Page 61 of Killian
The manager grabbed the phone and started dialing as the cashiers started ushering the customers to the back of the store.
Only once we got there did I stop and take a breath. I was pretty sure I hadn’t breathed in a really long time. Who the hell needed air?
Looking over at Khloe, she was bleeding from her mouth, arm, and leg, but she was alive. That was more than we could have hoped for.
The gunfire could still be heard outside, but it was faint over the kid’s screams. I didn’t blame her. I wanted to scream too.
Killian was out there. With gunfire.
My heart never felt fear like this. A fear t so bone-deep and cold that it ripped through every part of my body. Fear that I’d lose Killian. That he would be shot or killed. My breathing was increasing, rapidly catching up with my heart.
I’d never had a panic attack, but this felt as though I was having one. This was beyond anything I’d ever felt before, even being trapped by these guys in a room. There was fear for myself, but to think Killian was in that position … something broke inside of me. I couldn’t lose him.
It made me feel shattered in a way I’d never experienced.
It was in that moment, standing next to the milk and cheese in the dairy aisle, I realized I loved Killian. Loved him and couldn’t see my life without him.
Tears streamed down my face as my heart broke.
I needed to see him. Needed to know he was okay. That he wasn’t getting rattled with bullets. My stomach twisted painfully as more shots rang out.
Then the sound of sirens hit, and I hoped like hell they would help Killian and the guys out. And that Eli wasn’t there.
While I knew it was his job, I didn’t want him here with all the gunfire. The thought of losing Killian or my brother crippled me. Physically, I was going to throw up.
Suddenly, the shots stopped.
Only the hum of the refrigerator next to us filled the vast space. Even the kid stopped wailing like she knew things were still outside.
Khloe looked at me. “You think it’s over?”
I glared at her. Pissed as all hell. “Hell if I know! You’re the reason for all of this. If anything happens to someone I care about, I’ll kill you my damn self!”
It probably wasn’t smart to threaten her in front of a group of people, but I didn’t give a shit. She was going to feel my wrath.
“I didn’t mean for anyone to get hurt.”
“Just shut up. I don’t want to hear your shit right now.”
Khloe stepped to me, and I growled. Yes, flat out growled low in my throat. Never really thought I would want to murder someone before, but Khloe was on that damn list.
Surprisingly the tears cleared up as the anger boiled over.
“Ellie!”
Killian.
I took off to the front of the store, seeing Killian looking around frantically. I barreled down the aisles, rushing him. With my hands still tied, I couldn’t wrap my arms around him or jump into him like I wanted. His arms wrapped around me, and I sagged my weight into him.
He held me tightly, kissing the top of my head.
“Is it over?” I asked against his chest.
“Yeah, babe. Let me cut your binds.”
Only then did he pull away from me. Tears were running down my face as he pulled out a pocketknife and cut the ties off my wrists. There were ugly red welts that I was sure would turn into bruises.
“How are you?” he asked and started looking me over.
