Chapter 15
7:07 PM...
“Don’t move another inch!” Jace yelled with so much force the end of his weapon wiggled against Cami’s temple.
Even though she was scared shitless that any second she’d hear theboomof the pistol right before her head exploded like a melon, she also felt a wave of relief crash over her when she saw Doc’s shadowed form crouched on the stairs.
The light from the flickering candles wasn’t much. But that didn’t stop her from dragging her eyes over what little of him she could see as she desperately searched for injuries. Thankfully, no dripping blood met her gaze. And his eyes, though fierce and filled with determination, looked blessedly empty of the kind of pain that would accompany a fatal bullet wound.
She didn’t know how he’d done it, but it looked like he’d escaped the gunplay upstairs without suffering so much as a scratch.
Hiccupping on a sob of happiness, she could no longer deny the truth.
I love him. I’minlove with him.
And she had been for months.
She’d simply been denying her feelings because she’d been operating under the assumption he didn’t like her. And who wanted to admit to wanting someone who didn’t want them back, much less admit to loving someone who didn’t evenlikethem back?
She’d been wrong about his feelings, however. Hedidlike her. More than that, he cared about her—thattruth was shining in his eyes and clear in his voice when he asked, “You okay, sweetheart?”
Sweetheart.
It was the second time he’d used that endearment. And hand her the crown and sash for Miss Cliché, because shelikedit.
Or, rather, she liked it whenhesaid it.
“I’m okay,” she assured him, happy her voice sounded steadier than she felt.
“She won’t be okay in about ten seconds if ya don’t throw your weapons down to me!” Jace shouted. “I’m primed to put a bullet through her brain. And with all your friends lined up in a neat row, I might get a two or three-fer! Wha’d’ya think? How many heads can one round get through, eh?”
The mental images that went through Cami’s brain had bile burning up the back of her throat.
“There’s no reason anyone has to die.” Doc’s scratchy voice was firm with conviction. “Everyone can keep their lives if you play your cards right.”
Jace laughed, but it contained no humor. “Ya killed my friends!” he yelled, the pistol digging so hard into Cami’s skull, she winced. “And now ya want me to have mercy on yours?”
“Your friends are alive!” Doc shouted.
“Bullshit!”
Jace said that one word with so much vehemence, spittle flew from his mouth to land on Cami’s cheek. She grimaced, wishing she could lean her head to the side and use her shoulder to wipe it away. But any move might have Jace pulling his trigger.
“It’s not bullshit,” Doc assured him. And then he turned to yell over his shoulder. “Will, Brady, and Fin! I need you all to sound off so I don’t have to kill Jace!”
It took a moment before Will’s voiced echoed down from upstairs. “We’re alive!”
The man could barely be heard above the chaos of the storm, and his tone was pinched with pain. But thankfully, it was enough.
The pressure of the barrel against Cami’s temple lessened. “If I drop my weapon”—Jace sounded hoarse, and her heart leapt with elation at thatif;ifwas a good start—“what’ll ya do next?”
“I’ll ask you to kick it toward the duffel bags at the foot of the staircase and I’ll come down to get it. After I untie my friends, I’ll see to yours.” Doc’s voice was steady. His expression was sincere. “I’m not going to lie to you, Jace. Your buddies are hurt. All of them are shot. But no one needs to die today,” he reiterated.
Cami noticed how Doc kept using the man’s name.Smart, she thought, unsurprised because Doc was beyond smart; he wasbrilliant. That big brain of his was one of the first things she’d fallen in love with.
Right behind his sharp tongue, quick wit, and rugged face.
“I don’twantanyone to die today,” he continued. “I’ve seen enough death to last me a lifetime.”
