Page 45 of Desire

“I don’t think so.”

Just then, Miles burst through the door, gun drawn. “Drop it.”

Startled, Malcolm swung around, taking his eyes off us. “Stay back. I swear I’ll shoot them.”

Miles remained collected as he issued his order again. “I said, drop the gun, Shipman.”

Malcolm’s eyes darted between Miles and me, Bridget, and Alex. A crazed look flashed across his face, and at that moment I knew he then realized he wasn’t going to get his revenge. He turned fully to me and raised his gun, intent on taking at least one of us down.

Without hesitation, Miles fired. Malcolm screamed out in pain and fell to the floor, clutching his leg as blood poured out of the wound. I breathed a sigh of relief that it was over. Now that Malcolm was down, my focus shifted back to Bridget and Alex. Bridget hadn’t wasted any time; she was already hurriedly untying Alex. Once he was free, she immediately threw her arms around him and crushed him to her. Both of them burst into tears. Bridget glanced over at me and suddenly a look of terror crossed her face.

“Connor!” Bridget screamed out a warning. I quickly turned to see Malcolm raise the gun from the floor and point it straight at us. Even knowing I’d never reach it in time, I tried grabbing my gun from behind my back at the same time I pushed her and Alex out of the way. A gunshot sounded, and I braced myself for the pain, expecting to feel a bullet explode through me.

The echo of the gunshot faded, and I remained standing. Opening eyes I hadn’t realized were closed, I saw Malcolm lying on the floor, a large puddle of blood forming under his head. My eyes shot up to Miles who held a still smoking gun in his hands. He stood immobile, face pale, hands shaking, but his stare never left the now dead body on the floor.

I frantically raced over to Bridget and Alex to make sure neither was hurt.

“Are either of you hit?”

Alex was completely dazed, but Bridget was holding her composure better than I expected.

“We’re both fine, I swear.”

After I was reassured that they hadn’t been injured, I slowly walked over to Miles and gently pried the gun from his clenched fingers. I put my arm around him and guided him over to a kitchen chair, forcing him to sit. He had a glazed expression; he was clearly in shock knowing he’d just killed a man. We’d seen dead bodies in our line of work, but this was the first time he’d caused the death of another human being.

I knelt directly in front of him. “Look at me, Miles,” I demanded. He never even blinked. I tried again, my tone sharper this time. “Miles.”

His head snapped in my direction and his eyes met mine. “It’s over. We’re okay.” He shook himself and then nodded slowly at me. Knowing there was nothing else I could do for him and knowing that Bridget and Alex were safe, I pulled out my phone and dialed Webber’s number.

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