Page 221 of Cross & Crown

payday.”

Kelly looked over his shoulder, his brow furrowed. He

didn’t dare turn around though, not when he knew there was

still a gun pointed at Nick.

“We’re leaving, and we’re taking this fucker with us as

insurance,” Southie snarled with a jab at Cameron’s cheek.

“Over my dead body,” Julian growled. “No. Make that

overyourdead body.”

Nick felt the mood in the room shift almost instantly.

It was an instinct honed over many years of gunfights and

negotiations, the ability to tell when a situation had just

turned hopeless.

221

The man on the ground went for his belt, where a gun

had indeed been hidden beneath his shirt. Nick shoved

his shoulder into Kelly, sending them both to the floor.

Southie fired at them, holding Cameron in front of him as

a human shield. Cameron knocked his elbow into Southie’s

chin, and Southie stumbled back, falling into JD as the gun

went off again.

Nick sat up and fired a single shot, taking the Irishman

through the back of the hand as he attempted to pull the

trigger. His gun went flying and he screamed, holding his

bloody hand to his chest.

Julian also took one shot, but he wasn’t aiming to maim.

Southie took the bullet right between the eyes as he was trying to scramble to his feet. His body made a solid thud when it hit the floorboards.

And just like that, it was over. Nick slowly got to his feet,

gun still in hand. Alex had taken cover on the stairs, and as

soon as she raised her head, Nick gestured to her to get out of the house. She darted forward, not for the door, but for the

museum curator with her bonnet in hand. Alex pulled her to

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