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The woman laughs, her eyes taking on a maniacal glint. “You’re funny. You think The Association will take care of your family? Like how they took care of me and Cora after they killed our mom? Our dad worked for your bosses. He was a lieutenant. And how did they repay us? They killed my mom and hunted me and my sister for years. You think your family will be spared?Please.”

She suddenly stops laughing, the change in demeanor unsettling. She cocks her gun. “Maybe I’ll just have to take a risk. If she dies, then it’s one less Caruso in this world.”

“No!” I scream. “Bree’s innocent. She’s on your side. Don’t do this!”

The woman flinches, like she’s finally noticing me there.

Jacques uses the distraction to his advantage. He pushes Bree toward the woman and makes a break for it. The woman snaps to attention and fires off a few shots in rapid succession. She misses. Jacques retaliates and fires off a shot, but it’s too wide.

And Bree is standing in the bullet’s path.

“Bree, watch out!” I cry, pushing her away, putting myself in harm’s way.

I brace myself for the pain, but out of nowhere, a large mass plows into me as the sound of a bullet entering skin and muscles reaches my ears.

Someone blocked the shot for me.

The mystery man who saved me then turns around and aims his gun at Jacques.

The man fires off a single shot, and Jacques collapses on the ground.

Bree screams, and my ears ring from the gunshot.

The mystery man groans and falls to the ground.

I quickly spring into action, first running to Jacques. Traitor or not, the doctor in me always sees to the injured first.

But it’s too late.

Headshot between the eyes. Jacques is dead.

Then I dash to the mystery man’s side to see where he was shot.

My heart stops when I see his face.

Because I recognize the thick hair, the beautiful gray eyes now clouded in pain.

Rex.

He threw himself over me just like he did in Pyrgos Village, and this time he wasn’t so lucky.

“Rex!” I cry out, seeing his white shirt coated in red. My hands move on autopilot, unbuttoning his tux, checking to see where the blood is coming from.

Where’s the wound? Is it a through and through?

He groans as ragged breaths saw out of his lungs.

“Olive,” he whispers. “Thank God you’re o-okay.”

“I’m here. I’m a doctor. I’ll save you. Don’t you worry about a thing.”

Tears blur my vision as I pat him down.Please tell me it didn’t hit any vital areas, please.

A relieved sob wrenches out of me when I find the bullet wound.

A through and through hitting his shoulder, inches away from his heart.

“You’re okay. Shoulder wound. Through and through. You’re okay.” I swipe my blurry eyes with my arm and quickly reach inside my dress to yank off my strapless bra.