The sound of a gun cocking filled my ears and then I felt the barrel of it pressing into the back of my head. My eyes widened and heart stammered. Numbness washed over me and my blood roared between my ears.
“Put your gun down, Spencer,” Simon ordered harshly, his voice thick with threat. “Or I blow her brains out and you watch them splatter all over the walls.”
My head ran wild, my stomach tightening with a cramp. Panic clawed at my throat, but I forced myself to swallow it down.
“Give up, Killian. The house is surrounded and your men are outnumbered,” Simon hissed. “Put the fucking gun down. I won’t ask again.”
“Okay,” Killian conceded calmly. He bent down, placing his gun on the ground before he straightened again, hands up in surrender. “I did what you asked. Let her go and we can talk about this.”
“Don’t do this, Simon,” I begged shakily. “My father has filled your mind with poison. I know you’re not this person. Gracelynn wouldn’t want this. I didn’t cause the accident that night, please believe me. Just listen to me. Please.
He pressed the barrel of the gun harder into my skull and I winced. “I would suggest you shut up, Julianna,” he snarled. “You. Killed. Her.”
I tried to shake my head but the gun stopped me. “No,” I choked, pleading. “I didn’t. Please.”
But Simon wasn’t ready to listen. He had allowed himself to build such hatred for me in his heart, that he wasn’t ready to see the truth. I didn’t blame him; it was all my father’s doing. He took advantage of Simon’s broken heart and used it against us.
My eyes met Killian’s, a silent understanding between us.
He lunged forward and I ducked. Killian slammed into Simon, both of them falling to the ground. I watched as the two men tackled each other. Simon was a trained fighter and he had an upper hand, but Killian was consumed with rage and his need to protect me.
I stood frozen in fear and panic, watching them roll on the ground – both of them fighting to have an upper hand. Fists colliding against flesh and their heavy grunts filled my ears.
Simon reared his head back before slamming his forehead into Killian’s nose. They both stumbled away from each other, staggering to their feet.
My heart was trying to pound its way out of my chest and my hand slid over my belly. I cupped my stomach, protectively.
It was almost like they shared one brain, both of them diving for their respective guns at the same time.
My eyes widened in horror.
Time slowed then.
And it happened in almost slow motion.
Killian was too late.
I watched in absolute terror as Simon pointed the gun at my husband. I broke into a cold sweat and my flesh crawled with fear.
No. Please… no.
My mind went blank and my feet moved before I could think. My reaction was pure instinct.
It happened so fast.
A gunshot sounded as I stumbled in front of Killian.
My eyes met Simon’s mad ones, as pain laced through my body and my knees weakened.
The floor swayed under my feet as agony burned through me.
I heard Killian’s horrified roar…
Before the world went black.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Killian
I saw the flash of platinum blonde hair as Julianna stumbled in front of me. It happened too quickly for me to make sense of it. There was a gunshot and my whole body flinched. I expected pain, but it was only cold dread filling my chest.
A mean fist gripped my heart as Julianna crumpled to the ground, listlessly.
No. My heart stammered.
With a roar, I turned on Simon, aiming for his head. I didn’t think twice before I pulled the trigger.
One single shot. Right between his fucking brows.
Simon’s lips parted with a quiet gasp and he stumbled back before his body fell backward. My attention flew back to Julianna and I fell to my knees, beside her limp body.
Terror seized me. My stomach twisted painfully at the sight of blood soaking through the top of her dress. I couldn’t tell exactly where she got shot because there was just so much blood.
“Jules,” I said, my voice cracking. It felt like every part of me was breaking.
No. This couldn’t be happening.
I tried to tell myself that she might be fine, that she would survive this… maybe the wound was superficial. But my mind wasn’t working right. I couldn’t think because all I could focus on was how much she was bleeding. There was too much blood, it had to be a fatal wound.
A small guttural cry escaped my throat. In the end, I couldn’t protect her. I failed her. My Julianna. My wife. I had been careless and she paid the price.
But why… why the fuck did she get in the middle of Simon and me? Why did she jump in front of me…?