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“Fuck!” Brett jumps up and rushes over to me. “Cassie!” He gently touches my shoulder. “I’m sorry! Fuck. I’m sorry.” He palms the side of my face. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. Are you okay?”
“I’m okay.” I sit up and focus, noting the concern and guilt on Brett’s face. “Brett, really I’m—Brett!” I point a shaking finger.
Glenn has the gun. He raises it to Brett’s head. My heart stops beating. This is it. My worst nightmare come true! Glenn is going to take Brett from me! He’s going to steal something from not only me but many other women who need him.
I hear the gunshot!
“No!” I scream, a blood-curdling sound I didn’t know I could make.
I grab Brett. He remains upright.
Glenn drops to the floor.
I touch Brett’s face, his arms, and chest, searching for any harm to his body. “Did he shoot you—?” Movement catches my eye.
I turn.
Detective Sharpe stands holding a steady gun. He moves toward Glenn lying on the ground. “Are you alright?” He glances at Brett and me before kicking Glenn’s gun away and reaching down to check Glenn for a pulse.
“Yes,” I whisper.
Detective Sharpe shot Glenn.
Brett is safe.
I fall into Brett’s chest. Hearing his strong heartbeat, I cry.
Chapter Thirty-One
I lost it on the fucker.
Released years of pent-up anger on him. Like Lix warned, I let it all go, and Cassie got caught in the crossfire.
I can’t tear myself away from the cut under her red and swollen eye.
I put it there—my anger.
I hurt her with it!
I couldn’t stop.
When I saw the gun pointed at her, I snapped.
I wanted him dead.
Suppose she hadn’t stopped me. He’d be dead by my hands and not the detective’s.
“He’s gone.” I hear the detective say.
Blinking back to reality, I turn away from Cassie and look at the detective, then Glenn.
I’m glad he’s dead. Thankful he will never be able to hurt Cassie again.
It’s over.
Lix and Cole run into the apartment and come to a complete stop. Their concerned eyes bounce around the room, both stopping on me.
I see them, ten and eight, like when Mom went to jail, and we were waiting to find out what would happen to us. So scared. Afraid to speak. Fearful over what was to come of our future and looking at me for all the answers. I let them down just as I let Cassie down.
