“Us?” Christine laughed. “I don’t give a fuck whatyoudo.” She batted her lashes at me like this was some kind of joke. “Go to the police. Shoot me.” She pulled Hazel in closer. “As long as you’re dead. Or maybe I’ll kill Grant in front of you. Make you watch,” she paused, “Or you can admit what you did. Save your white knight. He did so much for you, didn’t he?”
I shook my head, keeping my aim steady, hoping that Hazel didn’t say anything. It would only mean we were one step closer to the final moment.
“You don’t know what it’s like to lose the only person who loves you,” Christine said.
And my heart wrenched, thinking about what it would be like to lose Hazel. She should have been on her own, but perhaps there was a future for us. A future where she could be independent, and we could stay by each other’s sides. A future where being together would be okay.
As long as I protected her right now.
Hazel whispered something, her eyes locked on me. Her lips moved, but as far as I could tell, nothing came out.
“Say it so I can hear it, bitch,” Christine said.
“I love you, Grant,” Hazel said. A shock rumbled through me. What?Now?
“You what?” Christine asked.
“I love Grant, okay?” Hazel yelled. “I’m sorry that Dean died, that he took my place. But I never laid a hand on him. I never forced him to do anything. And I deserve to be happy.”
Christine pulled back the hammer and Hazel burst forward, leaning her weight in the front, breaking herself free out of Christine’s grip. A shot went off, breaking through the roof, and I leaped forward, throwing Hazel to the side. Christine cocked another strike and raised the gun, aiming at me and missed. Hazel was still slumped on the floor. Christine moved towards her. I aimed, ready to take Christine down, but Hazel grabbed Oliver’s gun and put a bullet in Christine’s head.
