Page 118 of Lethal Attraction

Everything around me fades. The sounds, the gasps, everything. All I can see is Reed.

The deep rise and fall of his back, the sweat slicking his forehead, and—my stomach lurches—the missing digit that’s still bleeding. He isn’t screaming or begging for mercy.

He slowly looks up, and I know he can’t see me, but that doesn’t stop him from nodding once at the camera. And just like that, my mind is made up.

I retreat to my room before dropping to my knees and sliding my gun case out. I flip it open before selecting something meant for close-range and snapping the magazine into it.

I don’t stop for anyone. Not even as Rowan calls desperately after me not to do this. I ignore my family as I trudge towards our family home—the one place that holds the trauma of our pasts. I haven’t really been inside those walls besides to visit with my brother and Addison. I don’t entertain the upstairs where I spent years cowering and hiding from a woman who would rather watch me get beaten within an inch of my life than be an actual mother. It’s always been too painful for me.

Except for today.

All of those horrific memories are dashed to the side. Nothing compares to knowing that the man you’ve fallen for is trapped by the monster of your past—a beast who should have been dealt with a long time ago.

Whatever happens down there is exactly what she deserves.

I get to the shed, dropping down to my knees before ripping the heavy metal door up and jumping down. Dust rises into the surrounding air, only illuminated by the minuscule light offered from above.

Reed is in the center of the floor, staring at me with wide, bloodshot eyes. “Thalia, you have to go!”

“I’m not going anywhere without you,” I say softly, trying not to look at the blood painting across the floor—his blood.

I don’t know what I’ll do if the gravity of the situation hits me fully before I can get to—

A gun shoves out of the shadows, jabbing into the back of Reed’s head as Mom steps into the light. Harsh shadows are cast over her features as her lip curls. “Nice of you to join us, dear.”

Hearing the endearment makes my skin crawl as I remain focused on Reed. My heart is racing so quickly I can hear each pound in my ears as if it’s a ticking clock.

Distract her.

“You got me here,” I say, my voice much calmer than I actually feel. “What now?”

Crystal sighs, leaning against the chair Reed is bound to as she jams the gun deeper into the back of his head. “It’s simple, really. You’re going to kill me, or I’ll kill him. One of us isn’t making it out here alive.”

My eyes flicker between them as I lift a hand. “You don’t have to do this.”

“But I do,” Mom urges before kicking off the chair and pacing slowly like a predator stalking prey. “Your father was my whole life. He was everything to me.” She shakes her head before pinning me with a look of despondency. “You and your brothers took him from me. My whole reason for existing this long on this godforsaken rock!”

I tilt my head, my eyes narrowing on her. “Real fucking cute. A love story for the books, Mom. You were abusers!”

She scoffs, shoving a hand through her hair. “It was training! Stop being so damn dramatic. I raised you better than that.”

“You didn’t raise us!” I shout. “You traumatized us.”

She rests her head back against her shoulders with a deep, inconvenienced sigh. “You were always easier to get along with than your brothers, you know? I think it’s because we have so much in common.”

My whole body goes rigid as rage grips me. “I’m nothing like you.”

She laughs deep in her throat before her eyes snap to mine. “You’re exactly like me, Thalia. You’re going to dedicate your life to one man,” she waves a hand at Reed and my defenses go up before she continues, “you’re going to make a home for him. Give him children and a legacy.” Her face darkens before she jams the gun into Reed’s temple. “And he’s still going to fucking cheat every chance he gets.”

I’m staring at her finger on the trigger, making sure she doesn’t pull it. “Way to trauma dump. Maybe you should just get a therapist, Crystal.”

“I don’t need one,” she smiles chillingly, all life devoid of her eyes. “Because you’re going to end this.” Her finger squeezes, and all the bets are off. She’s one hair away from ending the life of the man I—

I aim my gun at her face, all traces of good nature evaporating from me as an arctic wave washes over my spine. The calm before the storm settles in. “Don’t make me do this. Pull the trigger on yourself and let’s call it even. A life of trauma in exchange for one mercy.”

She tuts slowly, her tongue clicking against her teeth. “You know I can’t do that, sweet—”

The fire cracks through the air, causing Reed to jump as my mother’s head juts back unnaturally. Blood sprays from the single bullet wound in the center of her forehead, painting over everything in her wake as she falls back and crumbles into a heap of limbs.