Free No Safeword: Matte - Happily Ever After (Safewords) by Candace Blevins Page A

bringing you back to court to try to get possession of something his father gave him as a child, for instance. It’ll just make you look bad.”
    Jenna’s smile was huge as she said, “Ex-husband. Wow, that sounds good.”
    Sam was told the officer was en route to the family home and would allow no one inside until both parties were present. She worried for Jenna’s safety as she sent her on her way, but hoped Mr. Masterson’s impending case in criminal court would calm his temper. If the judge found him guilty of aggravated assault on her as an officer of the court, the minimum sentence was five years and the maximum twenty. At this point, she didn’t see how he could be found not guilty, the only question was how long he’d be sentenced.
    She turned her phone on, checked for any messages she may have missed while in court, and responded to a few before leaving the courthouse. Her phone was still in her hands as she descended the steps with the July sun blazing its punishing heat, and as she traversed the courthouse lawn she thought she might call it an early day and head home for a swim before meeting Ethan at the dojo.
    She heard the thunderous boom as she was slammed backwards, and would’ve hit the ground if her fighting instincts hadn’t kicked in to keep her on her feet. She crouched in perfect fighting form as her eyes focused on the gun in Mr. Masterson’s hand, and she looked down to see blood blooming across her shirt, between her left breast and shoulder. It hurt, but she could breathe, and her brain went immediately into survival mode. She’d dropped her bag when he shot her, but still had her phone in her right hand. He was too far away for her to kick or hit, but she might be able to throw her phone flat, as one would a throwing star, and knock him off balance long enough to get close and take the gun. Or, it might make him shoot her again.
    “Fucking cunt! You ruined my life! I lost everything because of you!”
    Still not taking responsibility for his actions, but now probably wasn’t a good time to point it out. She was lightheaded and didn’t want to pass out, so she forced a deep breath despite the sharp pains it created, and tried to focus on staying alert. A few people were standing off to the side, watching, and she hoped someone called for help. She couldn’t think well enough to form words, and wasn’t sure what to say, even if she could.
    There was yelling around her, and then she heard another gunshot and assumed he’d shot her again until she saw him fall. She looked up, towards the courthouse, and saw one of the bailiffs on the top step with his gun drawn.
    She meant to go to her knees, but her legs gave out on the way down and it was more of a fall, so she landed on her ass with a painful jar. She stayed sitting up, though; she wasn’t sure she could breathe if she laid down.
    Ethan , she had to tell Ethan or it would hurt his feelings. People were coming towards her, but she couldn’t give them attention and call Ethan at the same time. She looked at her right hand, unlocked her phone, and pushed the icon for his cellphone. When he answered all she could say was, “He shot me,” before she lost consciousness.
     
    * * * *
     
    She came to as the EMT’s were working on her, the pain in her shoulder and chest taking her breath, and the clouds in the blue sky above swimming so much she thought she might puke. She tried to sit up but hands held her down as someone told her she was going to be fine. A man asked her name, and whether she had any allergies. He took the mask off her face and she managed to get out, “Morphine and Codeine,” but it hurt to talk. She remembered calling Ethan, but her phone wasn’t in her hand anymore.
    “Ethan! I was…” She ran out of air, pulled more in despite the burning knives moving around in her chest as it inflated, and finished with, “calling him!”
    “A courthouse officer took your phone and talked to him. Ethan’s your