I grabbed my gun and handed it to Chloe. “Don’t hesitate to shoot Jeremiah. That was my mistake.”
Theo and his brother grappled for control.
I stuck my head out of the window just in time to see Kirill, Dom, bratva soldiers, and Theo’s men converging around the property.
Kirill emerged from the vehicle, his glare pinning me to where I stood.
“Lucy!” he roared. “Do. Not. Step. Out. So help me God!”
“Hurry!” I yelled before I turned to look at Aralina.
She was crouched on the wide ledge and crying, but they were tears of relief.
She signed quickly, “Jeremiah is scared of heights.”
Is that so? Then her being on the ledge made more sense. Somewhat.
“Put that gun down!” Theo shouted at Chloe.
“Do you have him under control?” she shouted back.
“Yes!”
But just as I leaned back from the window, Jeremiah knocked Theo over.
Footsteps stampeded up the spiral staircase.
“Shoot!” I screamed because the madness glowing from Jeremiah’s eyes was telling me he was lost to his psychosis.
Chloe fired. It hit Jeremiah on the shoulder, but he kept coming, his lips curled in a snarl.
Chloe and I had no room to back away.
She fired again. Hitting him on the upper chest but he came barreling toward us.
Theo was about to jump him when a force knocked Jeremiah sideways. His head jerked sickeningly before he fell over.
“No!” Theo howled as he rushed to his brother’s side.
Kirill, Dom, and Kolya spilled into the attic space.
My husband’s face was so scary, I almost hid behind Chloe, but he’d grabbed my arm and enclosed me in a tight embrace.
Kolya vanished out the window. Dom pointed his gun at Theo’s head. Theo’s security had a gun to my brother. Sato came up behind them…
And a Mexican standoff ensued.
“For God's sake, everyone lower your weapons,” Theo ordered, rising to his feet.
“I don’t know, King. Maybe we end this now,” Kirill said.
Theo's jaw hardened, but the movement by the window had all of us turning, and everyone lowered their guns.
Aralina’s beautiful tragic form filled the frame. With blonde hair a mess, her eyes red from crying, she was shaking uncontrollably. She was wearing a coat, but it was frigid outside, and her lips were cracked and devoid of color.
Since Theo was next to the window, he helped her inside. He was the only one wearing a wool overcoat, so he took it off and wrapped it around her. Aralina seemed to welcome the added warmth.
“Take your hands off?—”
