Page 63 of Innocent Union
“Oh, trust me. You do.”
I look around the room, seeing all my friends and family. I can’t risk them getting hurt because of Patrick.
So, I follow Patrick out of the building. I can feel Mia’s eyes on me as I go.
CHAPTER 17
Mia
Iwatch Killian leave the building with man I’ve never seen before, but judging from Killian’s reaction, it’s not a man he likes.
“Do you know who that was?” I ask my mom.
“I recognize him. It’s Patrick O’Connell. I've never liked the man.”
“I want to know what he wants with Killian.” I start to leave, but Mom grabs my arm.
“No. Leave that business to the men.”
“I’m tired of leaving everything to men,” I snap, pulling away from her. I walk outside and see Killian and Patrick on the sidewalk.
“… might want to think about backing off,” Patrick says to Killian. “I’m not going to give up my position any time soon.”
“You need to leave, Patrick,” Killian responds. “This is my mother’s funeral. Show some respect.”
“Respect, huh? Like you’ve shown me? You’re vying for my job. I can’t have that.” Patrick looks over at me. “It seems we have company.”
Killian jerks when he sees me. “Mia, go back inside.”
“No, Mia, join us.”
I look between the two men, knowing I should leave, but I want to show Killian he has my support. I stand by my husband’s side. Killian lets out a small, almost imperceptible sigh.
Patrick smiles. “It’s a family affair now. This is a reminder, Killian, to not go after me. You won’t like the outcome.”
Gunshots go off inside the rec center.
I drop to the ground as Killian protects me with his body. Soon, the gunshots stop.
Killian glares up at Patrick. “What did you do?”
“Just reminding you of your place.”
The men who came with Patrick stroll out of the rec center. I catch a glimpse of one of them slipping a gun into his back pocket.
Patrick whistles as he leaves.
Killian and I run inside. The place is covered in blood from the people who were shot.
My mom.
I don’t see her.
What I do see is a room full of dead people, bullet holes decorating their bodies. Killian stumbles back, clutching at his chest. “Oh my god.”
“He just killed everyone,” I say, feeling numb. Where is my mom? I start to search the dead bodies, but I don’t find her.
My foot slips on someone’s blood, and I land on my butt. Killian rushes over to help me. I begin panicking. My breath comes out short. The blood rushing in my ears makes it hard to hear.
