Shit.
I moved fast. Faster than Brandi.
Brandi screamed and jerked, but I was already there. My hand clamped around her wrist and shoved it up and away from Josie’s throat. At the same time, I stepped between them and used my body to force Josie sideways.
The knife clattered against the wall, and Brandi clawed at my arm with her free hand.
Josie stumbled, and I heard her hit the floor. That sound nearly broke me, but Brandi still had the knife.
I twisted her wrist hard enough to make her cry out and the knife dropped. I kicked it away, skidding under a table, but Brandi lunged toward Josie.
I caught her around the waist and hauled her back like she weighed nothing. “Don’t touch her.” My voice came out like gravel.
Brandi screamed again, kicking, scratching, sobbing. “You lied to me!”
“Yeah.” I dragged her away from Josie.
Brandi fought like hell, but panic made her sloppy. She grabbed at shelves, knocked over napkins, sent a container of spoons crashing to the floor.
Josie was on the ground by the wall, one hand pressed to her throat.
I had to get to her, but I had to take care of Brandi.
The freezer door was behind the counter and I headed toward it. Brandi dug her nails into my forearm. “You don’t love her!” she screamed.
I nearly laughed.
Wrong time.
Wrong fucking time.
“I do.”
The words came out before I thought.
Brandi went still for half a second. Then lost her mind all over again. “No!” She kicked backward, catching my shin. Pain shot up my leg. I grunted, tightened my hold, and yanked open the freezer door.
Cold air rushed out.
Brandi grabbed the doorframe.
I peeled her fingers away one by one.
She sobbed and cursed. Called Josie every name she knew. Each one made the monster in my chest grow bigger.
I shoved Brandi into the walk-in, then I slammed the door shut and flipped the latch.
Brandi pounded on the inside immediately. “Rome!”
I leaned both hands on the door and bowed my head.
One breath.
Two.
Three.
Josie.
