“You’re right,” I said, trying to calm him. “I’m yours. I always have been.” My stomach churned violently, bile rising in my throat as the memories I'd fought to bury came rushingback. Every muscle in my body screamed to run, to hide, to disappear, but I remained rooted to the spot. I wouldn’t leave Ash. My breath came in short, painful gasps as panic clawed at my chest. “I never should’ve left you.” I forced a smile that was surely more of a grimace. “I’ll come with you. As soon as you lower the gun.”
“I’ll lower the gun when I want to!” he yelled, his hands shaking, his eyes wild. “Come here!”
I whimpered but took three tentative steps toward Trevor. His arm wound around me, locking me against him, and it took all my will power not to fight. “That’s my girl.” He drug me fifteen feet, his pistol still aimed at Ashton.
“Put the gun down, Trevor,” I urged.
But he didn’t. His eyes narrowed at Ashton who looked like he was out of his mind. My husband was going to do something stupid, like lunge for me. It was written all over his face.
“Don’t,” I warned him.
Time slowed to a crawl as I saw Trevor’s finger tighten on the trigger. And then everything happened in a flash. My body moved before my mind could catch up, propelled by pure desperation. I shoved his arm as the shot came off that rang deep in my bones. The gun jerked upward and to the side. Ringing exploded in my ears.
For a heart-stopping moment, I thought I'd failed. Then I saw Ashton stagger against the car, clutching his left shoulder instead of crumpling to the ground. Blood seeped between his fingers, but his eyes were clear—shocked, but focused on me.
Trevor swore and aimed again.
“No!” I screamed, using my elbow as a battering ram straight into his windpipe. I sprinted for Ash, ready to be a human shield.
Another shot rang out and I flinched, expecting searing pain, but I felt nothing. My legs felt like I was sloggingthrough wet cement as I reached for Ashton, terrified he was about to go down. But his hand grasped mine, warm and alive. Relief crashed over me, only to be replaced by confusion as I realized the shot hadn't come from behind.
I whirled around to see Ford standing in the grass, his face grim, a pistol steady in his outstretched hand. His chest was heaving and his forehead glistened with sweat like he’d sprinted here. My gaze dropped to the ground where Trevor lay motionless. His eyes, once filled with maniacal rage, now stared blankly at the sky. A dark stain spread across his chest, seeping into the ground beneath him. His fingers were splayed, the gun he'd wielded now just beyond his reach.
Ford walked over and kicked the gun away.
“Are you sure he’s…” I sobbed.
“Yes.” He jogged to us.
With a hand still on Ash, I curled an arm around Ford’s neck. “Thank you. Oh my gosh, thank you.” I kissed his cheek, sobbing all over him.
“That’s what family’s for,” he said. Then regret overtook his face. “I’m so sorry I outed you.”
“Oh, Ford. You didn’t know.” I pulled him closer. “You just saved us.”
“Guys.” Ashton swayed. Ford caught him and lowered him to the ground. I peeled my shirt over my head, ignoring the chill that slammed into me. I scooted in behind Ashton, straddling his waist, and pulled him against my chest. Then I handed my shirt to Ford. He balled it up, placed it over the wound, and pushed down, trying to stop the bleeding. Ash winced.
Using his other hand, Ford dialed 911.
I glanced at Trevor, lifeless, lying in a pool of his own blood. Then I looked down into Ashton’s beautiful eyes and a peace I hadn’t felt since I was a kid flooded every cell of my body. Trevor couldn’t hurt me ever again.
And Ashton was here.Andhe was mine. For the rest of my life.
“You’re going to be okay,” I said. “You are.”
“Hey.” His hand came up, caressing my cheek. “I am. We are.”
“Yeah.” I kissed the top of his head. “I love you. More than anything.”
He gazed up at me with such affection and straight-faced said, “I took a bullet for you, Tal. I think that means I’m better than a book boyfriend, right?”
I laughed through my tears. “Only if you start sparkling in the sunlight.” I tried to tease, but it was no good. I crumpled over him, crying into his hair. “You’re better than all the book boyfriends in all the genres.”
“The ambulance is on its way,” Ford said. “You’re gonna be okay, bro.” He rolled Ashton slightly sideways to check the other side of his shoulder. Then he peeled his own shirt off and jammed the fabric into the backside of the wound. “I think it’s a clean shot. But I’m no doctor.”
“I’m okay.” Ashton shook a little from the cold. “I didn’t send the code. How did you know?”
Ford sighed playfully but his brow was creased with concern. “A couple of months ago, I had Jeff install those cameras you didn’t want me to put up. They’re all over your house. Inside and out. The garage. The kitchen. The bedrooms.” He shrugged but his demeanor turned serious. “Got an alert the psychopath was in the yard right about the time you sent that insane text saying goodbye.” He winked at me. “You did a nice job on his beard.”
