“I lied to you. This is the only way to save Jude. They won’t hurt him if I marry Kristian willingly.”
I look between my brother and Viola in disbelief. Kristian is grinning like the cat who got the cream. And Viola is giving me a blank look like she doesn’t fucking care. Griffin’s frown deepens and he shifts from foot to foot.
“But we’re getting Jude out,” I say, jaw clenched. There’s a heaviness in my throat and nausea in my gut. My aim with the gun wavers. This is all wrong.
“It’s too late,” she says.
She takes Pascal’s hand and together they walk to the middle of the aisle. The man holding Lily lets her go. Lily stumbles forward, throws a middle finger at him, and then carries on toward Viola and Pascal.
They meet in the middle. Viola hugs Lily briefly and then pushes her away. Pascal wastes no time, darting forward, grabbing Lily’s hand and dragging her to the floor.
At the same time, Viola opens fire with the knives strapped to her arms. She kills the man who was holding Lily and one of the other guards instantly, and dives for her crossbow.
I have no idea what’s going on, but Pascal and Lily have crawled to the side already and are exposed, so I aim my gun and shoot the third heavy in the shoulder before he can get to them. He’s not dead, but Viola nods my way in silent thanks, causing warmth to bloom in my chest.
By the time Pascal and Lily have reached the end of the pew and disappeared out of the church, we’re at a stalemate.
Maybe this was Viola’s plan all along.
Although Viola has her crossbow now and it’s pointed at Griffin, not Kristian. I shift my aim between him, the remaining guard, and my brother. No one moves but…what the fuck is going on?
Kristian is laughing, pissing himself actually. “That’s the funniest thing I’ve seen all fucking week.” He wipes away an imaginary tear. “My dear, you are delightful. I can’t wait until our wedding night.”
“She’s not marrying you,” I say.
“Oh, but she is. She called me and offered herself willingly if I left the girls and her convict boyfriend alone.” He gives a shrug. “The keys to the empire in exchange for a show of faith. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his own gun and shoots Griffin point blank. While Viola shoots the remaining guard in the head with her bow.
“Now your juvie boyfriend is safe, and we’re alone,” Kristian says, eyes almost black in the low light.
My heart is racing, and my mouth is fucking dry. What just happened?
“Viola? What the fuck is going on?” I ask.
“Griffin was molesting Pascal. That’s why he wasn’t interested in me sexually. So I struck a deal with Kristian.” She tosses her crossbow onto a bench and walks toward my brother who puts an arm around her like he owns her.
“Take the girls back to the car,” she says.
I keep my gun trained on Kris. I don’t trust him. “I don’t understand. Why are you going with him,” I say.
“Go, check on the girls,” she hisses.
I shake my head. “I’m not leaving you with him.”
Viola glares at me and then turns to Kristian and fucking kisses him. It’s like I’m in some kind of trance watching her.
My phone starts vibrating in my pocket. I ignore it, dropping the gun to my side while Viola moans into Kristian’s mouth. Kristian opens his eyes and smirks as he devours her in return. I can’t not look even though the sight of them makes my stomach roil.
Why they fuck is she kissing him?
It’s got to be a mistake.
Suddenly he chokes, eyes glazing over as he slumps in her arms.
“I thought the drugs Lily gave him would never fucking kick in,” she says, wiping her face with her sleeve, pushing Kristian onto the floor while she steps away from him.
I stare at my brother.
Is he even breathing?