Before Noah had fully processed what was happening, Delaney stepped in front of Charlotte, her body a shield between the gun and the child. Her hands gripped Charlotte’s shoulders, holding her in place behind her.
Noah positioned himself in front of both of them, desperate to call out for help, to do something. But he didn’t dare take his eyes off the woman holding the gun that glinted in the streetlights.
Lena angled side to side, trying, he assumed, to see Delaney, but Noah moved with her, making his body a wall, his arms spread wide to block Lena’s line of sight to Charlotte and her nanny.
What was he supposed to do here? How could he protect them?
Dear God, help!
The metallic taste of fear coated his tongue. “Lena, put the gun down.” At least his voice was steady. “This won’t solve anything.”
“There’s nothing left to solve.” Her voice cracked, high and desperate in the night air. “We belong together, Noah. But she stole you away from me. She ruined everything.”
Noah’s heart pounded a drumbeat. He could feel Delaney pressed close behind him, could hear Charlotte’s frightened whimper. Every instinct screamed at him to lunge forward, to tackle Lena. Maybe she’d fire and hit him, but at least she’d be down.
What if she dodged him? She’d have a clear shot at Delaney. It wasn’t worth the risk.
There was nothing he could do. Nothing.
He was powerless to protect them. Just like he’d been powerless to protect his father that horrible day. Just like he’d been powerless to help his mother as he’d watched her life slip away. Just like he’d been powerless to keep Jasper from ruining his life.
Think, Noah. Think!
“Lena, you’re my friend.” He worked to keep his tone calm and reasonable. “I don’t want you to get hurt. Please, just put the gun down and we can talk about this.”
“Friend?” The word came out like a curse. “I’m not your friend. I’m your everything. I was there for you when that conniving little wife of yours walked out.”
Lena was the reason Marianne had walked out, but Noah didn’t remind her of that.
“I’ve waited. I’ve been so patient while you played house with this…this nobody.”
Sweat trickled down his spine despite the cool night air. “I care about you, Lena. I do.” He spoke softly, trying to reach whatever rationality remained in her mind. “But this isn’t the way. If you hurt Delaney, you’ll go to prison.”
“I don’t care! It’ll be worth it to keep her away from you.”
She was unhinged.
Maybe if he played into her crazy… “You’ll never see me again.”
“You’ll visit me. You’ll miss me when she’s gone.”
“I might miss you, but I won’t visit.” He tried to infuse regret into his tone, as if it would be a sacrifice.
“Never? Not even once?” Her voice had softened, childlike in its vulnerability.
“Not once.” Noah’s tone was gentle but firm. “This isn’t the way, Lena. This isn’t who you are.”
Something flickered in her eyes—a moment of doubt, perhaps. But then her gaze hardened as she looked past him. “She has to go,” Lena whispered. “That’s the only way. You’ll see.”
Noah felt Delaney’s hand press against his back—a silent gesture of support. Or terror. Charlotte’s quiet sobs tore at his heart. He needed to end this, now. “Lena, please?—”
“Stop talking!” Her voice was sharp, her eyes wild. She looked nothing like the woman who’d once worked for him, the woman he truly had considered a friend. “Please, step aside.” Suddenly, she sounded rational, almost conversational. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
She was insane. There was no rationalizing with an insane person.
Noah sensed movement, someone creeping into his field of vision, staying low, using the parked cars as cover. He didn’t dare look, didn’t dare give Lena any reason to fire.
“I just want to talk to her.” Lena shifted to the side. “Just move away, Noah.”
