She picked up the handgun and pulled the trigger without batting a lash. I didn’t even have time to open my mouth to protest before the shot rang out—an ugly, wheezing scream through the air. The bullet missed me by inches, and then the world behind me erupted as glass shattered and sprayed the room.
“Let’s try this again,” she said slowly. “Where is Jonathan?”
This woman was officially the most loony and fucked-up psycho I’d ever encountered.
My ears rang with adrenaline while my heart thundered against my ribs, threatening to crack them.
“He’s dead,” I said slowly, watching her warily. “You identified his body. Don’t you remember?”
She let out a hard laugh, her eyes glinting like ice. “We both know that wasn’t his body.”
“Wh-what?” I shook my head, the scene of that rainy night playing in my mind like a bad movie. “No, that can’t be. I heard the shot. Saw his dead eyes. He’s… dead.Youkilled him.”
Another shot rang, this time shattering a chandelier above us. Glass rained down and I took a quick step backward before it cut into me.
I was just about to bolt when more bullets suddenly exploded, splintering wood and more glass.
“Oh, shit.”
I wasn’t sure whether I said the words or Jacqueline. I threw myselfon the floor, and so did she. If I wasn’t so scared, I would have reveled in her panicked expression, but instead I focused on getting away from her.
I started crawling toward the broken window, wincing every so often as glass cut into my flesh. It was then that I spotted hulking figures in black, swarming the yacht and carrying pistols. I blinked several times as relief hit me.
Help was here.
“Sophie!”
A familiar voice I couldn’t place echoed through the air. I tried to push off the floor, but immediately another round of bullets rang through the air. A bullet whizzed by me and lodged in the floor. I yelped and tried to shield myself with my arms.
“Sophie, where are you?” I lifted my head, recognizing the voice.
“Here,” I screamed as I scooted forward, trying to put as much distance between Jacqueline and me. “Kian!”
I wasn’t sure whether it was mere seconds or minutes later, but a body draped over my back, protecting me. The familiar scent cocooned all around me and I sagged with relief.
“I got you,” he murmured against my hair. “You’re safe.”
“Thank you for coming for me.” I tried to turn, but he cupped my head.
“Be still. It’s almost over, my love.” He produced a small key and freed me from the handcuffs, then rubbed my wrists gently. “I’ll never let anyone touch you again.”
I didn’t have time to digest that statement because he was up on his elbow, firing again. I held my breath and covered my ears.
When he lowered back on top of me, I said, “What’s happening?”
Kian’s muscles tightened, his big body still pinning me down. He shifted, and I leaned up to see him fire at a man near the entrance to the office.
Another bullet whizzed by me and I yelped, trying to burrow under his body. Kian fired rapidly, eliminating men with military efficiency. But then the gun clicked, indicating the chamber was empty.
“We have to move from here,” he growled. “We’ll be sitting ducks.”
“What about her?” I tilted my head at Jacqueline, who suddenly appeared old and frail, her eyes darting left and right in fear.
A dark expression passed Kian’s features. “She’ll get what she deserves.”
We started moving, but just as we reached the corridor, Amir appeared. “This is not the time to play hide-and-seek, you two lovebirds."
“Shut up, Amir,” Kian grumbled as he took his extended hand, then helped me to my feet. Amir tossed him a magazine with bullets, and as Kian loaded his gun, he said to Amir, “Get that psycho over there and restrain her.”
