Liberated Read Free

little brother. Glad to have you back. Now go take care of the doc.”
    Flint took one last look at each of the bodies on the ground before heading back to Kendra. He was glad to see she hadn’t moved. “Are you still doing okay?” he asked.
    She tried bravely to smile. “I’m a little shook up, but otherwise I’m fine. Are they all dead?”
    Flint looked away, unable to meet her eyes. “Yes.”
    “Did you know any of them?”
    “You mean personally?” he asked, then shook his head. “No, not anyone in this group. Wouldn’t recognize them if I met them on the street. I knew plenty about them though.”
    Kendra started to say something, then stopped. She chewed on her bottom lip a moment before working up the courage to ask the question that had been bothering her. “Did I kill anyone? You need to tell me the truth.”
    Flint grabbed her hand and linked his fingers through hers. “Kendra, look at me. You didn’t kill anyone. I promise. With the exception of the driver that you hit in the leg, I’m not sure you even shot anybody else. There were a lot of shots fired, and most of them came either from my gun or from the crew. Don’t start worrying about this. I can see it’s already messing with your head. You need to put those thoughts out of your mind right now. But just to be on the safe side, you need to give me your shotgun.”
    Kendra looked confused. “Why?”
    “I think it would be best if it didn’t stay in your possession. At least for now. Is it registered to you?”
    Kendra shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
    “Where did you get it? Think back because this is important.”
    Kendra thought for a moment then shrugged. “My uncle gave it to me several years ago. He owns a sporting goods store on the outside of town. It may have even been my Grandpa’s. I really don’t know.”
    “Okay. It really doesn’t matter as long as it is not registered or traceable in any way back to you.”
    Kendra looked up at him with her big brown eyes. “I’m in big trouble, aren’t I?”
    “No,” Flint replied firmly. “You didn’t do anything wrong. You’re not going to be in any trouble and if you ever were, I would protect you. You acted in self-defense. They drew their weapons first. You said so yourself.”
    “I assume we’re not calling the police?”
    He shook his head. “You know why we can’t. That’s all the more reason why you should get out of here as fast as you can. I don’t want someone spotting your truck. If anyone asks you what happened to your side mirror, tell them you slid off the road and hit a mailbox. Do you want me to drive you home or can you make it by yourself?”
    “I can do it,” she replied “I’m sure Jesse needs you more here.”
    “Okay, let me get the crew over here to push you out and get you on your way. Go very slow, and if you get stuck on an icy spot, just wait for us. We’ll be down the mountain real soon right behind you. Hand me the gun and all of the shells that go with it.”
    Kendra dutifully handed the gun to him along with the extra box of shells.
    Flint propped the gun up on the side of the truck. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered. “Come here.” He slid his arm behind her and pulled her close one last time. “I promise everything is going to be okay,” he whispered in her ear. He touched his lips to hers for one brief moment before letting her go and waving the crew over.

CHAPTER THREE
    K endra didn’t waste any time once she reached the bottom of the mountain road. She turned the truck toward Bardsville and headed to the wildlife clinic rather than going straight home. She needed to be around animals and her staff members, not sitting at home by herself fretting over things that couldn’t be changed.
    The decision to shoot had been easy.
    Kill or be killed.
    Protecting Flint had been her main focus so she hadn’t hesitated when it came time to pull the trigger. Unfortunately, the aftermath was proving to be a little more