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That was it? He was giving up? Sacrificing his life for hers? Pierce had felled enemy combatants and torn through armies, and he was going to simply let this unhinged woman put a bullet in his brain?
Brea struggled and squealed—to no avail.
“Toss your gun over there.” Clara pointed toward the swampy darkness, away from the warehouse. “Far away.”
Pierce didn’t hesitate, just chucked it into the abyss. “Now what?”
“That pole over there. I prepared it for you.” Clara gestured with a bob of her head. “Go. There are handcuffs on the ground. Put your arms around the pole and cuff yourself to it.”
No matter how she screeched or struggled, Pierce did exactly as he was told, and the click of the handcuffs as he doomed himself to death was a stab to her heart.
Horror swept through her. It couldn’t end this way. She would not let it, damn it.
She tried to catch Pierce’s gaze, but he seemed to look right through her. “Now let her go.”
Clara released her hair and removed the gun from her temple, then gave her a shove that almost sent her stumbling to her knees. “Leave.”
Hell no. Somehow, someway, she was going to get them out of this. “Let me at least say goodbye.”
If she could get close to Pierce, maybe they could devise something…
“I did not have the chance to say goodbye to my brother,” Clara quipped.
Brea didn’t point out that she hadn’t been having Emilo’s baby because it wouldn’t work. She needed an appeal to Clara’s heartstrings that she could grasp. “And doesn’t that feel cruel to you? I’ve done nothing to you, so why hurt me even more when you’re already taking the person I love most in this world?”
Tears fell down her cheeks, and Brea hoped they would move Clara to give her at least a few precious seconds.
The woman let out a noisy sigh. “Fine. One minute. Then you will leave. And look on the bright side. Walker is already dressed for his funeral.”
Brea shook as she ran across the property toward Pierce and wrapped her arms around him. The moment felt so surreal. This couldn’t be happening. This wasn’t how their future should end.
“Why are you letting her win?”
“Because nothing is more important to me than you. Matt and a guy named Trevor are both on their way, but they won’t get here in time.”
“Then I’ll stop her,” she whispered so softly only he could hear. “Tell me what to do.”
“To save me?” He shrugged like it didn’t matter, but his black eyes pleaded. “Don’t. Save you. Save our son.”
“Please don’t give up.” Her voice cracked. “Please.”
“Turn around and walk away. My end won’t hurt, and you’ll be fine. Go.”
“No.” She wasn’t usually obstinate, but now? This moment? Brea was digging in her heels and not giving up. “Help me get you free or I’ll stand between you and her bullet.”
Pierce glared. “This isn’t the time for you to get stubborn.”
“I think it’s the perfect time.”
“What is the problem?” Clara called across the twenty feet separating them. “If you are not going to kiss and say your tearful goodbyes, then I would like to shoot him now. I have been waiting for days.”
“Not yet,” Brea pleaded.
Clara’s face went cold. “Kiss him and leave.”
She had to come up with some excuse…
“I have no way to do that. I don’t know where I am. I have no car…” Brea gave Clara a shrug. “I’m sure he has keys in his pocket. Can I get them?”
“Hurry up.”
“What are you doing?” he growled.
“Saving your ass.” Brea breathed heavily and caught his gaze. “Where are your keys?”
“Front right pocket.”
Brea rounded his body and, with shaking hands, withdrew the fob, then shot him a desperate glance. “Keep her talking. Buy yourself two minutes and I think I can get us forever.”
“I won’t risk you.”
The baby chose that moment to kick, and she rounded the pole with tears in her eyes and pressed her belly against his hand. “Do you feel that?”
A moment later, the baby kicked again. Pierce’s eyes widened. He stared at her with wonder. “That’s our son.”
“Yes. He’s worth fighting for. I don’t want to live without you. I love you. We need you.”
She pressed herself against his side again and stood on her tiptoes as he leaned down to kiss her, then drink the tears from her cheeks.
“I love you,” he whispered.
But that didn’t mean he’d changed his mind.
“Help me to help us. Please. Don’t give up.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Brea felt his subtle nod. Then he whispered against her temple, “Glock behind my seat. No safety. A lot of recoil.”
“I won’t let you down,” she promised.
“You never could.”
“That’s enough!” Clara screamed. “You have the keys. Walk away and don’t stop. If you do, you’ll be next.”
Even though she and Pierce had a plan, she was loath to leave him. What if Clara refused to be drawn into conversation? What if, the second Brea ran for the Jeep, the crazy woman pulled the trigger? What if she made it back in time…but missed? She’d only get one chance to save Pierce. Clara wouldn’t be stupid enough to allow her a second.
