Page 148 of Finding the Forward: Part Two
“VERITY!” a voice bellowed as I slipped to the ground.
We always protect them at all costs.
Chapter Forty-Four
Grif
Verity moved in front of me. As she pushed me, I spied the outline of a gun. My kitten’s scream pierced the air as the crack of a gunshot echoed through the patio.
Intense pain shuddered through our bond, stunning me. Did she just take a bullet for me?
“No,” Derva yelled. “You’re ruining everything, you dumb bitch.”
“VERITY!” I shouted as she stumbled and fell to the ground. Hard.
“What is fucking happening?” AJ burst onto the balcony.
“Was that a gunshot?” Dimitri appeared behind AJ, eyes critically searching the scene.
Derva’s sister made a strangled sound, then took off into the darkness.
“She’s getting away.” My voice broke as I took Verity’s limp hand into mine.Please be okay. Please. Please. Please.
“Understood.” The Russian defensemenleaptover the fence and took off running.
Derva froze, looking out into the garden as her sister disappeared, like she was too panicked to do anything.
“Winnie Chesterton shot Verity.” Pain burst through my skull. Not my pain. Verity’s.
“Oh fuck,” AJ breathed as he crouched next to me.
“Wake up,Please.” I shook her gently.
Verity didn’t respond. Probably because she hit her head so hard. Shit.
“It’ll be okay.” AJ got on his phone, putting an arm around me. “I’d like to report a shooting.”
“What’s wrong?” Jonas and Dean appeared.
“Don’t let them leave.” AJ indicated Derva and Freddie with his chin as he gave the dispatcher the hotel address over the phone and added, “We need an ambulance.”
Jonas took up residence in the doorway that led to the ballroom atrium, giving Verity a somber look.
“Verity.” Dean ran over to us. Taking off his jacket, he used it to staunch the bullet wound in her upper shoulder, blood all over her scarf and dress.
“What did you do to my sister, you fucking fuck-boy?” Mercy yelled, barreling into the patio in a flurry of red sparkles, Kaiko at her side.
“Is that why you wanted me to come? Not so I could network, but to lure Verity out so Winnie could hurt her?” Freddie roared at Derva.
“I didn’t know Winnie was going to shoot them. I didn’t even know she owned a gun. Shit, I thought she was going to yell at him, maybe throw a punch.” Derva shrugged, not nearly as worried as she should be considering her sister just shotsomeone.
“You bitch.” Mercy lunged at her in a cloud of alpha anger.
Jonas caught her. “Not today, Squirt.”
Tears ran down Mercy’s face. “Let me at her, Bub. Or him. I need to hit someone.”
“I know.” Jonas held Mercy tighter. “I know. But we can’t. Not today.”
