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My gaze darts around the room, and I notice people have moved farther back from our small group.
Thomas stabs a finger at Hunter. “You’re a traitor. You’re not my son if you choose to stand with this traitorous family.”
“That family is more of a family than you ever were, and she...” he gestures to me, “is going to be my wife. I don’t care what you say. You’re out. I’ve recently reached out to a number of other families and filled them in on all of your little secrets. For example, sending Miles Redmont to kill his own sister. He killed Nash Redmont and has made an attempt on my fiancée’s life recently.”
Hunter faces all the people in the room. I have no idea who they are, but they must be people of importance, or I don’t think Thomas would have them here as witnesses.
Thomas drops his head, and when it comes back up, those black eyes cloud over, and all I can see there is pure hate. The kind that grows and festers in someone for so long that it overtakes their soul.
“Do not disrespect Father like that.” Ezra steps forward, holding the gun upright and pointing directly at Hunter. My stomach plummets to the floor. I need him alive and safe. There’s movement on my left, and my gaze shifts. Landon’s gun is pointed at Ezra.
The lasso around my chest pulls tighter.
“I blame you for all the years I missed with my family.” My father’s words draw my attention, and before I focus on him, a gunshot echoes in the room. My ears ring, muffled by the loud sound in such a confined space. I drop to the floor, as does everyone else. My entire body trembles with fear, and I have an urgent desire to run. I slip off my shoes, ready to do just that.
I notice someone on their knees when I get the confidence to look up. My father stands upright, his weapon pointed in the direction of Thomas Wolfe’s crouching body. Hunter, Landon, and Levi still surround my mother and me.
I go to stand, and Landon catches my movement, clicking his tongue. My focus flicks to him, and he shakes his head. I pause, then go back to the floor.
“Ezra, let us help,” Hunter says gently, stepping forward.
Ezra rises, as does Thomas. “No. We don’t need you,” he hisses.
“It wasn’t my intention for blood to be spilled.”
“I don’t care.” There are tears in his eyes. He really respects his father.
Thomas’ head comes up, his white shirt stained with rich red blood. “Kill them all,” Thomas says between gasped breaths, his hand clutching his chest.
I stand, unable to sit and do nothing anymore. Ezra’s face meets mine, and his gun comes up. Another loud bang fills the room, only this time, I’m toppling sideways. My arm stretches out in an attempt to break my fall, but it’s not enough as my body slams into the floor, my head smacking against the wooden planks, a sharp pain stabbing me in the temple.
Then there’s blackness.
32
Where am I?
My eyes open, and it’s bright, too bright. My hands come up to shield myself from the overbearing light.
“Aelina, are you all right?”
“Hunter? Is that you?” The pain in my head forces me to close my eyes.
“Yes, it’s me.” Warm lips press against my forehead, and my body jerks a little.
“Are we in a car?” I whisper.
“We’re in an ambulance. You hit your head when Landon pushed you out of the way.”
I peek through my eyelashes. Hunter only wears his white shirt and suit pants, a torn expression on his face.
“Where’s Landon? Is he all right?”
His hand rubs nervously against his chest, his eyes meet mine, and I know something is wrong. “He was shot. He took the bullet that was meant for you. He’s in critical condition, but we’re heading to the same hospital as him, so we’ll know more soon.”
One of my arms drops to my stomach. Landon took a bullet for me. My face screws up, and the burning behind my eyelids is too much. Tears well, then slide down my face, pooling into my hair. “Hunter—”
“Miss,” someone interrupts. “Do you have any medical conditions we should know about? Are you allergic to any medication?”
