crazy-eyed and desperate. “I can’t do that.” Then she aimed for Neco.

She was going to shoot.

My training kicked in, all the things Zeke had taught me. I lunged, latching onto her wrist, and shoved the gun toward the ceiling as she squeezed the trigger. She fired two rounds into the plaster, dust raining down on us. Spinning, I jerked her back, twisting her arm until she hit the wall and the gun fell from her fingers. Then, jamming her arm up her back, I kicked her legs out from under her and took her to the ground, going down with her and pressing my knee into her back. She screamed and spat and cursed, but I ignored her, holding her down.

Neco quickly freed himself and strode over, using some of the rope they’d tied him with to secure her arms behind her back, then he dragged me to my feet and, cupping my head in his big hand, shoved my face against his throat.

I jerked back and grabbed his arm. “You’re bleeding.”

“It’s just a graze.”

The door flew open and Van followed by Hunter barreled through the front door, Jude shouldering open the back. They took in the scene then looked at us.

“Well, shit,” Jude said, then pulled out his phone, and a second later was talking to the police.

Neco and I didn’t talk much after that, just held each other until the police arrived. Valery was towed away soon after, for once quiet and subdued.

We all gave our statements, then Neco took my hand, and I walked out of that house for the last time.

* * *

Neco’s hand was still wrapped around mine as he led me into his apartment, then over to the couch. He gently sat me down then paced away, hands running over his head. Then he paced back, stopping in front of me.