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“Not happening,” Eric tells her, loading another round. Though my head is turned the other way, I know he's killed Nicolas. There's not a doubt in my mind.
“Put your fuckin' gun down!” Brittany screeches.
Eric chuckles, completely unfazed by her. “You first.”
“I'll shoot,” she says, and I open my eyes as she moves farther away from me. Eric’s using the car as a shield while Brittany steadies her shaking hand.
I hear Katie crying, and I want nothing more than to go to her, but I can't move.
“If you know what's good for you, you'll get in your SUV and drive the fuck away,” Eric warns. “You have no idea what you've done.”
“Fuck you,” she hisses. “I’ll finish what that bastard started. This has nothing to do with you,” she screams and pulls the trigger.
Based on Eric's laughter, she misses. “Shoulda probably gone to the range for some target practice before trying to act like a badass. Pathetic.”
Brittany points her gun again, and I hear a revving engine accompanied by tires squealing.
Then I watch as a silver Toyota slams into Brittany from behind at a high speed. Her body flies over the hood, and she lies in a crumpled hump on the ground.
Seconds later, Eric comes into view. He walks past me and goes to Katie. I manage to roll over on my side, my chest burning, and she comes to me after she's free.
“Noah, Noah. Baby,” she says, moving my body around, frantically sobbing.
“Katie,” I say, grabbing her wrists and trying to sit up. “I'm fine, sweetheart.”
Eric comes over and gives me a hand, and I help Katie up, then wrap my arms around her. I smell the scent of her hair, kiss the softness of her skin, and take her all in.
“How are you alive?” she asks, confused. “I watched her shoot you.”
I smile and nod toward Eric. “It was his call on the bulletproof vest.”
I unbutton my shirt and show her. Katie runs her hand across the entry point.
“Just gonna be sore for a few days.” I wince, knowing it’s already bruising.
Eric gives us a moment, and I hold Katie tight. Tears slide down her cheeks, and she squeezes me like she’s never going to let me go.
“I was so scared I lost you,” she says. “So fucking scared.”
“I felt the same. I didn't really think she’d pull the trigger,” I say. “I'm just happy you're okay.”
“She has a faint pulse!” Eric yells.
Katie's eyes go wide. “Brittany's still alive,” she whispers.
I have no concept of time because the passing moments seem to rush by and slow down all at once. But when I see Loretta get out of the car, my mouth falls open.
“Loretta?” Katie asks with confusion in her tone because I've lost the ability to speak.
She walks swiftly toward us, wrapping her arms around us. “Oh thank God, you're okay.”
This is the closest I've stood next to my aunt in the past decade. She looks like she's been to hell and back.
“I've already called 911,” she tells us. “An ambulance is on their way.”
Eric kicks away Brittany’s gun, then goes to Nicolas. “He's dead.”
I don't have it in me to turn my head and look.
