Burned Hearts (Burned 3)

I’d never had anxiety crawl through me like a million tiny spiders unless my mother was in the same room with me.

Though this was way worse.

My gaze remained locked on the TV. I was riveted, yet every fiber of my being burned for me to jump to my feet and somehow be involved. I wanted to swoop in and snatch Amsel from Ethan’s arms. But I couldn’t save my own son.

I had to just watch.

Whatever happened … I would see it all.

My heart pounded in my chest. My pulse echoed in my ears. It was a wonder I didn’t black out again. Or go into cardiac arrest.

As the standoff between Ethan and Kyle ensued, tears streamed down my cheeks. Fury tore through me. How could this even be happening?

“Two o’clock,” Stan suddenly instructed Dane. “Coming right at you.”

I caught the shadow of a figure as Dane hunkered in the hedges.

I watched with bated breath as Dane took the fountain guy by surprise. I heard the gunshot and the guy hit the ground. It drew the attention of the other shadow, and he shot at Dane. I gasped. The bullet missed him.

Two shots later and the second gunman sprawled on the patio.

Dane didn’t waste time waiting for anyone else to move in on him. He stormed the living room, gun pointed at Ethan’s head. I frantically worked the controls to zoom in.

Rosa leapt to her feet and started to pace and swear some more, her arms flapping wildly.

I couldn’t figure out what the plan was and suddenly yelled in frustration, “The baby!”

“Keep up your watch,” Stan told me. “Amsel will be fine.”

Stan said it to help me calm down, but of course it didn’t work. Suspense clawed at me. My heart didn’t feel right. It beat too fast. Was pulled too tight.

Unexpectedly, Kyle lowered his gun and took a step back.

“What?” I demanded. “No!”

But then Ethan stood and handed Amsel over to him.

Dane put away his gun.

“You just silently agreed to give up the Lux,” I said. “Oh, my God.” My head spun. Yes, our child meant more than a hotel. But … “How can you trust Ethan to stick to the deal? How can you trust him to not come after us again?”

He didn’t answer me. I suspected he didn’t want to blow our own surprise element—that I watched the estate.

But then the true source of the surrender came into sight.

Mikaela.

“Oh, God, no,” I said on a harsh breath. “He’s kidnapped her, too.”

Ethan held his hands in the air, unthreatening, and crossed to the desk in the corner. Mikaela joined him.

“What the hell?” I muttered.

She stood by Ethan’s side behind the desk. This perplexed me.

Ethan retrieved a folder and held out a pen to Dane.

My heart broke all over again for him.