Page 182 of Accidental Theirs
Dominic comes around his side, and Roland’s not paying attention, but it’s dangerous, he could swing the gun that way at any time.
I very slowly put my hand to my lower back. I’d come to Carter Holdings not just prepared but packing.
I’m not really a gun person, but I bought the handgun for protection, and I have to say I’m glad I did.
I get my hand on the handle before Roland swings the gun toward me, and I put my hands back up.
“Calm down, Roland. We can talk about this.”
“You think I’m stealing, but what you don’t know is sheowesme!”
We all stare at him.
“Sheowesyou?” Dominic growls. “You sonofabitch, you?—”
“You weren’t here when Carter Holdings started. Youlefther. And Sebastian, you’re barely even part of this. Only Damien knows what I’m talking about.”
I blink. “Yes,” I say quickly, wanting to throw him off. “Yes, of course. I know exactly how hard Yvonne and Olivia struggled.”
“So, you don’t blame me, then?” he asks almost hopefully. “You don’t blame me for taking a little off the top.”
“Sure, Roland, but why? If you needed the money, Olivia would have given it to you.”
He barks out a bitter laugh. “Olivia has five million dollars lying around? Not likely.”
“Five million.” Sebastian sounds incredulous. “How could you possibly need that much?”
“I bought a house,” he admits, huffing out a breath. “I bought a house with Dennis, and I need out of it. I can’t be tied to him forever. I borrowed enough for the down payment but now, they’re going to foreclose...”
“You did all this for ahouse?”Dominic’s voice is low and dangerous. “You hurt Olivia, put her in danger, for a fucking house?”
He steps closer to Roland, ignoring the gun.
“Dom, stop,” Sebastian warns, still holding his hands out. “Hear him out.”
“Oh, fuck that!” Dominic snaps.
“Both of you, stop.”
At my words, Roland slowly lowers the gun, and that’s my chance.
I pull the gun from my back and shoot, not even attempting to aim.
Roland cries out, the bullet making a small hole in his shoulder, blood staining his shirt red.
He fires a shot, and fire rips across my right bicep.
I barely notice it, though, rushing Roland and tackling him around the waist.
We go down, and I grunt as my knee slams against the floor.
I’ve got him pinned on his back while Sebastian calls the cops, and Dominic is staring at me as if shell-shocked.
“What?”
“Your arm.”
I look down to see blood spilling down my arm, a big gash in my bicep.
