“Whatever you’re thinking—don’t!” she yells at me as sweat drops roll down her forehead.
My hand forms a fist at the thought that she’d ever shoot me.
But I wouldn’t put it past her after all the things I’ve done.
My eyes flicker to the scene behind her, to my brother, Luca, clutching her sister Jill’s hand as they hold the ledge for dear life. I’m torn between running over to help him … and watching her fall to her death.
But something stops me from moving.
Jasmine’s eyes flame with rage as she holds the gun steady even though the rest of her body shakes vigorously in the cold rain pouring down on us.
“Luca … I’m sorry,” Jill says behind her, her fingers slipping away.
A satisfying end to a miserable story as Luca loses his grip, and she tumbles down.
But then my brother does the unthinkable.
He jumps right after her.
My pupils dilate, and in an instant, Jasmine spins around and shrieks, noticing them both missing. She runs to the edge, still clutching the gun as she goes to her knees, and yells, “JILL!”
Instinct pushes me to the ledge, and as I peer over, I watch my own brother dive to his death.
“LUCA, NO!” I scream, the pain immediate like a knife to the heart.
Because he was and still is my fucking brother. And it was my own selfish need for vengeance that made him fall.
If I hadn’t tried to throw Jill over the ledge, he wouldn’t have lunged after her.
Too fucking late.
SPLASH!
Their bodies hit the water. Hard. And I’m left with an indescribable agony tearing out my soul.
“Jill!” Jasmine cries out in pain, her voice going through marrow and bone.
I crawl away from the ledge, swallowing the tears as I get up, unable to face the consequences of my own actions.
Jasmine turns to face me, rage becoming her. “You … you did this!”
My jaw clenches as I step back farther and farther away from her, from the ledge my brother just threw himself off to save his wife, the same fucking woman who caused all of my misery.
Jasmine gets up, swiping the tears off her cheeks as she points the gun at me, trying her best to aim with shaky hands.
I won’t force her to make this choice.
Not today.
Not ever.
“Don’t make me do this,” Jasmine growls.
I shake my head. “I won’t. But I won’t ever stop. Not until I have what I came for.” My tongue dips out to lick my lips. “You.”
And as I take one last look at the only woman I’ve ever wanted, I turn and run.
Jasmine