Jeffrey’s chest burned as he was dragged back to that day. The mory that had been buried for long, resurfaced.
He didn’t know why he had been standing under those oak trees, as the gentle breeze caressed his cheeks. Songs of birds and the gentle splashing of water surrounded him as the scent of wildflowers and moss surrounded him.
He rembered how he felt... Peaceful... Fulfilled.
Like he had made a promise... An eternal vow that filled his heart with contentnt.
As a child, he loved stories where the hero embarked on a journey to complete a task, to fulfill a purpose. It gave aning to their existence. He wanted to be a hero too.
And that day—he must have completed sothing important, because that was how he felt, like he had accomplished sothing great.
But what?
Then he saw her.
The girl with the bright red hair and a brighter smile. A cara hanging from her neck... Is that...
And suddenly... chaos.
His stomach twisted as he watched the evil man grab her, dragging her away. She didn’t want to go. She scread, kicking and thrashing, but no one else was around.
No one except him.
He had to do sothing. He had to save her. He wanted to be her hero.
But when he tried...
Cold hands... A violent shove... Water swallowing him whole...
He gasped for air, fought against the weight pushing him down. His limbs flailed, his lungs burned...
And every ti he broke through the water’s surface, he saw them... The row of oak trees.
Ah...so that’s why they looked familiar.
Even as his body ached, even as his vision blurred, one thought kept him going—as long as she was safe, it was worth it.
But she wasn’t.
"Let him go!"
Her voice rang out.
A rock flew through the air, striking the man in the head. Blood trickled down his forehead. He turned—his fury no longer on Jeffrey, but on her.
Jeffrey’s heart pounded. His limbs scread in protest. But he couldn’t move.
He could only watch.
Watch as she struggled.
Watch as that monster forced her under the water.
No. No. No.
His pain intensified. His body refused to move.
I can’t save her.
I can’t protect her.
I’m useless.
That was his last thought before darkness consud him.
The next thing he rembered—
A hospital bed.
His injuries.
And worst of all...
His mory of the girl—the one he failed to save—gone.
Jeffrey was yanked back into reality by the pounding of hooves. His chest heaved, his breath ragged. He clenched his fist, ready to strike Caruso again, when he felt a squeeze on his arm.
"Jeffrey..."
Joanne’s voice was soft but urgent. She was scared, not just of Caruso, but for him. He had lost himself in his fury, hamring the man long past the point of self-defense. If he kept going, there would be no arguing his actions in court.
The haze of rage lifted slightly, and Jeffrey looked down at his trembling hands, his knuckles torn and bloodied. He wasn’t sure how many tis he had hit Caruso, but the man barely moved now. His face was unrecognizable, a bloody, swollen ss. He was still breathing...barely.
The sound of hooves drew closer. Heavy boots hit the ground, and a familiar voice cut through the thick air.
"Is he dead yet?" Liam asked, shotgun in hand.
Jeffrey looked up, still dazed. Liam stood there, calm, as if this were just another chore on his land.
"Liam!" Joanne exhaled in relief, peeking from behind Jeffrey.
Liam’s eyes scanned her quickly. "Are you okay? You scared the hell out of us." His gaze flicked to Jeffrey, his lips quirking slightly. "Good thing JD was here, huh?"
Joanne nodded, her body sagging slightly as the tension left her.
An engine rumbled in the distance, growing louder. Joanne turned toward the sound, frowning. No sirens. Not the cops. Then who?
Liam sighed. "Get back."
Jeffrey barely heard him. His mind was unraveling, caught in a loop of mories and crushing realizations.
The girl from his dreams—the girl he had failed—if she was real, if that mory wasn’t just so nightmare but a lost fragnt of his past...
Then Joanne wasn’t just so stranger who was about to marry him for money. She knew him.
And more importantly...
She was the girl who had risked her life for him. And he... he had put her life in danger by leading Caruso here.
A chill gripped his soul.
What have I done!
"Move back!" Liam’s voice snapped him out of it.
Jeffrey stood, his movents stiff. His chest ached, his back throbbed, but none of it compared to the sickening weight settling in his gut. Joanne was struggling to stand, and without thinking, he helped her up. She was worse off than him, her body battered, pain written all over her face. She needed a doctor.
Liam, however, had other plans. He cocked the shotgun and aid it at Caruso’s barely moving form.
"Wait."
"Wait!"
Both Jeffrey and Joanne spoke at the sa ti.
Liam groaned, rolling his eyes. "Damn it, Jo! The man’s half-dead already. What, you wanna get him dical attention so he can co back and try again?"
"Liam, you can’t do this," Joanne argued, stepping forward. "If you shoot him now, there’s no justifying it. It’s not self-defense anymore. This will co back on you. You have a family. Think about them."
Liam exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "You really think the law is gonna protect you? The system already let him escape once. What do you think happens next ti? He gets out, cos back, and maybe next ti you don’t make it?" His finger hovered over the trigger. "Can’t take that chance."
Joanne bit her lip, torn.
Jeffrey, however, crouched down beside Caruso and did sothing. Joanne couldn’t see what until he stood up and stepped back.
Caruso’s gun was now in his hand.
Liam’s expression shifted, understanding imdiately. A slow, approving grin stretched across his face.
"Now," Jeffrey said quietly.
Liam nodded, satisfied. He glanced at Joanne. "Step back. You don’t wanna be covered in blood splatter."
Joanne let out a long breath but didn’t argue anymore. He should have been dead years ago as he got death penalty. Why was he kept alive for this long, anyway?
Jeffrey moved in front of her, pulling her into his arms, shielding her from the sight.
Bang.
The gunshot echoed through the air. The horses neighed in panic, their hooves kicking up dust. Joanne squeezed her eyes shut against the sound, pressing her face against Jeffrey’s chest. His arms tightened around her.
It was over.
He wouldn’t co back to haunt her again.
Just then a land rover rolled to a stop in front of them. Out ca four well-dressed n. Joanne was shocked to see them. Who are they?
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