Then Jack’s head snapped toward the ceiling when we heard a creak followed by silent footsteps.
Damnit.
His face transformed, rage flooding his features. “You brought cops? You fucking brought?—”
The rope gave way.
Fucking finally.
Jack charged at me and I threw myself sideways just as he reached me. We collided hard, bodies slamming into old furniture. His gun clattered across the floor.
I drove my fist into his ribs and he choked.
“EVERYBODY OUT! THERE’S A BOMB!” One of the officers upstairs shouted. Boots pounded against the creaking floor as his words made me freeze.
A bomb?
Looking at his bloodshot eyes, it was plausible.
Jack’s fist connected with my jaw and pain exploded through my skull, white-hot and blinding. The world tilted, and I tasted blood, felt something warm trickle down my chin.
Through the ringing in my ears, I heard it. The sound of familiar cries. I heard it through the earpiece that had somehow stayed lodged.
The cries got louder and the deep voice of Cillian said, “I’ve got her. Lily’s safe.”
Those three words made my entire body flood with relief.
She is safe.
She was not harmed. Just like I thought.
Jack staggered to his feet, his legs trembling. His shaky hand was clutching the gun barrel pointing at my chest.
“You ruin everything!” He said, his voice loud. “You always ruin fucking everything!”
I pushed myself up, ignoring the way my vision swam. “You did,” I said calmly.
“What the fuck?”
I stood up to my full height even though there was a gun pointed at me. “I considered you my friend, a good friend,” I started. “And you had everything. A woman who genuinely loved you and wanted a future with you, a sweet daughter and a family. A real family.” My hands clenched at my sides. “And you threw it away because you were a jerk. I warned you. Told you to be good to her and Lily... and you went ahead and slept with someone?—”
“I told you it was a fucking mistake!” He yelled, the gun shaking.
“Was it a mistake taking Olivia’s videos without consent and blackmailing her?” I asked, clenching my jaw.
The color drained from his face.
“That stupid bitch!” Jack’s voice pitched higher, and he looked like a mad-man. “If you come close, I’ll shoot you—I’m not kidding, I will do it.”
“And then what, Jack?” I asked, tilting my head. “Go to jail?”
“Of course not. I’ll blast this place. I-I found a bomb, and I’ll blast it. I’ll let it explode, and Paige can cry over you and Lily?—”
“Get out of there, Derek,” Cillian’s voice was sharp and commanding through the ear-piece. “He’s not kidding. It’ll be too late before we can defuse it and you have to get out of there.”
I ignored Cillian and took a step forward, closing the distance between us. “They already found Lily.”
His eyes widened. “What? But how?”
