I glowered at the hooded shooter. “Show yourself,” I spat at him.
He laughed, and it grated on my nerves.
This wasn’t Gregory.
This man didn’t sound familiar.
This was someone else.
“Leave us alone, Malcolm,” Alyssa cried.
I looked from her into the darkness.Hewas alive.
He stepped forward, and he might have had surgery, but there was no doubt I was looking at Malcolm Morgan.
“Hi, Doc, I don’t believe we’ve met.”
ChapterForty-Eight
Alyssa
When Luke walked toward me, I thought I was dreaming, but when he wrapped his strong arms around me, I knew he was there. He’d survived the fire, and he’d come for me again. I held onto him, weeping into his jacket. I didn’t want to let go.
A man cautiously approached us with a blanket and water. He had to be Luke’s brother because he looked so much like him. I smiled and accepted his kindness.
I shivered as I looked at him lying before us, shot, blood oozing onto the floor from under him. There was no telling what Malcolm would do to get to me.
“Mom?” Gracie’s voice broke the silence.
“I told you to stay in the car!” Malcolm shouted.
“She’s okay? You lied to me.” She looked at her father and me with a pained expression. She looked thinner than ever. The black dress she wore was drowning her. I didn’t believe he could be so cruel to her, but he’d actually lied that I was dead in the same way he’d faked his death.
“I called in backup,” Seth moaned. “They’ll be here anytime. Let them go, and we can make an arrangement.”
We could hear the sirens approaching, and he stepped toward me. Luke stepped in front of me. “You will not touch her.”
“This isn’t the end, Lissy,” he spat the words like venom.
I saw Luke’s fist as it connected with Malcolm’s jaw. He stumbled back but stood steady. Luke almost lost his footing as Malcolm delivered a blow to his head.
The two men struggled, and Gracie screamed, covering her ears.
“Run!” I shouted at her, and she did as she was told. I knew the police were at the door. I could hear them using a battering ram.
I kneeled beside Seth and took the gun from his hands.
This was not how it ended,I reminded myself.Malcolm didn’t get to win.
I aimed and shot his leg. Then he fell in slow motion.
Malcolm looked back at me, his jaw clenched. “You bitch!”
“Drop your weapon, ma’am,” a voice shouted from behind me, and this time, I smiled at my husband and did as I was told. I felt lightheaded suddenly, and the last thing I remember was Gracie and Luke running toward me.
I cried.
She was okay.
