Page 148 of Retribution

“Gun to the head, just like I showed you.”

I feel the harsh material press against the back of my skull, the fear erupting into more shakes in my legs and arms.

“Perfect. Beautiful. Now, Indie. Your requirement here is to shoot Reed. If you comply, we set you your sisters free and you get to go on with your life as if we never existed. If you decide to spare his life, how can I put this… Ah, four lives will be lost today!” She beams.

I can’t even think about anything but the weight of the gun in my hands.

The weight of my decision.

The weight of the world on my shoulders.

“Would you like me to call Tyron, give you a little bit of persuasion?” She asks, cocking her head at me.

“No.” I sob.

“Get to your feet, Breckenridge.” She spits, Reed listens and rises to his feet.

His hands shake but the rest of him remains still.

I look into his eyes and that’s when I see it.

I see his fear, his surrender, his understanding.

I close my eyes and drop my head, unable to look at him for any longer.

This can’t be the only way, I can’t do this.

My entire body is vibrating in shock, despair, and intimidation.

The hairs on the back of my neck stand up as I look at him again.

“Oh, come on, any last words?” She looks between us.

“I’m sorry,” I sob, my body trying to fold in on itself as I fight the urge to collapse, knowing it will only earn me a bullet in the process.

Reed smiles at me and I shake my head, unable to see his sweet, charming smile in a moment like this.

It’s killing me.

As much as Allie thinks that I will walk away a ‘free woman’ once I shoot him, this will kill me also. But that’s probably what the sick bastard hopes.

My gun is pointed at him, and I don’t even think I can see through the tears in my eyes.

Everything hurts, it’s all playing out in my head, and I seriously don’t think I could even pull the trigger if I wanted to.

“I love you,” Reed says as he gets onto his knees.

The sight alone will haunt my every waking moment.

I cock the pistol and let out another sob.

He nods at me slowly as Allie stands beside me, bouncing with eagerness like a kid waiting for an ice-cream.

Inhaling a shaky breath, closing my eyes tightly, I pray to the gods above that I don’t go to hell.

I pull the trigger.

Chapter 32

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