"This is becoming ridiculous," Benjamin snapped. "Sable, give me the fucking gun. You and these clowns can walk out of here. We never have to see each other again."
"And if you end up on the streets?" I asked sweetly.
He flinched. His chance at saving his lifestyle was slipping right through his fingers, and all he could do was watch.
"You said you'd help me," he said, taking half a step toward me. "If you could give your mother and me some money, we could get ourselves out of trouble, sell a couple of our properties. Be a good girl and forward us a few million."
Something in his tone was off, something that suggested he wouldn't take my money.
No, it wasn't that. He knew I wouldn't give him any now. He wasn't giving up on this plan. He was sure his friends could bail him out, using me as payment.
I knew then who sent the goons to Forrest's penthouse. It wasn't Quinn who believed he owned me, it was my father.
He lunged towards me, making a grab for the gun.
Without thinking, I squeezed the trigger, firing straight into his chest.
I cried out at the recoil.
The bullet hit him right above his heart, a spray of blood gushing. He staggered back, hand pressed over the wound, eyes wide, before he sank to his knees, then to the floor with a thud.
The smell of the gun and blood flooded my nostrils. My stomach twisted.
Someone grabbed onto me before I sank to the floor myself.
Another gunshot rang out. Then another. And another.
I curled up, my arms around myself. Strong arms surrounded me.
"I've got you," Woody said in my ear. "It's okay, I've got you."
I sat there with my eyes closed until the room fell into silence. When I finally opened them, Forrest and Leif were putting away their guns.
Noah seemed to be nursing a bullet wound in his shoulder, but Urban was helping to stem the flow of blood.
Everyone else lay dead, including the celebrant who had a gun in his own hand.
"He tried to shoot you after you shot your father," Woody said. "Don't worry, Leif killed him."
"That's not going to add to the tally," I joked weakly. "But I forgive you for everything."
He snorted. "Good, because I don't give a fuck about the tally. I only give a fuck about you. I'm an asshole, and I should have said this sooner, but I'm going to say it now. I love you."
"I love you too," I said, my voice shaky. I should have said it before now as well, but better late than never.
He turned my face to his and pressed his lips to mine. It was brief, just a brush, but it was enough for now. Exactly what I needed while I was sitting with flecks of my father's blood on me.
"I'll call the clean-up crew," Leif said, "We're gonna need some help with these." He crouched beside me. "Are you okay?"
"I will be," I said, giving him a quick kiss. Again, just a brush, but it meant more to me than a passionate kiss would have. I could feel the love in the brief touch.
They both helped me to my feet.
"Someone is going to have to explain this to my mother." She was going to be devastated that…her cash cow was gone. She might miss my father for a little while, but mostly she'd miss the money, the lifestyle, the prestige.
So, anyway…
"We'll take care of it," Forrest assured me.
