Page 79 of My Destiny
“Sheismy wife,” he screams, raising his arm. “She’s fucking mine, not yours.” I know better, but I keep my mouth shut. His hands are trembling as he aims the gun at my head, and I doubt he could make a clear shot, but that’s a chance I’m not willing to take. “Did you sleep with her?” When I don’t answer, he takes a step closer. “Did you?”
“What has gone on between Brooke and me is none of your fucking business.” I may be playing with fire by antagonising him, but he doesn’t scare me. Any man who raises a hand to a woman is a coward, and I bet he wouldn’t feel so tough if he wasn’t holding a gun.
Something changes in his expression and my gut tells me this is it, but I stand tall. I’m prepared to take a bullet for my girl. At the very least, it may give Mike an opportunity to overpower Jake and get Brooke safely out of here.
His arm lowers slightly, moving the gun away from my face and aiming it midway down my body. “A bullet to the head is too good for you, Cavanagh. I’m going to enjoy watching you suffer.”
I hold my breath waiting for him to fire, but before he does, I see movement out of the corner of my eye as my uncle rushes into the room. He lunges at Jake. When the gun goes off, Mike doesn’t flinch, but I instinctively stumble backwards. The loud sound from the shot in this confined space is ear-piercing.
All the air leaves my body, as John falls to the floor with a thud. My eyes don’t move from Jake, and I notice all the colour drain from his face as he stares down at my uncle who’s now bleeding profusely from the abdomen. I briefly turn my head to look at Mike, and he too is focused on Jake. Maybe together we can overpower him. He can’t shoot us both at once.
My attention snaps back to Jake just as he raises the gun once more. His gaze has now shifted back to me as he stares blankly into my eyes. I see a long tear roll down his cheek, but instead of aiming the gun in my direction, he holds it to the side of his own head. Before I even register what he’s doing, he pulls the trigger.
The moment Jake hits the floor, Mike rushes forward, retrieving the gun that’s still clutched in Jake’s hand. It’s unnecessary because logic tells me Jake’s not getting back up.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Logan
My ears are still ringing as I fall to my knees beside Brooke. Untying her wrists, I scoop her into my arms and stand. Her body is limp as I gently lay her on the bed. “Brooke,” I say, gently shaking her. “Brooke, it’s me, Logan.” Tears cloud my eyes as I stare down at her.
I can hear Mike behind me as he makes a call to triple zero and tends to my uncle. Shrugging out of my suit jacket, I scrunch it into a ball and hold it against the gaping wound on the side of her head. Removing the needle out of her arm, I notice as I drop it onto the bed beside her, that it still contains liquid. He must have been in the middle of administering it when Mike surprised him.
Reaching for the vial on the floor, I read the label on the front. I see the word ketamine—not something I’m familiar with—but I’ll give it to the paramedics when they arrive.
“You’re safe now,” I whisper, running my free hand down the side of her face. “How is he?” I ask Mike, glancing over my shoulder. My uncle’s grey polo shirt is soaked with blood, and I feel awful for how I’ve treated him tonight. He just put his life on the line to save me, possibly all of us.
“Not great.”
I can’t bring myself to look at Jake, I’m pretty sure the things I witnessed tonight are going to haunt me for a long time to come. I hate him for everything he’s put Brooke through, but I can’t help but feel bad for how things ended for him.
An eternity seems to pass before help arrives. I give the paramedics a brief rundown on Brooke, Mike does the same with the ones treating my uncle. We’re then ushered out of the room by a police officer, who immediately starts asking questions. I’m grateful that Mike takes over, doing all the talking, as he fills him in on what went down here tonight. I don’t want to leave Brooke’s side, but understand that I’ll be in the way if I stay. A part of me is grateful she’s unconscious and doesn’t have to witness the carnage that lies around her.
I pace back and forth in the hallway. “You okay?” Mike asks, placing his hand on my shoulder. I shrug in reply. I’m too consumed with worry to even know how I’m feeling. “They’re in safe hands now.”
“I guess,” I say. “I know things didn’t work out how we planned, but thank you for everything you did tonight. I doubt we would’ve been able to get to her as quickly as we did if it wasn’t for you.”
He blows out a long breath, and I know he’s disappointed in himself.
They wheel my uncle out first. “Hang in there,” I say, as they pass, but he no longer appears to be conscious. I clutch my head in my hands as they disappear down the hallway.
“Can you radio ahead to the Royal Prince Alfred and let them know we have a patient with a critical gunshot wound on the way?” the paramedic asks one of the officers as he passes.
“I’m gonna go with him,” Mike says. “I’ll keep you updated.”
“Please.”
Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I search for my mother’s number. I’m not even sure if my uncle would want to see my aunt, but she’s his wife, and has a right to know.
“Logan, is everything okay?” my mum asks the moment she answers. The late hour is probably what alerted her.
“No. John’s been shot and…” A lump forms in my throat.
“What? How?”
“Long story. I’ll fill you in later. He’s on his way to the Royal Prince Alfred. Will you let Kathleen know?”
“Oh my goodness. John’s been shot,” my mother says, and I know she’s relaying the news to my father. “I’m putting you on speaker.
