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I quickly collect myself and sit back, checking my hand again. I feel Juliette give my shoulder a supportive squeeze. I take a calming breath while my heart pounds harder, waiting for the other player to decide on his bet.
He folds and Costa cheers, nuzzling Stella closer. “You really are my lucky charm, mia stella.”
I see fucking red.
It takes all of a second for me to draw my gun.
Stella
“Lochlan,” I scream, jumping off Costa’s lap. My heart rate skyrockets, adrenaline flooding my veins. I know he’s capable of murder on any given day. Who knows what he’ll do when he’s like this? Hurt, jealous, desperate. And with a gun.
“Lochlan,” I repeat, and he just gives me one of his signature lopsided grins.
“If we’re raising the stakes, we should really raise them.” He flips the revolver open and points it up, all the bullets falling out. “Don’t you think, a réalta?” His tone is like a viper, striking fast with a burning sting.
People are gathering around us while keeping their distance, expressions varying from terrified to intrigued. A hushed sort of understanding falls over the crowd as Lochlan slots one of the bullets back into a chamber. He gives the cylinder a spin and the sound of clicking metal is sickening.
“What do you say, Costa? How lucky are you feeling?” There’s amusement in his tone that makes me sick to my stomach. “I’ll even go first. If you’re really lucky, I’ll die before it’s even your turn.”
Slowly, while the room holds a collective breath, he raises the barrel to his temple. A few people scamper from the room, probably realizing that this isn’t for fucking show. He has a crazed smile and not a single ounce of fear on his face.
“Please don’t. Lochlan, don’t. Please. Please.” I watch his finger begin to slowly tighten around the trigger with my heart lodged in my throat. His eyes are so blue and beautiful when they meet mine that I stop breathing. Can’t breathe.
I fling myself on the table and the wildness in his smile softens. I reach out for him, but I’m too late. My hands remain empty as he pulls the trigger.
1. Play “Bad Decisions” by BOBI ANDONOV
Chapter 26
Insufferable
Lochlan
The millisecond between pulling the trigger, not knowing what’s inside the chamber, and realizing it’s empty feels like an hour. Cheating death is a high like nothing else. 1 It rushes through me, like every neuron and synapse in my body are sparking at the same time. Something stronger than life pumps through my blood.
Air seems to flood back into Stella’s lungs when I start laughing. Her mouth, which had opened on a silent scream, closes as she scowls something fierce and stands upright. I smile at her irate expression because even though it’s for all the wrong reasons, I know every single thought in her head right now is of me.
I hold the gun out and Costa stares at it for a second before stepping back, shaking his head. “No, no, cazzo.” He messes up his obnoxiously perfect styled hair by running his fingers through it and points a meaty finger at me. “You’re fucking crazy. I am out.”
I shrug and tuck the gun back into my waistband. I turn my attention to Stella, certain that I look like a smug bastard because I feel like one. She opens her mouth then closes it tightly, deciding it’s not worth it, and storms out.
I chase after her, laughing. When I reach her, I fling an arm over her shoulders. “So should we go to your place or mine?”
She forcefully pushes my arm off and says through gritted teeth, “Don’t say another fucking word to me until we are outside because I’ll fucking slap you and I refuse to make a scene.”
My eyebrows lift. “Sounds hot.”
She cuts me a harsh glare. Chuckling, I pretend to zip my lips and throw away the key. We stride through the club and out the main entrance. As soon as the doors close behind us, she’s on me.
She uses both hands to shove me with more strength than I expected. “You fucking goddamn idiot!” she yells, giving me another hard push. “Are you fucking insane? What the fuck was that?”
“Three for three,” I say with an impressed grin.
Her eyes widen. “What?”
“You said fuck in all three sentences.”
“Oh my god!” She groans and starts walking away, turning around to shout, “Fuck you, Lochlan fucking Fox!”
