Chapter Twelve
NOAH
The shot goes off, and immediately, I feel pain as I fall to the ground. Brittany's laughter rings in my ears as more gunshots are fired.
I stay still, not wanting to draw any attention toward me.
“Put the gun down,” I hear Brittany say. She's breathing heavily as feet shuffle around me.
“Not happening,” Eric tells her, loading another round. Though my head is turned the other way, I know he's killed Nicolas. There's not a doubt in my mind.
“Put your fuckin' gun down!” Brittany screeches.
Eric chuckles, completely unfazed by her. “You first.”
“I'll shoot,” she says, and I open my eyes as she moves farther away from me. Eric’s using the car as a shield while Brittany steadies her shaking hand.
I hear Katie crying, and I want nothing more than to go to her, but I can't move.
“If you know what's good for you, you'll get in your SUV and drive the fuck away,” Eric warns. “You have no idea what you've done.”
“Fuck you,” she hisses. “I’ll finish what that bastard started. This has nothing to do with you,” she screams and pulls the trigger.
Based on Eric's laughter, she misses. “Shoulda probably gone to the range for some target practice before trying to act like a badass. Pathetic.”
Brittany points her gun again, and I hear a revving engine accompanied by tires squealing.
Then I watch as a silver Toyota slams into Brittany from behind at a high speed. Her body flies over the hood, and she lies in a crumpled hump on the ground.
Seconds later, Eric comes into view. He walks past me and goes to Katie. I manage to roll over on my side, my chest burning, and she comes to me after she's free.
“Noah, Noah. Baby,” she says, moving my body around, frantically sobbing.
“Katie,” I say, grabbing her wrists and trying to sit up. “I'm fine, sweetheart.”
Eric comes over and gives me a hand, and I help Katie up, then wrap my arms around her. I smell the scent of her hair, kiss the softness of her skin, and take her all in.
“How are you alive?” she asks, confused. “I watched her shoot you.”
I smile and nod toward Eric. “It was his call on the bulletproof vest.”
I unbutton my shirt and show her. Katie runs her hand across the entry point.
“Just gonna be sore for a few days.” I wince, knowing it’s already bruising.
Eric gives us a moment, and I hold Katie tight. Tears slide down her cheeks, and she squeezes me like she’s never going to let me go.
“I was so scared I lost you,” she says. “So fucking scared.”
“I felt the same. I didn't really think she’d pull the trigger,” I say. “I'm just happy you're okay.”
“She has a faint pulse!” Eric yells.
Katie's eyes go wide. “Brittany's still alive,” she whispers.
I have no concept of time because the passing moments seem to rush by and slow down all at once. But when I see Loretta get out of the car, my mouth falls open.
“Loretta?” Katie asks with confusion in her tone because I've lost the ability to speak.
She walks swiftly toward us, wrapping her arms around us. “Oh thank God, you're okay.”
This is the closest I've stood next to my aunt in the past decade. She looks like she's been to hell and back.
“I've already called 911,” she tells us. “An ambulance is on their way.”
Eric kicks away Brittany’s gun, then goes to Nicolas. “He's dead.”
I don't have it in me to turn my head and look.
“What’re you doing here?” Katie finally asks Loretta.
“Well, honey, I knew Brittany was up to something, so I did some investigating. When I saw Noah and this young man leave so quickly, I knew something was going on, so I followed them. When I saw Brittany had a gun, I didn't know what else to do. I had to protect you,” Loretta says, then she meets my eyes. “I owe you both as much,” she admits, and I feel like I'm living in the twilight zone.
“Thank you,” Katie says and then immediately bends over and empties her stomach on the gravel.
“Are you okay?” I ask, noticing her cheeks are still red from where the duct tape was and see scratches on her cheeks.
“I think it's all too much. My body’s going into shock,” she admits, and thankfully the ambulance arrives. As she takes a step forward, Katie nearly passes out, so they decide to take her to the hospital to get her checked out. After Brittany is put on another ambulance, the police rope off the area and start asking questions.
Loretta and I have more than enough evidence, and I'm grateful as hell she doesn't hold back. After they've gotten everything they need and get our contact information for later, Eric and I walk to the car. Before we leave, I turn to Loretta and thank her. Something I never thought I'd be doing.