Page 144 of A Forgotten Mistake

“What would you have to gain from shooting her? You had Ryan drag her here so you could use her to confirm whatever bullshit you’re going to say about me? Like… what does describing the garage do besides prove that you were there?”

I want to destroy this awful woman. I want to make her regret everything she’s said and done. I want to?—

“I can tell them how you watched my father. How you figured out what he was doing to those women. I can tell them how you killed him right?—”

The gunshot surprises even me. In a brief moment of fixation on me, her hand had shifted just enough that it wasn’t aimed at the woman kneeling before her, allowing Gabriel to take the shot. Abby falls back, shock on her face as the gun clatters from her hand. The kneeling woman ducks down, sinking to the floor in an attempt to protect herself as I look over at the window where Gabriel stands.

The shot was perfect. It was likely the only angle Gabriel could get from his position outside the window that would keep him well clear of the hostage. There’s no denying Abby will die from this lethal of a shot, but I don’t love the idea of my sweet Gabriel feeling like he killed her. So I lift my gun and shoot her again, right in the chest. Then I kick her gun far away from her and keep mine trained on her, even though it’s obvious she’s not getting up again. I hurry over to the hostage so that when the police flood the place, it’s apparent that I was protecting her.

She wasn’t looking. She has no idea that I shot Abby again when there was clearly no need to.

“Are you okay?” I ask, throwing out all the fake niceties I can. I want to cement the fact that I’m the good guy. Gabriel and Isaved her life. All that bullshit Abby was saying wasn’t true.

She nods as I quickly untie her.

“It’s okay. You’re safe now. I’m so sorry this happened to you. Are you positive you’re not hurt?”

“I-I’m okay. I’m okay,” she whispers.

“Let’s get you out of here.”

As soon as someone is in the room, eyes on Abby, I pull the lady out and she grabs on to me desperately. It’s annoying and I’d rather she didn’t, but if I play my cards right, I’ll always be her savior and never the man who killed her father.

“Here, I’m going to hand you off to the medical team, okay? They’re going to take fantastic care of you. You’re going to be okay and back home safely soon.”

She seems reluctant to let go, but I urge her over to them so they can get her checked out and make sure she’s okay. Glad to be free of her, I step out and see Michaels staring at me. It’s clearly an “I told you to not engage” look.

“We were shot at the moment we neared the hostage,” I say. “Abby was holding a second hostage at gunpoint, so it’s not like I could be like, ‘Well, you look busy, I have to run.’ I managed to distract her enough that Gabriel shot her, but when she lifted her gun to retaliate, I shot her again. Both hostages should be safe.”

Michaels opens his mouth. Closes it. Then sighs. “Thank you for helping them both in a quick manner.”

“You’re very welcome! I expect a cake tomorrow.”

“No.”

“My parents were murdered and my foster sister tried pinningmoremurders on me. I’m like… practically scarred for life. I definitely deserve a cake,” I say.

“When do I get a cake?” Donna asks.

“When you do something at least half as amazing as what I’ve done.”

“Sir, if there’s ever a position opening for a transfer, please transfer him,” she says.

“I’m like Michaels’ prized show dog. Even if I tear up his favorite things, he can’t get rid of me because I’m too useful to him. I’m going nowhere,” I inform her before seeing Gabriel. Ihurry toward him but Matthew steps right in my way, so I simply put a hand against his face and push him aside.

“I second the transfer,” Matthew says as he smacks me off him.

“You okay?” I ask as I rush up to Gabriel.

His eyes catch mine as he tries to pretend I didn’t just gently guide Matthew onto a different route. “I’m… aware my shot was lethal… you didn’t have to… you know,” Gabriel says quietly.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say.

He raises an eyebrow. “Really?”

“Really, really.”

Gabriel takes a deep breath and sets his forehead against my shoulder. “I’m sorry. I know… I know you process things differently than the humans around you, but it’s still a lot.”