Page 149 of I'm Watching You

Enraged, Richard fired the gun. The bullet bit into the dirt by Nicole’s feet, barely missing her. ‘If you refuse to accept your lesson, Lindsay, I’ll kill Christina.’

Nicole shook her head. ‘Don’t do it, Lindsay. Don’t make it easy for him. I’d rather die than let him hurt you.’

‘Shut up!’ Richard shouted. He fired again.

This time the bullet nicked Nicole in the arm. He wasn’t toying with them. She screamed in pain and grabbed her arm. She stumbled back but managed to stay on her feet.

Richard’s face twisted with fury. He raised the gun to Nicole’s head. He was going to kill her.

‘Richard!’ Lindsay shouted. ‘I’ll get down on the ground. Just leave her alone.’

Richard’s hand shook as he held the pistol at Nicole’s head.

‘What do you want me to do?’ Lindsay asked.

Richard didn’t take his gaze off Nicole. ‘Go over by the ax and lie down on your belly. Stretch out your arms.’

‘Okay, just don’t hurt her.’

Blood seeped from the wound in Nicole’s arm. ‘Don’t do it, Lindsay.’

‘Shut up!’ Richard shouted. He held the gun steady. ‘Hurry up. Lie on your stomach and stretch out your arms in front of you.’

Lindsay moved across the barn and knelt down. She stretched out trembling arms. She thought about Zack. He’d wanted a second chance and she’d been too afraid to give him one. God, if only she had a second chance.

Richard walked toward the ax and picked it up, then movedbeside Lindsay. Glancing at Nicole, he steadied his grip on the ax handle. ‘This is what happens to bad girls, Christina.’

‘Don’t do this Richard,please,’ Nicole said. ‘If not for my sake, then the baby’s.’

His gaze didn’t waver. ‘What baby?’

Nicole swiped a tear from her face. ‘Your baby. Our baby.’

Richard’s gaze narrowed. ‘You’re lying.’

‘I’m not. I just found out.’

Lindsay drew in a breath. Maybe they could use the baby to connect with him. ‘It’s true.’ She started to spin lies. ‘It’s a boy. The ultrasound just confirmed it.’

‘A son?’

Tears streamed down Nicole’s face as she slid her hand protectively to her belly. ‘Yes. A son. Yours and mine.’

‘A simple test will prove if you’re lying.’

Nicole lifted her chin. ‘I’m not lying, Richard.’

Richard’s gaze glistened with pride. ‘All the more reason to get rid of her.’

Pete knew he had to act now. There was no telling when the cops would arrive. He had to save Lindsay. She had to know that she wasn’t alone.

Swallowing the pain, he held his gun straight. In a split second he took in the scene. Richard had grabbed Lindsay’s hair, yanked her head back, and was pressing the ax blade to her neck.

In that moment, Pete pictured Debra’s last moments. She’d been alone. Afraid. He raised his gun. This was his moment of redemption. ‘Let her go.’

Richard’s gaze snapped up. ‘Back the fuck off or I’ll kill her.’ He pushed the blade against Lindsay’s neck, slicing her skin. Blood trickled.

‘Kill her and I’ll kill you and your wife,’ Pete said. He moved into the room so that the wall, not the door, was to his back. He didn’t want to kill Nicole but he would.

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