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“Jude, weren’t you telling me that Cliff couldn’t father children?” I asked.
Jude easily picked up on the ruse and said, “Yeah, one of the medications he took when he was a kid left him sterile.”
The lie was a stretch but it did the trick because Kevin’s hand wavered just a little and I was able to use the slight distraction to get Natalia completely behind me even as I moved closer to Jude.
“No,” Kevin whispered, clearly confused and distraught. It was further proof that he wasn’t quite right in the head. Unfortunately, the hesitation didn’t last because his eyes shifted to Jude. “No, you’re lying. You’re lying!” Kevin took a step forward, but he wasn’t close enough for me to jump him before he pulled the trigger.
“He took her from me so I’m going to take you from him,” Kevin said with determination. “Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for this moment? How many times I’ve dreamed of what I would do to you when I got you alone?” he asked Jude. The emotionless tone told me he was beyond reason.
“He’s not alone, Kevin,” I reminded him, desperate to keep his focus on me for as long as I could.
“Yeah, tough guy, like you’re in any position to do anything,” Kevin sneered.
“Who said I was talking about me?” I asked. The question was enough to have Kevin pausing. I used the time to take another step to my left to cover more of Jude’s body. “Mike?” I called when Kevin finally looked at me.
“Yeah, I’ve got him, Nik.”
Kevin was startled enough to jump backwards a bit, but unfortunately, he didn’t take his gun off Jude.
“Look over the railing, Kevin,” I urged.
The man didn’t fall for it, but I hadn’t needed him to. I’d just needed that split second when Kevin glanced in the direction of the handrail to turn my back so I could cover both Jude and Natalia’s body with my own. As I forced them both to the floor, I yelled, “Now, Mike!”
Gunfire rang throughout the stairwell. I waited for the hot burn of bullets to penetrate my back, but it didn’t come. When the gunshots ceased, I heard heavy footsteps on the stairs and then Mike was shouting, “Clear!”
“Stay down,” I commanded as I kept my hand on Jude’s back. He’d somehow managed to grab Natalia and tuck her against his chest in the melee. My niece clung to Jude as he told her everything would be all right.
I climbed to my feet and turned to see Kevin lying sprawled on the stairs just below us. His eyes were open and there were two holes in his forehead. Mike reached the man’s body a second later and kicked the gun away from his lax hand.
I blew out a breath as my adrenaline began to plummet. My eyes met Mike’s. He gave me a nod that spoke volumes.
Go take care of your family.
I turned back to Jude and closed my arm around his shoulders. “It’s okay now,” I said as I helped him to his feet. He automatically turned and pressed into my embrace. Natalia was caught between us, but the little girl didn’t seem to notice. She clung to Jude and he clung to me.
“How did you know Mike would be there?” Jude asked after several long seconds.
“Because you were here,” I said.
“What?” Jude asked as he pulled back a little. He kept his hand on Natalia’s head to keep it pressed against his shoulder.
“Making sure you were safe didn’t stop just because you walked away from me,” I explained. “Someone from Smithfield has been watching you from the moment you left your apartment. The reason you didn’t see Mike at the office was because he was tailing you today in case you ditched Hayes’s guys.”
Jude shook his head. “They wouldn’t bring me to you fast enough,” he said. “They said there were all these logistics that needed to happen but I just wanted to get to you. I’m sorry. My stupidity could have gotten you and Natalia—” his voice cracked.
I placed my hand on his cheek. “It was their job to keep you safe,” I said. “They’re the ones who fucked up.”
Jude glanced in Kevin’s direction. I knew no matter how much I tried to reassure him, he’d continue to blame himself for the near miss. I put my arm around his shoulders and led him up the stairs. I could hear the code call coming over the hospital PA system that indicated a shooter so I knew all hell was about to break loose. I needed to find someone to get word to Elena and my parents that Natalia, Jude, and I were all right.
“Is the bad man gone, Uncle Nikolai?” Nattie asked.
“He is, honey,” I said. The little girl turned her head so she could see me. Her tear-stained face had me reaching for her. “It’s safe, my girl,” I said softly.
