Chapter Fifteen
Jayden's eyes snapped open when he heard a floorboard creak. Having spent his entire adult life living alone, he'd gotten used to waking to weird or unfamiliar sounds. He tried to even out his breathing as he listened for more noises that were out of place.
When he heard another creak, he dug his fingers into Wilson's thigh. The arm wrapped around his waist tightened, but other than that, Wilson didn't make a single sign of acknowledgement.
Jayden's breath caught when he heard the bedroom door open. Someone besides them was in the cabin. His heart pounded so rapidly he was surprised everyone in the state couldn't hear it.
Jayden screamed when the sound of a gunshot rang out. He screamed again when he was rolled out of bed. He hit the floor with a painful thud, Wilson landing on top of him. "Wilson, what is go—"
"When I get up," Wilson mouthed, "run!"
Jayden shook his head. There was no way he was going to run off and leave Wilson to face a killer on his own.
"Come out!" someone shouted.
Jayden's eyes rounded. "It's Ricky," he mouthed to Wilson as shock rolled through him. He'd recognize that voice anywhere. Ricky was trying to kill them.
"I know you're in here, Jayden."
Crap.
Wilson slapped a hand of Jayden's mouth when another gunshot rang out. Tears sprang to Jayden's eyes when something shattered on the wall next to them, raining glass down on top of them. He quickly closed his eyes and turned his head to the side.
Two more shots rang out. Jayden wished he knew what kind of gun Ricky had. He'd counted the bullets. So far, he was up to four.
Jayden's eyes snapped open when Wilson suddenly pushed away from him. He reached for Wilson's arm just as the man jumped up and raced around the end of the bed. When he heard another gunshot and a grunt that sounded like it came from Wilson, then a heavy thud, Jayden scrambled to his knees.
"The senator is dead, Jayden."
Jayden sucked in a breath and tried not to cry out.
Ricky laughed. "But don't worry, you'll be joining him soon."
The lights flipped on. Jayden gasped when a pair of dress shoes came into view. He slowly raised his head, his view going from shoes to slacks to a white dress shirt before finally reaching Ricky's face.
"Ricky."
The man smiled as he pointed his gun at Jayden. "Hello, Jayden."
"What do you want, Ricky?"
"For you to die."
"Why?" Jayden knew they didn't get along, but he didn't understand the level of hatred he could see in Ricky's eyes.
"You got me fired."
Jayden's eyebrows lifted. "Marv fired you?"
Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.
"He said I lied to him, that I was trying to keep the story of the senator getting married to myself. He said that was why I told him about the senator having a son, but we both know what you said. You're no more marrying the senator than I am."
Jayden barely held in his cry when he glanced toward Wilson's still body on the floor. "We were actually going to get married." His eyes narrowed as he glared up at Ricky. "Until you murdered him."
"I didn't murder him," Ricky snapped. "He jumped me. I was defending myself."
"You broke in here. You fired your weapon at us. You've researched enough criminal cases, Ricky. Do you really think they are going to believe you?"
