16
Colton
“Jesus Christ, Colton.”
Jerry Halter, the Southworth Chief of Police, whistles lowly as he glances around the backyard. The place is swarming with four other cops and about five of the Winchester campus cops. People are taking photos, and putting little flags where the bullet holes are, and of course, marking the bodies.
Yeah, bodies.
Lorenzo brought six guys with him when they broke into my house for Brynn.
…They should have brought more.
Two of them are in rough shape. One might not walk again. The other three are dead. And I have zero regrets. None. You might say it’s that I’ve been numbed by wars, or programmed not to feel by the Special Forces, but really, it’s a lot simpler than that: they came for the girl I love, and I put them down.
Simple as that.
Of course, the Principal of Winchester killing three mafia thugs and putting three more in the hospital in his own backyard is… well, something to discuss.
“Mind if we go over some of the details?”
I nod. “Sure, Jerry.” I gesture inside, and he nods, following me through the broken back door, through the house, and into my study. I’ve already given a statement about how I was ambushed by guys breaking into my house for unknown reasons to a deputy, but I know Jerry’s going to have deeper questions. And rightfully so. It’s not like this shit is common for a place like Southworth.
“So, you don’t know these guys?”
I shake my head. “No. I was at a bachelor party a little while ago and saw two of them and that guy I tied up outside who I think is their boss. But all I saw was them roughing up a stripper. I told them to knock it off and that was it.”
He nods. “Any idea why they came for you?”
I shrug. “Could be the big bar tab I paid for, could be the Rolex I was wearing that night. Maybe they figured out who I was and thought this place would be full of antiques or something. I mean it’s a historic home.”
Jerry nods. “Look, Colton, I’m going to level with you. I’m inclined to just take your word on this, but that asshole you tied up is claiming you had a student here with you?” He frowns. “I mean with you, if you catch what I mean.”
I snort. “You realize that sounds absurd, right?”
Jerry chuckles. “I do, but, I gotta ask, Colton. He and the two who are actually talking say there was a girl here.”
I take a measured breath, nodding. This is all part of my plan.
“I did have someone over,” I say quietly.
Jerry’s brows shoot up.
“And this person is…?”
“I don’t know her.”
He frowns. “Colton—”
“Look, we met at a bar, and she’s married, okay? We had some drinks, one thing led to another…” I shrug. “I don’t even have her number, and I’m guessing she’s never going to come forward if you put the call out.”
Jerry sighs heavily, pinching his nose.
“Well, fuck, Colton.”
“She freaked out when they came charging in and just took off. I think one of them grabbed her, but she shook him off and booked it out the back gate.” I chuckle quietly. “I did promise her a wild night, but this might have been more than she bargained for.”
Jerry chuckles, shaking his head.