Page 220 of Overcast

My body goes stiff as his words float around me.

Are they real, or is he buying time?

Marty’s eyes flick to my gun, still lying at my torso, and I gradually extend it, but it’s aimed at the floor.

“I never wanted to leave you in Silver Lake,” he continues. “But you never would’ve made the right decision for you. After you told me you loved me, I didn’t want to keep you locked in my world just to dim your brightness. I would’ve made you miserable, Stormi, maybe not now, but eventually. You don’t like me killing people, and it’s all I do. It’s all I know how to do.”

I lift the weapon again, angry that he still made the decision for me. That he never gave me a chance to pick what I wanted to do. That I’ve been desolate for the last two weeks without him, and nothing has made it better. Every minute away from him is its own sort of torture.

I loved him and only him, and he walked away from me.

“You’ll grow,” Marty continues. “Into someone I’ll be so proud of. I have no doubt of that in my mind.”

I hoist it higher, lining with his chest.

“I’d do anything for you, sweetheart, gladly and willingly. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do to keep you safe from anyone. I’d burn the whole fucking world down for you, all you had to do was say the word. One order, and it’s done.”

This time I hesitate but follow his plan and let the barrel climb up his body to about his throat.

“Just in case you didn’t hear it the first time...I love you. With every fucking thing I got. It’s not much, but it’s me. You make me want to come out of the shadows and bask in the sun with you. You create a sense of peace that I want to drown in. I want you always.”

Tears burn the back of my eyes because this plan is starting to sound like a goodbye. A second part to his letter that didn’t make it through the first round.

“Raise the gun,” Marty commands and on impulse and because it’s him, I do. Perfectly aligned with the face that I fell in love with. “On the count of three, baby, you’re going to pull the trigger.”

“Marty, no!” Reagan yells at my left. “Absolutely not.”

“Shut up, Tsarina,” he replies gently, breaking his gaze from me for the first time. “I want that baby’s name to have some of me in it.”

“Stop,” she snaps. “You’re not going to die today.” He smiles at her, it’s weak, but he still lets it slip off his face.

It’s then that I realize there is no blueprint or plan B for the situation we’re in.

This was the plan.

He really wants me to shoot him.

“Sweetheart.” My nickname is a soft drawback to him as I refocus on him standing yards away from me. “Remember what I taught you. The recoil, hold it firmly with two hands, and look down the sight.”

This man is out of his fucking mind right now.

And I wish the words would leave my mouth so I can tell him, but they’re lodged so deep in my throat they’re keeping the broken sob at bay.

“Tell me you love me again,” he coaxes. “I want to hear it one more time. Right off those perfect lips and that voice that practically gets me to my knees.” He sighs and shakes his head. “Damn woman, you got me all sorts of fucked up.”

The first warm teardrop falls, accompanied by a fragmented sob from my chest. Marty looks grief-stricken, probably wanting to hold me but knows it won’t be possible.

He gave up everything to save his sister, and he still is. He has a family, a new nephew or niece coming into this world and B723. They all love him, and I’m aware of how and why because I feel the same thing.

And now, in all Marty’s prideful fashion, he’s about to lose his life for not only Reagan but me too.

He’ll leave behind people who adore him, family members, and friends that I don’t have.

I have no one besides him.

So it makes sense that he doesn’t die today.

“Sweetheart.” Marty’s voice caresses everywhere, my cheek, my heart, my whole damn soul. He may be a lot of things, but a dead man isn’t going to be one of them. “I want those to be the last words. And I know I don’t deserve them after everything I did, but I wish for them anyway. I’ve been completely selfish with you. Might as well do it now too.”

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