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Mom steps past me, leaving me to absorb the devastation of those words as she presses her hands together. “Let them go, and we’ll stay here willingly. Don’t do this, Matt. I know this isn’t you. It’s Elliott’s influence—”
With the speed of a rattlesnake, Matt’s fist connects with Mom’s jaw, sending her careening backward. Gasping, I catch her, wrap my arms around her unconscious form, and lower her to the floor carefully.
When I rise again, my fists are clenched, and my entire body bristles with sheer fury. I allow my eyes to drift down his body, ambling back up to his face with a curl of my lip, showing him the true level of my disgust. “You’re a monster.”
Matt smiles boyishly, the familiar sight making my chest ache. “I’ll beyourmonster if it means keeping you with me.”
I shake my head with furrowed brows. “I’m not—"
“Shut up!” Marcus suddenly raises a quelling arm, whispering hurriedly, “There’s someone in my room. I’ll be back.”
He pads toward another mostly hidden doorway, clearly leading to his room, with his gun cocked, walking straight into the fist of Detective Fratelli when he enters the library.
As Marcus stumbles back, Matt swears loudly, pointing his gun at the kind detective, who instantly raises his hands. “Don’t shoot.”
Matt pops off a shot, and I scream when it hits him square in the chest, sending him hurtling backward, and he lands on the ground with a resounding thud.
I begin to rush to his side, when Matt barks at me, “Don’tmove, Neve.”
Marcus scrambles to stand, blood streaming from his nose, and Matt calmly murmurs, “Check his pulse. Put another one in him if you need to.”
With a nod, Marcus moves to do his bidding, when there’s a familiar growl at my rear.
“Put down your fucking weapons, or I won’t hesitate to kill you both.”
Relief fills my chest as I spin around, my eyes instantly filling with tears when I find Vaughn’s huge frame filling Matt’s bedroom door.
“Vaughn.”
One word, simply his name, but it’s filled with every single emotion that’s streaming through my veins. Filled with a plea and a prayer. Filled with undeniable, soul-shattering love.
His eyes flick to me, his gun still trained on the Porters, as he quickly checks me over, making sure I’m still in one piece before he glares back at his quarry.
“Every law enforcement officer in the New York State area is about to descend on this island within the next thirty minutes.” His voice is steel, his tone even as he addresses the men opposite us calmly and directly. “It’s your choice how you want to play this.”
Marcus lifts his gun, aiming it at Vaughn with a devil-may-care look. “You’re full of shit.”
“Not the first time I’ve faced that accusation, but in actual fact, this time, I’mnotfull of shit.”
Marcus bursts into hysterical laughter that makes even Matt frown before hissing at his brother, “Quit it, Marc. You look certifiable.”
Suddenly, Marcus stops, his laughter falling from his face as he lifts his gun, takes aim at Vaughn, and pulls the trigger.
Vaughn realizes a second before the bullet slams into his side and manages to pop off an answering shot that hits Marcus in the upper arm.
Both men grunt from the force of the bullets that have pierced their skin, and I cry out for Vaughn as he falls to his knees. His gun flies from his grasp, and he presses a hand already bright red with his own blood over the wound.
Before I can run to him, Matt grabs me around the waist, pulling me back, kicking and screaming as Vaughn growls, “Don’t you touch her, or I’ll kill you with my bare fucking hands, Porter.”
Matt just smirks, forcibly throwing me toward his paler-than-usual brother. “Hold her, Marc, while I finish the job.”
Despite his wound, Marcus holds me firmly enough that I can’t get away, and I start to cry as Matt looms over Vaughn.
“Please, Matty.Please. Don’t do this.”
His smile is manic as he brandishes the gun in Vaughn’s unflappable face. “Say goodbye.”
Vaughn’s eyes swing to mine, giving me strength despite the horror of our situation.
