"No." I stood too, the handcuffs rattling. "No, this isn't over. I refuse to accept that one moment of anger costs me everything." "It wasn't one moment. It was weeks of escalation. Months of manipulation. Years of abuse. The shooting was just the culmination." He moved toward the door. "I'll work
POV: Darren The holding cell smelled like piss and desperation. I sat on the metal bench, still wearing my blood-splattered suit, my hands cuffed behind my back. The police had been rough during the arrest—unnecessary, really, since I'd already dropped the gun. But I supposed shooting someone in a
"I'm here for Kai Storm. He was brought in with a gunshot wound." "Are you family?" "I'm his—" What was I? Not his wife. Not his fiancée. Just the woman he'd taken a bullet for. "I'm Nova Black. I'm his partner." Her eyes widened with recognition. "He's in surgery. Second floor, surgical wing. Bu
POV: Nova The sound of the gunshot echoed forever. One second Kai was standing there, brave and stupid and offering himself as a sacrifice. The next, his body jerked backward like someone had yanked a string, and red bloomed across his white shirt like a terrible flower. "KAI!" I was running bef
And I realized this was it. The moment everything ended. One way or another. I could shoot Storm. Prove my point. End his interference forever. But Nova would hate me. The world would know me as a murderer. I'd lose everything. Or I could lower the gun. Walk away. Admit defeat. Let him win. Neith
POV: Darren The first shot went wide. My hand was shaking—rage and adrenaline making my aim terrible. The bullet hit the concrete ten feet from where Storm stood, sparking off the pavement. "Jesus Christ!" Storm dove behind a car. "Are you insane?" Yes. The answer was yes. I'd finally crossed th