Page 97 of Liberating Bells
“You think you can get away with making a fool of me like that?” he snarls. “Iloveyou, Izabel. I’ve given you everything you could possibly hope for, andthisis how you repay me?” Mark takes a step closer, keeping the gun trained on my face.
“Please,” I plead with him. I’m scouring my mind for something I could use as leverage. My eyes dart around, looking for a weapon. But I have nothing.
“Why?” he asks, anger etched on his face. “Why should I let you go? You aremine.”
Tears stream down my cheeks, and I squeeze my eyes shut. “I’m sorry, please, Mark. Please, please don’t,” I sob.
“You did this to yourself,” he says darkly.
“Stop!”
I snap my head to the entryway to the living room. Ryan stands there, his hands balled into fists and his green eyes wide on the situation he just walked into. He takes a slightly wobbly step toward us, and Mark quickly turns the gun to point at him. With the weapon no longer directed at me, I scramble to my feet, another sob escaping my lips as I do so.
Ryan holds out a hand to me, his eyes never leaving Mark or the gun directed at him. I reach out and grab Ryan’s hand as he shuffles me behind him, shielding me with his body. I grip onto his shirt, feeling his strong back beneath my fingers.
“You,” Mark spits at him, holding the gun firmly, aiming at Ryan’s head. “This is all your fault.”
I can’t see Ryan’s face, but I’m sure he’s glaring at my ex-fiancé with malice. “I’m the one you want. You leave her out of it.”
Ryan takes a small side-step toward the connecting garage door. I go with him, still firmly gripping his shirt.
“Oh, trust me,” Mark grits. “Nothing would make me happier than to get rid of you. You’ve been a nuisance in my life from the very first time we met.”
Ryan takes another step.
“Then what are you waiting for?” he taunts Mark. Then he takes another step. “I’m right here. Or are you too scared, Marky Mark? You’re not going to do it.”
Another step.
I peek around Ryan’s body and see Mark’s eyes flare. “I’m notscared.”
One more step. Mark follows the movement, keeping the gun trained on Ryan.
“I think you are. You’re in way over your head,” Ryan says. His words are firm but calm. Meanwhile, I feel like I may pass out any second. My fingers shake while still gripping into his t-shirt.
“Ryan, what are you doing?” I ask incredulously. I can’t believe he’s so brazenly poking the bear. We need to focus on getting out of here.
“Just do it and be done.” Ryan ignores me and continues taunting Mark. Nausea swirls in my belly, and my whole body shakes with uncontrollable adrenaline. Ryan takes one more step, and I see I have a clear pathway to the door. Three strides are all it would take.
Ryan's plan becomes clear. He’s trying to distract, keep Mark occupied while he gives me a clear shot to the door so thatMark can’t get me. His body stands between me and Mark, fully intercepting Mark's path.
Ryan reaches behind his back and finds my fingers. He pries me off of him and then softly instructs me, “Go. Now.”
“I don’t want to leave you,” I cry into his back, pressing my face against him. My muscles are coiled so tightly, I’m not sure if I could run even if I wanted to. Which I don’t. I want to stayhere,with Ryan.
“Bells, I love you. Now go,” Ryan urges, taking a step backward, pushing me toward the door.
“Donottake a single move,” Mark growls. I squeeze my eyes shut, a sob escaping me.
“GO!” Ryan now yells at me. He doesn’t give me an option as his hand shoves me into motion.
Tears blur my vision, but I move. Though I stumble a few times, I sprint as fast as I can toward the door, throwing it open and rushing out into the fresh air. I run and run, not stopping even when I hear the gunshot echo through the house.
35
RYAN
I watchIzabel run out the door, a brief moment of relief gripping my heart the minute she disappears. But that feeling is rapidly squashed by Mark’s sneering voice reminding me of the imminent danger I’m in.
