“You won't shoot. All it takes is for my muscles to contract when you shoot me, and she's gone too.” But he stops.
The fucker's right, but I'm not going to admit that.
Bear places himself right in the doorway, blocking it completely. “If you're going to leave, you're going to have to do it through me.”
“I will shoot her.”
Fuck
38
ALESSA
They're here.
They're here, and there's nothing they can do, because Dario's right. If they shoot him, he'll probably shoot me. But if they let him go, what then? He'll never give them another chance to find us.
So what can we do?
What can I do?
Dad's at my feet, his breathing shallow. He's not gone, at least not yet. Then he looks up at me, his eyes parting for only a moment. He's aware. His eyes are glassy, and I don't think he's faking weakness, but maybe there's something.
“You're not going to shoot me,” snaps Dario, while glaring at Bear. “I'm going. And you, get the fuck out of the doorway.”
I wink at Dad. Let him know that I'm ready for anything. I move my leg just a little, in a short sweeping motion, just as I raise an eyebrow in question. Can he move at all?
He winks back. Is that a yes? I draw a shivering breath, hoping so.
Dario tightens his grip around my neck and guides me sideways. “Come on,” he hisses right into my ear.
Dad's face hardens, his lips pressing together and his eyes shutting tight, as if the effort is taking every last bit of energy he has, then raises his leg in front of us. Dario's staring so hard at the guys that he doesn't see it.
I nod, just a slight motion so Dario doesn't do anything crazy, then step intentionally into Dad's leg.
I lose my balance, and with Dario's tight grip around my neck, he comes with me. I'd scream, but the tension squeezes my windpipe closed, and all I manage is a stifled gasp. If Dario's gun goes off, it’s all over. I say the quickest prayer ever in the history of mankind.
We slam into the back of the couch, rolling so that Dario strikes the floor with a grunt, and with me landing on top. His gun hand strikes the floor and it goes off, blowing out a window as he loses his grip. Before he gets his hand on it again, I’ve got it.
I straddle Dario's chest, press the muzzle right up against his forehead and grip the hilt firmly with both hands. This time there won't be any misfires.
Dario's crazy eyes look up at me, like he can't quite believe that I'm doing this.
“Amore mio, what are you—?”
“What does it look like?” I shouldn't waste time on snide comments, but I've never shot anyone in my life. Am I willing to become a killer?
“I did all this for us. We belong together, you and me. We always have.” He tries to lift his head, but I force it right back down on the floor by pushing the gun.
“There was never an us. There'll never be an us. I chose someone else, Dario. And none of your status, connections or family will ever change that. There is no… us.”
“Alessa.” It's Bear, who's the first to come around the couch to see what's happening. “Don't do it. You're not a killer.”
“Trust me,” adds Snark. “We'll take care of him. You don't have to do this.”
“Fuck, we don't want you to do this,” says Viking. “Just get up slowly. We've all got guns on him.”
The only one who doesn't say anything is Hawk, but I can feel it. Even he doesn't want me to do it, even if it's just because he really wants to do it himself.
“Baby,” Dario tries again. “This isn't you. You don't shoot people. You're a mother.”
And that cinches it. This all began with my baby. With Isabella. Without her, without Hawk, Viking, Snark and Bear, where would I be? Would I be settling for a marriage with Dario? Would I be doing what I was supposed to, to unite the two families?
Would Dario have been my future?
Dario will never be my future.
“You're right. I am a mother. You seem to keep forgetting that.”
Somehow, in his twisted mind, he sees this as something in his favor. He smiles. “Of course, because I know you are so much more than that bastard mistake.”
Behind me, Bear growls.
No matter what I do, Isabella will never be safe. Not if Dario lives. He's right. I'm a mother, and that's exactly why I have to do this.
“Alessa, no!” Hawk shouts. He's figured it out, but it's too late.
I close my eyes and squeeze the trigger.
Bang.
39
ALESSA
I knew there would be blood. I just never realized how much.
Sounds grow muddled until they sound like I'm underwater. I can't see through my tears, and my body refuses to stop shaking. As the gun slips from my hand, Hawk draws me away, his powerful arms holding me so, so tightly. Everything moves in slow motion. Bear picks up Dad while Hawk guides me out of Dario's hideaway. On the platform, Viking and Snark quickly evaluate the situation, then tell us to hurry up down the stairs.