by Raine, Meli
“You, too? I knew it. Knew it!” Drew bellows.
“Knew what?” Silas chokes out. I’m so focused on Drew, on my breath, on not moving, on being ready to move, on ignoring the blood that courses through me at a million miles a second, at not fainting. You can live every single second of your life in one breath.
I know that now.
“Knew you two were working together,” Drew barks at him. “I suspected it all along. Lindsay said no, I was crazy. She defended you, you piece of shit!” I don’t know if he’s talking about me or Silas.
Or both.
“Of course we’re working together! You assigned him to protect me!” I scream at Drew, trying to break the tension, hoping he’ll stand down, but knowing my fate is sealed.
“I don’t mean that. I mean Gentian turned traitor. Harry told me. Warned me,” Drew spits out. “Your father tried to warn me, Jane. Warn me about you and Gentian.”
“What?” I’m shrieking. We’re making a scene, and any second now, someone will call the cops. Right? Please, for once, let someone call the cops. My hand starts to shake. My vision goes into a spin. I can’t faint. I can’t! If I faint, I’ll never wake up.
Because Drew is about to kill me.
Silas glares at him. “Cut the crap. You’ve been increasingly paranoid, Drew. I would never, ever betray you. You know that.”
“It’s not paranoia if you’re right,” Drew bellows.
“Then you need mental health help, because you’re wrong. I’m your best friend,” Silas says in a puzzled voice, full of emotion and clearly trying to de-escalate. “Put the gun down.” Every word is a clear threat.
“No.” Drew’s gun is pointed right at my face. We’re at a true standoff. Every second edges one of us closer to death. My sight on the gun blurs. I can’t keep my hand even. What does a bullet through the chest, the forehead, feel like?
I’m about to find out.
“Then you leave me no choice.” Silas reaches up swiftly, his gun in his hand. He starts to close the distance with Drew, but pulls back. I keep my attention on Drew, but realize this is a new threat.
Two men with guns. Only one me.
As he moves, Drew screams, “DON’T DO IT, GENTIAN! DON’T DO IT!”
Silas ignores him, the gun in his hand now pointing at --
Drew.
Silas’ reflexes are so swift, I can barely see his arm, the blur becoming deafening as Drew’s eyes narrow, his body pivots, the gun off me as he pulls the trigger.
And shoots Silas in the heart.
~*~
Silas and Jane’s story continues in A Shameless Little Bet. Find out what happens next in the stunning conclusion of Silas and Jane’s pulse-pounding story!
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author Meli Raine writes romantic suspense with hot bikers, intense undercover DEA agents, bad boys turned good, and Special Ops heroes -- and the women who love them.
Meli rode her first motorcycle when she was five years old, but she played in the ocean long before that. She lives in New England with her family.
Visit her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/meliraine
Join her New Releases and Sales newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/beV0gf
She also writes romantic comedy as Julia Kent, and is half of the co-authoring team for the Diana Seere paranormal shifter romance books.
www.meliraine.com
