The Truest Thing (Hart's Boardwalk 4)

He gave a bark of laughter. “I’ll believe that when I see it.” Ian shook his head, despair leaching the anger from his face. “It’s over. Betrayed by my own fucking blood. Do you know what that feels like?” His eyes turned worryingly blank. “I want to hurt him like he hurt me.” His finger flexed on the trigger and mine twitched in retaliation.

The front door opened. I gasped at the sight of Cooper letting himself into the house. He saw me and my gun and hesitated. “Emery?”

I shook my head at him. “Get out, Cooper.”

“Cooper!” Ian yelled viciously. “Get the fuck out of here or I will fucking shoot her!”

To my despair, Cooper threw back his shoulders, his face mottled with anger, and he strode into view, stopping at the sight of Ian holding the gun pointed at me. “You know, until this point, you’ve been a vicious bastard, but you’ve never been this dumb.”

Ian sneered at him. “I’ve got nothing left to lose. I’m going away for a long time, boy. I might as well do something that my son will never forget.”

“Jack doesn’t care about Emery,” Cooper said.

I tried not to flinch, wondering if he knew something I didn’t.

“All you’ll do is hurt an innocent woman. For nothing.”

“What would you know about Jack?” Ian huffed, a bead of sweat rolling down his temple. “He wants this one. I’ve got the photographic evidence.” He waved the gun at me. “Did you know she’s a billionaire? My son is playing the long game with her. He’s more like me than he wants to let on.”

My heart rejected Ian’s insinuation that Jack was only after my money.

But that little niggle of insecurity that would always be there made itself known.

“Bullshit.” Cooper threw me a look. “Bullshit,” he assured me.

And then the front door was thrown open again and Jack ran in, skidding to a halt beside Cooper who held up a hand to ward him off. Jack’s clothes were askew, his hair disheveled, his skin damp with perspiration. His eyes moved between me and his father. He looked frantic.

“Don’t do this,” he spat at Ian.

Ian grinned.

And then, like people were wont to do, he underestimated me.

He swung the gun toward Jack. “Now I can’t decide who I want to shoot more.”

I narrowed my eyes, aimed at his hand that held the gun, and pulled the trigger.

Ian’s roar of agony filled my home as he dropped his gun and fell to his knees, clutching his wounded hand.

I lowered my Glock, engaging the safety, and watched as Cooper kicked Ian’s gun out of the way. He then pulled out his phone to call the police.

Jack was in my face, his grip tight on my biceps as he hauled me against him. I let him hold me for a few seconds before he pulled back to study me. “Are you okay?” he asked, his eyes roaming my body, as if searching for injury.

I nodded. I was a little in shock. My dress was soaked with sweat. But I was okay.

“Where did you learn to shoot like that?” Cooper asked as he stood guard over Ian who moaned like a wounded animal at his feet.

“My grandmother. She said a lady should know how to defend herself. I took lessons at her country club gun range throughout my teen years. I used to shoot competitively. I still visit a range every month. I’m pretty good with a crossbow too.” The information poured out of me as I stared at Ian as he frothed at the mouth.

Jack made a sound somewhere between laughter and a groan. My breath stuttered a little at his look of adoration. “You are full of surprises, Emery Saunders.”

Cooper snorted and Jack looked over his shoulder at him. He still hadn’t released his hold on me. “What?”

Cooper grinned knowingly at the two of us. “I think you’re both full of surprises.”

21

Emery