CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

RYDER

––––––––

"Oh, god, oh, god, oh god. Savannah!" I hear Gina screaming through the door. "Don't you fucking die on me, you bitch!"

I have to get in there.

Gina is armed and the next bullet could hit me. But that's why I have the vest on, so if I have to take one in the arm or leg, then so be it.

It's my head that is the issue.

This is the problem with rookies. They're a fucking terrible shot, so they'll either miss the spot between my eyes. Or get it accidentally.

My only option is to burst in there and surprise her.

Nothing like fucking with fate on a Monday morning.

Unfortunately, we acted so quickly we didn't comms up. So I can't talk to Aidan. With two floors to search, he won't be down here in time to create a distraction for me.

I could text him, but if Savannah is bleeding out, I need to move right fucking now.

"That bullet went off accidentally. If I'm going to fucking kill you, bitch, it has to be on purpose. Sit up!!! Sit up!!!"

Jesus.

I count to three, crouching, and reach up to slowly turn the handle.

Gina continues to scream like a lunatic.

I nudge it open and peek in as it swings wide.

Fuck!

My chest clenches when I see the scene inside. Savannah is lying in a pool of blood and could very well be dead. Gina is standing over her screaming, shaking, and waving the gun.

You motherfucker!

One way or another, I'm going to make sure her life is short.

I hope she does both of us a favor and tries to fucking shoot me.

"Nick was mine. If you'd just left him alone, you cunt. You fucking cunt." Gina screams.

I stand and walk through the door with my gun raised and pointed at her head.

"Drop the gun and put your hands up." I yell slowly and clearly.

"Do not turn around. Do not point your gun at me or I will shoot you."

Please do.

Gina whips around in surprise, her gun wobbling everywhere as she finds me.

"Gun on the ground!" I yell this time, my voice the darkest I've ever heard it.

"You. You!" Gina replies, waving the weapon in the air as she turns back to Savannah. "You can't save her. She's dead."

"You better fucking hope that's not true." I growl as I start to lose control of my emotions.

One bullet.

There is no one here to see it and I would not regret this death if she's killed the woman I love.

Not for a single fucking second.

I feel Aidan arrive behind me.

"Put the gun down Gina or we both will shoot." Aidan says in a much calmer voice than mine.

"She was trying to take Nick from me." She screams as if we'd drop our weapons and be like, oh, really, please go ahead and shoot the living fuck out of her then.

Stupid bitch.

"I'm going to count to three," Aidan says, moving around me and getting closer to her. "If the gun is not on the ground, we will disarm you."

Aka shoot you.

"But she—"

"One." He growls, his hands tight around his gun.

I'm ready to blow her fucking brains out, but my eyes drop to Savannah. Sweetheart. Please be alive.

"Two." Aidan counts.

"No!" Gina yells and lifts her weapon. "She needs—"

Bang.

Aidan shoots her in the shoulder and the gun goes flying as Gina screams and falls to the ground.

Diving across the floor, I kick the weapon away while Aidan tackles her. I secure the gun and slide it into the back of my black cargo pants as I hear an ambulance siren close by.

They must have got the gates open.

Then I race over to Savannah and place my fingers at her pulse.

Not again.

Please, I cannot lose her. Not Savannah. I should've fucking been here this morning. We knew there was a risk, and that it could be one of her team.

What was I thinking?

I've failed her.

Even if she does live.

"Security panel on the front door." I scream at Aidan just in case I'm wrong about the gates. I turn to Savannah and put pressure on her wound. "Open the gates."

With Gina secured with plastic ties—a standard in our vests—he races out the door.

She tries to get to her feet, and I raise my gun. And point it at her head.

Gina freezes.

"Please. Do me a favor and do something stupid so I can kill you." I sneer.

"You love her," Gina says, surprised.

"You didn't." I shake my head. "You were supposed to be her friend."

Next minute, the room is filled with police and medical people. I stand back and watch as Savannah is put on a stretcher, an oxygen mask on her face, and she's wheeled away from me.

Aidan speaks to the detective.

I walk over and hand them Gina's gun.

"I know you need a statement from me, but I need to go with her," I tell the detective.

He glances at Aidan, and I can tell they know one another. In fact, I recognize him, so we've probably dealt with him before.

Who knows? I can't fucking think. I just need to be with Savannah.

Adian nods.

"Go. We'll get your statement tomorrow. You were the shooter, correct?" The detective asks.

"No. He arrived first. I unarmed her," Aidan says.

"Got it. Go." The detective nods his head toward the door and I'm through it one second later.