Don't Poke the Luna (Xena and Ryder) novel Chapter 73

Chapter 73

Xena’s POV

“What did you see, X?” Logan asked.

I examined the car carefully, my heart racing while my brain remained eerily calm, analyzing everything before me. “The bullet that hit Ryder came through the car body, and it was from a different gun. The hole is bigger.” My voice was steady, but inside I was churning, a terrible theory gradually taking shape. “Almost like they wanted to kill Ryder first, then it would be easier to get me. Ryder and I could have easily handled three Rogues. This seems like their Plan B, and not a very thorough one. They could have

attacked me in the shop for better results.”

I walked toward the windshield, flashes of memory from my body hitting the glass replaying in my mind.

“Looking at this angle, the gun that hit Ryder was fired from the rooftop. I bet they knew

he would protect me, so he became an easy target. This attack was to get him into

position.” The thought made me sick, my stomach twisting into knots. Why would

someone want me? There was nothing special about me. I couldn’t shoot fire from my

hands or lasers from my eyes. I couldn’t fly or freeze water. I was just an ordinary person

with above–average intelligence. Why? What was my value?

“Then I guess we’re lucky they only fired once,” Benedict said, crossing his arms.

Logan’s phone rang. He walked away to answer it.

“He could have killed us when we were walking out,” Ryder said quietly.

My brain worked quickly, analyzing possibilities. “Those windows are tinted, so you can’t see inside. I’m guessing he wasn’t ready, and that was his only option.” My eyes returned

to the car hood. There were smudges of blood on it.

“Xena.” Logan’s tone plus his use of my full name worried me.

“What is it?” I glanced at Ryder. His expression was unreadable.

“It’s… it’s the shop. Someone broke in and trashed it. Police are there now.”

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My jaw dropped. I sighed, what was coming had finally arrived. Even though the shop was my heart and soul, my everything, after losing Samuel, I seemed to have become numb.

“X?” Logan asked worriedly.

I took a deep breath. “Take me there,” I demanded, my voice low.

Logan looked at Ryder with concern. “Maybe it’s best if-”

“If you don’t finish that sentence, either you drive me there or I’ll drive myself,” I said

angrily.

Logan sighed. “Let’s go.”

I followed Logan, with Ryder coming along, walking beside me.

On the way to the shop, I remained silent. Ryder tried to hold my hand, but I pushed him

away. It wasn’t that I didn’t want his comfort, but if anyone touched me, I would lose my composure. My emotions were like a ticking time bomb–the slightest contact could

trigger an explosion.

When we arrived, police had already surrounded it. It was marked with yellow caution

tape.

“This is a bad idea,” Ryder whispered to Logan.

“I know. She’s barely keeping it together, and yes, there’s a threat to her life.”

I heard them talking, but my thoughts had already drifted. The shop was my pride, proof

of

my achievements, something I had created. Every customized bike had a piece of my

soul in it. And now…

All the glass in the shop was shattered, broken pieces covering the sidewalk, the door in tatters, and inside looked like a complete mess. I thought I would take it in stride, but

seeing it in person, I couldn’t control the anger inside me.

Walking forward, a police officer tried to stop me.

“You can’t pass this point!”

“That’s my business! That’s my shop!” I could feel my anger growing, like an

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uncontrollable flame inside me.

“Please come in. Be careful.”

“They’re with. me,” I said, letting Ryder and Logan enter with me.

I walked to the shop entrance, looking at the building across the street, calculating the angle of the shot, my brain automatically going into analysis mode.

“Logan, the shooter was on that building,” I pointed to the medium–sized structure, my

voice still lifeless.

“Are you sure?”