Page 84 of Forbidden Bond

“I don’t think so.”

The gun presses harder onto the side of my head. I’m immobilized by fear. The only thing that feels real are Topher’s eyes, which are growing more and more terrified with each passing moment. I try to communicate to Topher how much I love him. Footsteps sound in the distance; I can hear people running. We’re out of time. Leeman’s going to shoot.

He leans down to whisper in my ear, “Good bye, little Malone.”

Topher’s gun goes off at that exact moment. Leeman drops to the ground behind me. I gasp, whirling around to see blood seeping from a bullet wound on his chest. My legs wobble and I would have crashed to the ground, but Topher’s here—holding me, hugging me.

“You’re okay, Katherine. You’re okay,” he whispers, kissing the side of my forehead.

Several men start to climb down the ladder. I catch sight of Topher’s eldest brother running to check on Stacey. Topher and I are on the ground, but I don’t know how we got there.

“You shot him,” I say softly.

Topher’s brown eyes darken. “He didn’t give me a choice.”

CHAPTER 26

Topher

For some reason, I thought it would be more painful, taking a life. Instead, all I feel is cold and empty. Numb at the thought. And something else—immense relief.

Katherine’s in my arms and she’s safe. She passes out on the way to the hospital. Mental exhaustion and severe dehydration, according to the paramedics. Stacey’s rushed into emergency surgery as soon as we arrive. Katherine kept on mumbling over and over that Stacey saved her.

I spent the next few hours sitting outside Katherine’s hospital room. They gave her something to sleep and have been monitoring her. She hasn’t woken up yet, and neither has Stacey. I feel helpless again, like I can’t control anything.

Carlo’s beside me, offering strength and quiet reassurance. I’m not sure where Christian is, but my best guess is that he’s taking care of this entire fucked-up situation. My brothers are a gift, the best gift I could have ever asked for. I’m not sure what I would have done in this situation without them.

My hands haven’t stopped shaking since we arrived at the hospital. Not since they took Katherine away.

“Toph,” Carlo says, drawing my attention to someone walking over.

I stand to my feet and meet James Malone’s eyes. I guess he’s back from Jersey.

“How is she?” he questions gruffly.

“We’re about to find out,” I tell him as the doctor exits her hospital room.

The man offers us a small smile. “The patient’s not in any danger. She has a few bruises, but otherwise she’s in perfect condition. Both her and the baby.”

Baby?

I had been so focused on getting her back, it had slipped my mind that Katherine mentioned that she might be pregnant. My heart aches when I realize I almost lost two people instead of one. If I had gotten to that cellar a little later… If I hadn’t been quick enough. I start to feel a little lightheaded.

James Malone’s furious blue eyes find mine. But he doesn’t approach me or say anything about me impregnating his daughter.

“Can I see her, Doctor?” Malone asks, a slight tremble in his voice.

The doctor nods. “Let’s just try not to upset her too much. She’s still in a pretty delicate condition. A nurse will direct you to the room.”

He walks away and a nurse arrives to inform us that Katherine would like to see her father. It stings a little that she didn’t ask for me first, but I get it. Her dad still hasn’t seen her, but I rode to the hospital with her and held her hand. She can take her time.

Although there’s a seed of doubt starting to grow in my mind. What if she doesn’t want me anymore? What if taking a life actually did change me, and the most important person in my life can see those changes woven into me better than I can?

Christian calls to inform us that Stacey’s awake, so Carlo and I head up to her room. He’s already talking to her when we arrive. I take note of the relief in Christian’s eyes. He looks more at ease than I’ve seen him in weeks.

“You look rough, Stace,” I say, taking her in.

She’s paper-thin and pale, but at least she’s alive. We almost lost her.

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