Silence.
“Why do Stonefish want the land so badly?”
Lee was silent for so long, Ed didn’t think he would get an answer, but then the man said, “Multiple reasons. If those trunks you carried into the house the other day are as old as they looked, you might find some answers there. The island might hold others.”
He glanced towards Retribution Island. Before Ed could ask for more information, Tan pulled a gun on Tess.
He stiffened.
“Take it easy. Aim for his hand,” Lee said.
Was he crazy? Tan’s hand was the smallest target. “What are you going to do?”
“Aim for his head.”
Ed jerked, but didn’t dare take his eyes off Tess to look at the man lying next to him. “Why?”
“Because he’s made many people’s lives hell.” The grim statement resonated with determination.
Ed didn’t want Tess to witness that. “Let me distract him.”
He prayed Lee could be trusted, and Brandon wouldn’t get caught in the crossfire. He stood, rifle to his eye, and called, “Drop the gun, Tan.”
Lee swore and hissed, “You idiot. Brandon had it covered.”
So Lee had seen Brandon. Something weird was going on.
Tan stretched his arm, pointing the gun at Tess. “You think you can shoot before I can?” Then Tan frowned. “You’re one of the Stokes.” He swore. “She was at the Ridge all this time, and no one told me?”
Ed kept his gaze steady as he stepped towards Tan so Lee could get a clear shot. Then the implication hit him. Lee hadn’t told Tan Tess was there. Why not?
“Ed, you need to go,” Tess called. “Please.”
His gaze flicked to her fear-filled eyes and then focused back on Tan. Brandon sneaked out from around the bonnet of the car, moving towards Tan.
Bang.
Ed flinched at the gunshot as Brandon slammed into Tan. Tess screamed.
No! Ed ran towards her, frantically looking for blood. Sam reached her first and hauled her out of the way, dragging her around the other side of the car. Brandon had Tan’s gun and pointed it at the man, but there was no point.
Blood was sprayed across the ute and there was a hole in the back of his head.
Ed glanced over his shoulder but couldn’t see Lee.
“Lower the gun, Ed,” Brandon shouted.
He did so and ran towards Tess. He shoved the rifle at Heath, who had appeared next to Sam, and dragged Tess into his arms. “Are you all right?”
She nodded. “He didn’t shoot me.”
Ed inhaled the frangipani scent of her hair and trembled. “I thought he was going to kill you. I told you to wait. I told you I’d help.”
She shook her head, pressed away from him. “I couldn’t let you get hurt.”
He wanted to shake her. “Don’t you understand, I’d do anything to protect you?” He closed his eyes, as fear and relief clashed together, but over both emotions flooded one which was far stronger. “I love you, Tess.”
She gasped, staring up at him.
