Page 25 of Liam James
But Jarod was already turning toward us, gun swinging wide—
I didn’t think.
I raised my weapon and fired once.
The crack split the night.
Jarod stumbled, eyes wide like he couldn’t believe it ended this way. The gun slipped from his hand as he hit the pavement hard and didn’t move again.
The whole world went silent.
Poppy started to cry. Jenny held her tighter, shaking but standing tall.
Forest crouched, checking the pulse he already knew wasn’t there. He met my eyes, gave one tight nod.
It was over.
For real this time.
19
Jenny
Poppy’s sobs shook against my shoulder as the gunshot echoed off the trees. For a heartbeat, I couldn’t breathe.
Everything was frozen—the cops, Forest, Fraiser, even Liam standing there with his weapon still raised, chest heaving like he’d run through hell to get here.
Then Jarod hit the ground and didn’t move.
Poppy whimpered, a broken little sound. “Daddy?”
I closed my eyes. My arms tightened around her. “Shh, baby,” I whispered. “It’s okay. You’re safe now. You’re safe.”
But the words felt thin, shredded by the reality of what she’d just seen. I should have stayed in the vehicle, but I couldn’t bear the thought of Jarod killing Liam. So I got in the front seat and drove back to where Liam was.
Forest and Fraiser moved fast, speaking low to the officers, keeping everything contained. Cops gathered around Jarod’s body, radios crackling, voices clipped and professional, but all I could hear was Poppy’s uneven breathing against my neck.
And Liam.
He stood a few feet away, gun lowered now, face hard as stone. His eyes swept the scene once, then landed on me.
I don’t know what he saw in my expression—relief, fear, maybe both—but he nodded once before moving toward us.
I felt Poppy tense as he approached, her hands fisting in my shirt.
“Is he…?” I started, voice cracking.
Liam didn’t sugarcoat it. “Yeah.”
I swallowed hard.
Poppy peeked over my shoulder at the flashing lights, her tear-streaked face pale under the glow. “I want to go home,” she whispered.
Home.
Except she didn’t have one anymore. Not really.
Liam’s hand brushed my arm, grounding me. “Let’s get her out of here,” he said softly. “She doesn’t need to see the rest.”
