Page 103 of Always You
She pulls out a cold, metal nine-millimeter handgun, and I freeze in fear. Dante’s adorable face flashes in my mind, and I wondered if this is how it will end. She wants me dead. She came for me. Why in the hell isn’t she locked up?
“What do you want, Rachel?” My voice above a whisper, as I move myself against the wall.
She slams the door shut. She clicks her tongue on her teeth. “You want to know what I want? I want you dead. You took everything from me.”
Dominic, she’s talking about me taking him from her.
She’s fucking crazy.
“Rachel, you took my father from me because I was with your son. How could you be so cruel?”
She laughs viciously. She picks up a photo of Dante. She sneers at the photo. I creep up behind her, my heart pounding in my chest. She twirls around and backhands me with the gun, faster than I could move. I feel a sharp pain in my temple as I fall to the ground, and when I touch the spot, my fingers are stained with blood.
My head spins with the vibration of metal.
“Your father was a coward, just like my son. He obsessed over a worthless girl like your father with your mother. It was a great satisfaction you suffered as an orphan. It’s a shame you didn’t die with your father,” she says with bitterness dripping from her venomous tongue. She cocks the gun aiming it at me.
I drag myself toward the end tables. My baby boy, I can’t leave him. He needs me.
“Rachel, Dominic, and I are not together. I’ll move and stay away from him.” I try to compromise.
She chuckles. “I heard. Samantha told me. You should have stayed away from here. My son was happy with Samantha. Now that you’re here, I’ll do him a favor and get rid of you. It will be for the best for all of us.” Rachel’s hand shoots up to the ceiling, the gunshot reverberating off the walls.
I leap up off the floor, my heart pounding in my chest. Suddenly, movement catches my eye, and I see a figure standing in the window. Rachel notices too and starts to turn toward it. Acting on instinct, I grab a table lamp and swing it with all my might, connecting with Rachel’s head and sending her reeling back. I hit the floor, scrambling for the gun that has fallen from her grasp. My arms shaking, I hold the gun unsteadily in my hands and point it directly at her.
Anger rises in me. I could end her life for taking my father from me. I could end her life right fucking now. She maneuvers, laying sideways as she rubs her head where I hit her. She looks up at me. Evil and hate seep through every part of her.
“End me, Mila. It will work out even better, you’ll be locked up. My son will hate you. Your son will live with his father and new mother, Samantha.”
Blood drains from my face. The thought of my son being raised by his bitch. Anger racks over me like hot coals.
“I’m not going to kill you, Rachel. I’m going to make sure you rot in jail. I’m going to make you pay for what you’ve done.”
The front door swings open. My glare stays pinned on Rachel. When I hear Liam’s voice. My chin trembles.
“Mila, sweetheart, it’s me, Liam. You’re okay, Your safe. I’m here. I need you to hand me the gun. I’m going to reach for it. Okay, sweetheart.”
I nod. I didn’t intend to cry, but tears stream down. I could have died. I would have missed my baby boy growing up. He takes the gun from my hold. Officers swarm in. Liam hands the gun to an officer. I watch as the officer handcuffs Rachel.
Liam cups my trembling chin. “You’re safe,” he whispers.
I throw my arms around him and sob. He kisses my temple. Soothing me.
“You’re safe,” he repeats.
I nod. My head resting on his shoulder. I hear Dominic’s voice speaking to an officer. I pull away from Liam’s hold. His eyes water.
“It scared me, Mila. I haven’t felt this scared in a fucking long time. I thought she was going to kill you.” He wipes a renegade tear from my cheek. “Sit, Mila. I’ll grab you some water.” Fear vibrates through his body, I can feel it.
I sit and glare out the window. I spot Sophie’s car and relief washes over me as I spot Dante seated in the car.
“Angel.” Dominic’s voice is shocked and full of uncontrollable urgency.
I don’t turn to look at him. My eyes stay pinned on the window.
“Are you okay?”
I can feel his hot breath so close. “Yes,” I murmur.
