CHAPTER THIRTY

SAVANNAH

––––––––

"Shoot me? Why? What the hell have I done to you?" I cry. "I thought you were my friend."

Gina snorts.

I feel my body trembling as I go into shock. I've never had a gun waved at me before. Fear like I've never felt before rushes through me, making me dizzy but strangely super aware.

But I'm also confused.

I knew our friendship was breaking down, but this...this is way beyond what I can comprehend right now.

"Get down on your knees," Gina yells.

"What?" I ask, holding my arms up and visibly shuddering.

"Bitch, I want you to kneel before me while I shoot you."

"Gina, stop. Let's talk." My phone drops from my hand and bounces away.

Ryder.

Oh, my god.

If he were here, he'd help me, but he's not arriving for another few hours. I'm completely unprotected while my former best friend holds a gun at me.

Am I going to die today?

Is this it? Is this my life? Over because I hired my friend to help me?

Will I never see Italy or Spain or New Zealand? Or fall in love? Or swim in the Black Sea? Or give birth and be a mommy? Or...any other dreams I have?

Will I never see Ryder again?

Oh, god. His words, the story he told me of his time in the Middle East, and how the woman died on his watch. This will haunt him if it happens again.

A tear slides down my face as I imagine him spending the rest of his life feeling guilty for my death.

But I also don't want to die for me.

I have so much more to live for.

"You've treated me like a slave for months, Savannah. Now it's my turn." Gina waves the gun and I drop to my knees.

"A slave? I gave you a job." I cry, even though I know I should shut up.

"We were trying to get your money, you fucking stupid bitch." Gina laughs, and there's madness in her eyes.

"What?"

"Your entire family hates you." She spits.

Literally.

Spit shoots out of her mouth.

"All you had to do was share your wealth and stay away from Nick." She takes a few steps closer and little noises escape me.

"Nick?" I squeak as I process her words.

My family hates me.

I knew they didn't love me, but to viciously hate me is another thing.

Did they all plan this?

Have they sent her to kill me?

I'm confused and terrified.

I don't know what to believe, but all that matters is I stay alive.

"I know you got the notes." Gina laughs, then pushes her arm out, the gun waving uncontrollably.

Jesus.

I tremble, watching the gun.

"But you didn't listen. You had to tease Nick with your"—she waves the gun at my body—"superstardom shit. Well, newsflash, he doesn't want you. He loves me."

Oh god.

"Gina, he doesn't love you. Please. I tried to protect you." I cry, pleading with her. "He sleeps with a lot of people. I wanted to protect you from heartache when I could see how much you liked him."

Now I'm starting to see that she is not the sound-minded person I once thought she was.

The gun is a good giveaway.

"He asked me to go as his date to the Globes. Not YOU!" she screams. "He loves me! Not fucking you."

I cover my head with my arms as she waves the gun at me wildly, spit going everywhere.

"Gina, stop!"

Then the gun goes off.

––––––––

RYDER

––––––––

I scramble up the wall, Aidan and Marshall giving me a boost, and then I'm over it and dropping to the ground.

Not again.

Out of habit, even though I know psycho Gina doesn't have an army with her, I glance around and check the area.

Then I start running toward the house.

Savannah, I'm coming, sweetheart.

I can't lose her. I can't fucking lose her.

The cops have been called, along with an ambulance. I can already hear sirens in the distance. But time is not on our side if she has been shot.

We still can't get the gates open.

I run like a madman, looking at every window on the front of the house—they're closed—and start heading around the back.

Please have the French doors open, sweetheart.

She often does when she's at home, but I know she had her team here for a meeting and there's a chance they won't be.

I could smash the window.

But if that gunshot wasn't lethal, the next one might be if Gina thinks she's under attack.

I open the side gate as quietly as I can, then make my way along the back of the house. Crouching, I stare into the living area.

Nothing. Fuck it.

Crunch.

I spin, pointing my gun.

"Put it down," Aidan says.

"What are you doing?" I grunt in a whisper.

"Backing you up, asshole," he replies, nodding his head for me to keep going.

I turn back and shuffle past the glass doors.

"And no one is getting fired, so you better be at work tomorrow," he adds.

I almost smile. Almost...but Savannah could be lying in a pool of her own blood.

I try the handle and it's unlocked. I hold my hand up, and Aidan stops. Slowly, I open it and we both step in.

After a moment, I turn to him. He waves that he's going upstairs. I nod and point down the hall. He nods back and we head off in separate directions.

Savannah's house is a mansion, so it's large. Ten bedrooms and three stories. It's a vast area to canvas with just the two of us, but I know if Aidan is here, more of the men will be backing us up soon.

Especially after a shot was let off.

Quietly, I creep down the hall, my gun pointing at the floorboards.

Then I hear the voices.

An icy chill rushes through me as I head in that direction.

Please be fucking alive.

I can't lose her. I know it's not just about losing another charge. I know I'm falling in love with Savannah Sinclair.

I just hope she's still alive so I can tell her.

Even if I only get to watch her from the sidelines for the rest of her life.

I need to tell her I love her.