Page 80 of Prettiest Little Thief
“Shut up, Joey,” Christian seethed. His gaze was still locked on the two of us. Sarah, forgotten. “You have the chest and the key, you fuckheads. The jewels were inside the chest.”
“We don’t have it. It wasn’t in the keepsake,” I said, shaking my head.
“Liars!” The barrel of Christian’s pistol now pointed at me.
“She’s telling the truth. There wasn’t anything else in the box.” Lucas shifted closer, trying to position himself between me and the loaded gun.
“Don’t move, Knight,” Christian snapped.
Joseph cocked his gun, but Evan kicked him in the back of the knee, effectively making him fall forward. Jericho forced Joseph to his belly and stepped on his hand. He groaned in pain as his grip loosened beneath the shoe.
Lucas stopped his slow side steps in my direction. His own gun still raised and at the ready.
I swallowed hard, my heart thudding heavily in my chest, and air was hard to get in, my ribcage a vice around my lungs.
“Since you took something that belongs to me, I’m going to take something that belongs to you.” The evil glint in Christian’s eyes was that of a madman. A man so consumed by greed and rage, there would be no bargaining with him. “Get over here.” Christian motioned for me to move forward.
“No,” I said.
“I don’t think you have a choice,” Joseph sneered from his position.
“Says the guy pinned to the floor.” I arched an eyebrow at him.
“It really doesn’t matter if I have you next to me or across the room. I can shoot you just the same.” His finger squeezed the trigger.
I shut my eyes, brought my hands up, and stepped back. A loud bang sounded. Then another. And another.
The sound of a grunt and thump followed.
My lids snapped open to find Christian lay on the floor across the room. Blood pooled beneath his still form. Joey still struggled beneath Jericho. Sarah had ducked behind the sofa, with her hands over her ears, shaking and crying.
Lucas… oh god. Lucas was on the floor at my feet. His chest rose and fell steadily. I fell to my knees and searched his body for evidence of a wound. When my touch grazed his shoulder, my hand felt wet. My husband’s blood covered my palm, and a gasp of dismay left my mouth.
Lucas moaned, and his eyes cracked open, the gaze causing my panic-stricken mind to halt.
I pulled my cell phone out and called Evie. “What’s the word, mija?”
“Get here now. Lucas is down.” I hung up before she could even respond. “Did you jump in front of me?” I asked Lucas, tucking my phone back into my pocket.
“Maybe.”
“I could kill you myself for doing that.” My hands pressed down onto his bullet hole, trying to staunch the blood flow.
Lucas chuckled as I gripped his face in my hands. “But you won’t.”
“Won’t I?” I arched an eyebrow.
“No.”
“And why not?”
“Because you love me. Even if you can’t admit it.” A sly grin tipped the corner of his lips.
“Shut up.” I kissed him. “We need to get out of here.” I helped Lucas to sit up. He was shot through the shoulder and needed a doctor.
Sarah crawled across the floor to help me bring Lucas to his feet, even though she was a shivering mess. Bleeding mascara ran down her pale cheeks, her eyes downcast. “I’m so sorry.” Her chin wobbled.
“Sarah, you have nothing to be sorry for. Let’s just get out of here as quickly as possible.” I tried to smile to reassure her.
