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“I didn’t. Look around you, my old friend.” Cruz nodded toward the windows. He held a weapon casually in his hand, pointing it toward the ground as he walked closer. I’d never seen him so calm, totally in control.
I glanced out past the greenhouse, still shivering from fear even though there were at least twenty men surrounding the greenhouse.
Devon tightened his hold, almost cutting off my air supply. I noticed he threw a quick look through the panes of glass, his body tensing. As Cruz continued walking closer, my uncle threw out his arm, pointing the barrel toward him.
“I wouldn’t come any closer if I were you.”
Cruz laughed, refusing to stop, only doing so when Devon pressed the gun against my forehead once again. “Why don’t you tell your niece the truth. Tell her about how you forged the guardianship papers. Tell her that you changed her parents’ will, allowing you access to her money. Tell her how your father’s will traumatized you.”
Devon was shaking as he held me.
“And tell her that without an heir, you’d get nothing from your father. Without your niece, you’d have nothing, period. This was all about money.”
Gasping, I was in complete shock. Was it true?
When Devon exhaled, Cruz smiled. “You didn’t think I’d find out. The attorney you used and fired had no issues talking to me. Eden’s parents had made certain you could never touch her or her trust fund, but you forged another one.”
“How would I know they were going to be murdered?”
“Because you killed them,” I said, trying to keep emotion from my voice.
“And you killed your wife because she wanted to warn them. She knew about your plot. When you found out about her betrayal, you simply killed two birds with one stone. Or in this case, three. Then you paid good money to a man to marry Eden, just so you could take not only her money, but her child to raise as your own. I didn’t understand why you’d do such a thing until I read the real will. Then I thought about Annie and the child she carried. You were certain it was yours.”
Devon shook harder, his hold even tighter. As lights flashed in front of my eyes, I fought with his hold. “It was mine. Yeah, you forgot to add I killed my old man too. The prick hated me.”
Jesus Christ. The man was unhinged.
“That means I don’t care about her life,” Devon continued.
“Let her go,” Cruz demanded, lifting his arm and taking two long strides closer.
“Don’t think I won’t do it, Cruz. You took everything from me. The woman I loved. My child. Everything. Now, I’m going to take away your chance at happiness.”
“I’m warning you.” Cruz took a deep breath, locking eyes with mine.
As Devon pressed the cold steel against my skin, I blinked once, a sign that I was ready.
But I wasn’t certain I would ever be ready for what happened. As soon as I jammed my elbow into his side, Devon’s hold was weakened just enough I drove the heel of my boot into his foot then jumped out of his clutches. As I scrambled to get to my knees, forced to take shallow breaths, I watched as Cruz smashed his fist against Devon’s jaw, issuing another one to the man’s gut.
Everything had been planned. Cruz had wanted to make certain I was okay with destroying Devon. I’d believed I was capable of feeling nothing for the man, but even now blood gushed from a split in his mouth, I was uncertain I could handle watching the rest.
But as the gun flew out of Devon’s hand, landing only a few inches away, I stared at it. Before I knew what was happening, it was in my hands. I rose to my feet, my arms shaking. The fight continued, both men pitching each other to the ground. As they wrestled, Devon managed to get his hands on Cruz’s weapon, trying to shift the barrel toward him.
No. No.
“Stop. Stop!” My scream went unheeded by the two of them, but I heard footsteps, men running in our direction. I knew by then it would be too late.
Pop! Pop!
EPILOGUE
Two months later
Eden
Death.
It had fascinated and terrified me since I was a small child. For the first few years after finding my parents bathed in blood, I’d had nightmares, but the end was hopeful. I’d always heard my mother’s loving voice telling me that everything would be okay.
