Page 127 of Pucked Around and Found Out

She aims at my stomach—just like Masen did.

“At least I won’t die a rapist and an addict like your brother.” Her face morphs into a picture of fury, I found her weak point and now I know with utmost certainty that this fight was never about Xaden and his family or even mine for that matter. She used her power and position to manipulate Lorenzo and Steven into working with her and pushing them into Hollow Hills in the hopes of drawing out The Butcher, the man who slaughtered her piece of shit brother.

“Let's see if we can get both of you with one shot.”

I dive behind the island as she fires.

The bullet hits the cabinet where my head was a second ago.

Fear grips me in its clutches.

Carnage’s words slam into me with a force.

Never freeze, never lock up.

“Don't make this difficult!” Fiona shouts. “You're just delaying the inevitable!”

“Fuck you and go to hell!” I crawl along the floor, searching for anything I can use as a weapon.

My hand finds the gun Masen dropped.

I grab it, checking—one round left in the chamber.

I’m suddenly so grateful for Carn and him teaching me about guns and how to shoot. I’m not a great shot but I can shoot well enough to subdue someone long enough for me to escape. I can feel it in my bones, she won’t quit trying to come after me, not for the cartel but because of what my pain will mean to those around me.

Hurting me means hurting Carnage, which in turn hurts Alex.

Xaden is now someone she wants to maim just as much as Alex because he didn’t roll over when our fathers planned the crash. He fought and stood against them in the name of justice. Him fighting them meant Fiona being pushed out, she knew Xaden would never work alongside her.

“Come out, Toren,” Fiona calls. “I'll make it quick. That thing inside you won't feel a thing.”

Rage floods through me again.

This bitch wants to kill my baby.

First Masen.

Now her.

Everyone wants to hurt my child.

I’m so fucking sick of everyone wanting to kill me and my baby!

I stand and aim the gun at her with shaking hands.

Fiona sees me and laughs. “You've never fired a gun in your life.”

“You sure about that?” I sneer.

And pull the trigger before she can shoot me first.

The recoil nearly knocks me over, but the shot goes wide, hitting the wall beside Fiona.

She doesn't even flinch. Just stands there with a smug smile on her face and a dark look in her eyes.

She raises her gun and fires back.

I drop behind the island again as bullets slam into the marble. A scream lodges in my throat, I won’t give her the fucking satisfaction. Terror is clawing at me, I’m backed into a corner with nowhere to go.