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“She didn’t love you!” Pops roared. “You were a mistake. A lapse in judgment. Audrey knew that affair wasn’t bigger than the family. She was never gonna have a bastard by you!”

“Liar!” Spit flew from Solomon’s mouth. “You had me locked up and fucked over my family because you couldn’t stand that your wife wanted to be with somebody else.”

Behind me, Belle whimpered.

This had to end.

Solomon steadied his gun on me. “I want you to watch me take everything from you, Orlando. Same way you did to me.”

I tipped my head at Priest and Yomi.

Everything slowed down as Solomon squeezed the trigger. Three shots rang out and the men around him dropped. I had my gun out before he recovered.

He stumbled back with wild eyes as the first shot hit him in the chest. I went to put another one in him, but another shot came from somewhere behind me and put a hole dead in his forehead. I turned and saw Pops with his gun raised.

Nobody moved as Solomon went down. Blood pooled out underneath him, soaking into the wooden floor.

“Pop.” My voice didn’t sound like mine.

He didn’t answer. He stared at the body, his gun still raised like he thought Solomon was gonna get back up.

“Pop.” I moved toward him. “It’s done.”

His arm dropped, and the gun clattered to the floor. When his legs gave out from under him, I caught him before he hit the ground, his full weight sagging into me.

Davis had come to at some point and rushed over. “I got him.”

“Belle.” I turned and found her exactly where I’d left her, curled against an overturned chair. Her eyes were wide and locked on the body across the room.

“Dez.” Her voice cracked.

I pulled her into my arms. “We’re good, mama. It’s over.”

She pointed at my arm. “You’re bleeding.”

I looked down and saw my sleeve was soaked through where Solomon’s bullet had grazed me. In all the mess, I hadn’t even registered getting shot. “It’s a scratch.” I kissed her head.

Sirens were wailing in the distance. Marco and Priest were going around and checking on guests. Lorelei reappeared. She looked a little shaken, her silk blouse ripped at the shoulder.

“Boss, you need to go,” she said. “The police are about to be here any second. You can’t be here.”

I nodded and pulled Belle to her feet. “Let’s go, Princess.”

“What about all this?” Belle looked around. “My mom. Oh my God, where’s my mom? Mama!”

“I’m here!” Regina called out. She was huddled in a corner with Walter, looking terrified.

Belle broke away from me and rushed to her mother’s side. They hugged each other tearfully.

“You really need to go, Dez,” Lorelei said softly.

I moved to Belle and crouched low. “Baby, we need to go.”

“I can’t just leave my mom. What about Jody and Siani?”

Regina looked at me with a look of understanding. “La’Belle, go with your husband. Me and Walter will be fine.”

“Ma—”