Page 117 of The Guy Next Door

This can’t lead anywhere good, but I remind myself that if he approaches me, this might give me the opportunity to gain the upper hand.

I unfasten my belt, unbutton my fly, and pull my pants down. Once I remove them, I pull them up to my waist, sliding my hand in my front pocket for my pepper spray.

Isaac walks toward me. “You think I don’t know what you’re doing?”

A chill runs up and down my spine, my fingers tickle the end of the bottle, but I remain still to keep from rousing further suspicion.

“You know I meant your briefs too—which I like, by the way.” He snatches the pants from me and tosses them in the nook beside the bed.

There goes my pepper spray.

Fuck.

My stomach churns.

“Sorry, I’m shy,” I say.

He steps even closer, and I notice Zane in my periphery.

He’s moving. What’s he doing?

I refuse to look since I don’t want to draw Isaac’s attention to whatever he’s attempting.

Isaac presses the gun between my pecs, runs it down my torso.

My stomach clenches. I feel fucking sick, and I’m sure the only reason I’m not vomiting right now is because some part of me realizes that could be the difference between life and death.

As the head of the gun touches my belly, near my navel, I’m shaking.

“Take. Them. Off,” he says softly.

I feel a rush of determination. I’m probably about to die, but that was probably how this was going to end anyway. I take my chance, moving fast, seizing his armed hand and dragging him to the floor with me. I’ll keep the gun out of his reach if it fucking kills me, but suddenly I feel something press against myshoulder blade, followed by a jolt of energy rushing through me, my body vibrating.

As I lose sensation in my limbs, I barely have a chance to process what’s wrong before I’m releasing the very thing I shouldn’t have let go of under any circumstances.

I collapse on my back, my muscles twitching and spasming as I see Isaac with the gun in one hand and a stun gun in the other.

“Feisty,” he says, his lips curling into a smirk before he turns the gun on me again.

A growl comes from behind him, and Zane jumps up, throwing his arms, still locked together, over Isaac’s head, clamping them back quickly as he puts Isaac into a chokehold.

Zane must’ve shimmied his wrists down and pulled them to the front.

Isaac pulls the gun back, aiming it at Zane’s head.

“No!” I call out just as I hear aclick.

I wait for the explosive sound of a bullet firing and anticipate the horror of having to watch my Zane endure the brunt of it.

But there’s only thatclick.

Isaac’s eyes widen as he pulls the gun back and fires again. Still without success.

Is it empty? Is the safety on?

Whatever the hell is wrong, I struggle to my feet to help Zane, fighting against the echoes of Isaac’s attack that still reverberate through me.

By the time I’m up, Isaac’s thrown the gun to the floor and raises the stun gun, pressing it against Zane’s neck.

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