Total pages in book: 180
Estimated words: 168587 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 843(@200wpm)___ 674(@250wpm)___ 562(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 168587 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 843(@200wpm)___ 674(@250wpm)___ 562(@300wpm)
“Because he was in on it.”
“Ty—” My brother slaps his hand over my mouth, spinning us both around to see my husband has joined us, gun drawn and pointed right at Miller. I want to cry in relief, but I have to try and take a calming breath through my nose.
“Let her go, Miller,” Tyson demands with his arms out, gun trained on my brother.
“God, isn’t this poetic.” Miller laughs. “You couldn’t save Whitney, and now here you are, not able to save your wife.”
Does my brother not know our sister is alive?
“Let. Her. Go.” Tyson’s voice is controlled, but I can see how tense he is from where Miller holds me hostage, and it makes me even more nervous. That my brother might be able to kill me.
“If you had just stayed the fuck away…”
“You know I couldn’t walk away. Not after what happened to Whitney.” Tyson shakes his head. “You had to know I’d take the only thing left.”
I flinch at how Tyson speaks of me. Like I’m nothing to him. But even I know that I started out that way, things have changed now.
“But you fell in love with her.” Miller snorts, ignoring Tyson. “God, you’re as pathetic as she is.” His fingers pinch my nose, and I kick my legs out, twisting in his grip, but he closes the distance between us and the Lords’ table. Smashing my body into the side of it, he limits my struggle.
My eyes grow heavy, my body betraying me.
“Miller—”
“You will not beat me!” my brother roars, interrupting my husband. I feel something being pushed into the side of my head. Tyson tosses his gun to the side, and it slides across the floor, then he lifts his hands in the air.
“You want me?” he shouts. “I’m right here.”
“You just had to take her from us,” my brother growls, his body vibrating against mine. My arms fall to my side while my chest heaves, desperate for air. “Gave your life up for her. How fucking pathetic.”
“I’m right fucking here!” Tyson is screaming, his words full of rage and desperation.
I blink, and it’s hard to open them.
He steps closer, and my brother steps back from the table, but I don’t have the strength to fight.
“Miller.” Tyson’s eyes are on mine. They’re large as he takes small steps closer to us. Needing to get to me. “Let her go.”
The pressure to my skull is released and then I feel it in my side, digging into my ribs.
“You want me? Do it!” Tyson screams. “Fucking do it. Shoot me, you son of a bitch.”
Tears well up in my eyes, and I beg him to stop, but no one can hear me.
My brother laughs. “I’d rather you know what it’s like to lose the only woman you’ve ever loved than die.”
My eyes fall shut as a calmness washes over me.
BANG.
SIXTY-SIX
TYSON
My wife drops to the Cathedral floor as the shot rings out. I rush to her, falling to my knees. I pick her up in my arms, my hands instantly covered in blood. “Lake?” I cup her tear-streaked face. “Lake, look at me.”
She gasps, sucking in a breath, and her eyes pop open. I pull her to me, and she wraps her arms around my neck as sobs rack her body.
I kiss her hair, and she pulls away. Her eyes fall to my bloody arms, and she begins to shake. “It’s okay. You’re okay,” I assure her.
Her wide eyes meet mine, full of panic, and her face drains of color. “You—"
“I’m okay.”
The sound of a mumbled cry comes from beside us, and we look over to see Ryat handcuffing Miller while his bloody body lies on the floor. He was able to get a shot off in Miller’s shoulder without hurting Lake. I knew he wouldn’t let her go, and he wouldn’t talk much longer. We had run out of time.
“Let’s go, you piece of shit.” Ryat yanks him up and drags him out of the Cathedral.
I help her to stand on shaky legs and start to walk down the aisle to leave, but she pulls me to a stop. “What?”
“I’ll wait here.” She wraps her arms around herself. “Please,” she whispers when I go to reach out to her again. “I need a second.” Her eyes drop to the floor.
“Okay.” I nod, give her a kiss, and run outside to help Ryat load him in the back of the SUV.
I make a quick call to Saint, giving my wife the time she needs. Hanging up, I pocket my cell and enter the Cathedral to find her standing at the altar. I walk down the aisle and come to the front. Watching her stare at the Lords’ table.
“Lake—”
“Why did you waste your life?” she asks softly, interrupting me.
I don’t respond. I instead, I tilt my head, confused by what she means exactly.