Page 72 of From Rivals to I Do

The gun clatters to the ground, and we both dive for it, struggling against one another on the floor. Gaining control, I kick him in the ribs, and I’m able to grab the gun as I shakily sit up, my blood pumping as I level the gun and train it between his eyes.

***

“Don’t move,” Eli says as he stands up slowly and motions for me to come closer. I slip past Joseph, scared out of my mind as Joseph pushes me behind him. Protecting me from Joe.

“We both know you aren’t going to shoot me,” Joseph says with a chuckle. “You don’t have the guts, Eli.”

“Apparently you don’t know me as well as you think you do,” Eli says. “But I guess that’s something we have in common, isn’t it?”

“You’re too much of a softie, Eli,” Joseph replies, his voice dripping with venom. “Pathetic, really. Pining over your dead wife while stealing someone else’s.”

“You’ve truly lost it,” Eli replies, shaking his head. “You’re the one who cheated and took off, and the last time I checked, Darla divorced you. Unlike you, I’d never be such a low life. I take care of my family, and I’d do anything for them. . . and the woman I love.”

My heart skips a beat, and I peer at Joseph who looks like he’s truly lost his mind. His eyes are wild, and he looks utterly disheveled.

“You think you’re better than me?” Joseph yells, and I’m waiting for him to lunge at us at any moment, but it never comes, the cops bursting through the door with guns drawn.

“TPD! Put the gun down!” one of the officers yell.

“Yeah, Eli, put the gun down,” Joseph replies smugly. Eli clicks the safety back on, holds it to his side, and drops it to the floor.

“He was only defending himself,” I say. “He’s the one you want. That’s Joseph Rutherford Middleton! He’s wanted by the police for several crimes, and he’s tried to murder this man in cold blood.”

“She doesn’t know what she’s talking about,” Joseph insists. “She’s lost it!”I then hold up my phone, and I hit play.

“You’re going to regret this, Darla,” my phone chimes, and Joseph whips around and glares at me.

“You little—”

“I’m Darla,” I say. “I’m the one who called. Mr. Middleton came here to try and kill him. The gun is his.”

The room is tense for a few moments, and I hold my breath as the officer trains his gun on us, looking around the room.

“I need confirmation on warrants for a Joseph Middleton,” he says as he leans his head toward his shoulder, speaking into his walkie talkie.

“You’ve got to be kidding,” Joseph mutters.

“Confirmed,” someone says over the radio, and the cop switches gears and points his gun at Joseph.

“Joseph Middleton, you are under arrest for suspected attempted murder, medical tampering, and several other crimes,” the cop says as he steps forward, and a part of me expects Joseph to fight. Instead, he hangs his head in defeat as the cop reads him his Miranda rights, clamps the handcuffs on Joseph’s wrists, and leads him out of the room.

“Thank God,” I say as Eli turns around, and I can’t help but hop into his arms. He holds me tight. “I thought I was going to lose you.”

“Well, I survived this, being dead, and a stampede. . . I’d say the odds are in my favor,” Eli jokes with a chuckle as he kisses my forehead. “I’m just glad you’re alright.”

“Do you remember me now?” I ask as I let go a little and look up at him.

“I remember enough,” he says with a smile as he stares lovingly into my eyes, his gorgeous smile back on his face. The one that crinkles the corners of his brilliant blue eyes.

“Did you mean what you said?” I ask.

“About what?”

“Loving me,” I say, and he beams a bit brighter.

“Darla, you make my heart sing in a way I haven’t felt in a very long time,” Eli says as he puts his hand to my cheek, and gently rubs it with his thumb. “I do love you, and I want to see where the future takes us.”

“Even after all this?” I ask, as tears fall down my cheeks.

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