Page 73 of Christmas with Four Tattoo Artists

I watched the scene, acutely aware of Andrew’s scope trained on the room. Every second that passed was another moment he struggled with the weight of the choice he might have to make. To save Julia, he’d pull the trigger, no question. But that act might leave scars too deep to ever heal.

But Andrew wasn't the only one willing to go to extremes to protect the ones we loved. As I listened to Finn and Kai plead, I knew Klaus wasn’t going to budge. He was too far gone. It was clear to me what had to be done.

I began to slowly lower my gun, hoping the movement would register as a sign of surrender and not alert Klaus. "Okay, okay," I said, voice measured and steady. "Let's talk. No more guns. Let her go, and we can sort this out."

Julia's curious eyes met mine, searching, wondering. With the subtlest of nods, I signaled her. She tensed ever so slightly, a clear indication she understood my intent.

For what felt like an eternity but was probably only seconds, we waited. Klaus’s grip on Julia faltered as he seemed to consider my words. Then, in an explosion of movement, Julia drove her elbow into Klaus’s ribs with all her might. Caught off guard, he grunted and stumbled backward.

That was my opening.

In one fluid motion, I raised my weapon and fired a single, fatal shot. Klaus's eyes widened in surprise and disbelief as the bullet pierced his heart. He hung still for a moment, shock painted on his face. Then he crumpled to the floor, lifeless, a pool of crimson forming around him.

Outside, Adele’s scream pierced the relative silence, her wail a stark contrast to the heavy roar of motorcycle engines approaching. The cavalry had arrived, and from the sounds of it, they were in greater numbers than we had anticipated.

Julia, still trembling from the ordeal, ran into my arms, her body shaking. "Thank you," she whispered.

I held her tight for a moment, trying to calm her. "We need to move," I whispered back.

The roar outside grew louder. There wasn't a second to lose. We had taken down Klaus, but his followers were still very much alive and out for blood.

Chapter 34

Julia

The room spun. The echo of the gunshot still reverberated in my ears, a haunting memory of the fatal moment. My fingers clenched, nails digging into my palms, trying to ground myself in the horrific reality of it all. The dank smell of the motel room was suddenly more overpowering, every small stain on the carpet and chipped paint on the walls becoming excessively vivid.

My gaze lingered on Klaus, as if I didn’t quite comprehend that he was dead. But there he lay, still as a stone.

I ran to James, Kai and Finn at my side in an instant. Their solid presence was both soothing and deeply necessary. They formed a protective barrier, shielding me from the immediate danger. I could feel the heat of their bodies, the rhythmic pounding of their hearts, offering me some measure of comfort.

"It's okay," Kai whispered, his breath in my ear. His voice was hoarse, strained, but the conviction in his words was clear. "We're going to get out of here."

"We've got you," Finn added, his hand finding mine and giving it a reassuring squeeze.

My eyes, heavy and brimming with tears, flitted to Klaus’s lifeless form once more. The reality of the moment felt like a disjointed nightmare. There he was, sprawled out, blood slowly pooling around him, evidence of the finality of his fate. It was a sight that would be etched into my mind forever.

The commotion outside was a deafening, chaotic mix of shouts and engines revving. The door burst open, and another form entered my periphery. Adele.

Her face, usually so composed, was a storm of emotion. Hatred. Despair. Panic. She rushed forward, as if in some last-ditch attempt to be the heroine of her own twisted story.

But James was ready. With an agility I'd come to expect from him, he stepped in front of her, capturing her wrist in a vice-like grip. With a swift movement, he pushed her to the ground, swiftly cuffing her hands behind her back. It all happened so fast; I could barely process it.

"You can't do this!" Adele screeched, her voice filled with a mix of fury and fear. Her eyes darted around the room, likely searching for an ally. But none came to her aid. "I didn’t do anything wrong!"

"Conspiracy, aiding and abetting in kidnapping and providing intel to a known criminal. Should I go on?" James' voice was icy, devoid of any emotion. His gaze locked onto her, and for a moment, they were the only two people in the room. It was a standoff, a battle of wills.

Adele spat in defiance, but her eyes betrayed her. They shimmered with tears, and I could see the dawning realization of the magnitude of her actions. She had gambled, thinking she'd come out on top. But she found herself as the pawn in a deadly game that had spiraled out of her control.

"We need to move, now!" Kai's urgent voice pulled me back from the scene. Finn and James nodded in agreement.

As we began our precarious journey out of the motel, I took one last look at Klaus's body and the defeated Adele. A bitter cocktail of relief, rage, and sorrow coursed through my veins.

The sensation of victory was short-lived. The atmosphere outside the motel room felt like walking into a thick fog, cold and overwhelming. The roar of motorcycles grew louder, filling the air with a sense of danger. Before my brain could even process it all, the motel was drowned in a sea of angry red.

The club’s arrival was like a storm. Dark clouds of mayhem and violence settling over the parking lot, an open arena for the impending showdown. Their guns, glinting in the weak lights of the fading sun, were held with a confidence that sent chills down my spine.

A deafening explosion of shots rang out. Instinctively, I ducked, pulling Kai and Finn down with me. The pop-pop-pop of gunfire felt like it was everywhere, echoing and bouncing off the walls of the motel and the parked cars. I saw James dive behind a nearby dumpster, weapon drawn, ready to return fire.

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