Chapter 410
Roman’s jaw tightened, a dangerous muscle ticking as I felt his body tense in front of me. I knew that look. I knew the way his mind worked when he calculated risk and violence.
Fear sliced through me.
I grabbed the back of his shirt, fingers digging into the fabric, silently begging him not to try it. Not to fight a gun with bravado like he had before. Not now. Not when Paula was this unstable.
Italy had been different. This was desperation.
Roman exhaled slowly, deliberately, forcing the tension from his shoulders. “Okay,” he said. “What do you want p>
“I want answers, Roman!” Paula exploded, her voice breaking as she screamed. “I want to know which one of those cowards killed my father under your father’s orders!” Her gaze darted around the room, landing on faces twisted with shock and fear. “Was it the Lawman? ”
she demanded, her eyes locking onto Julius.
Julius glared back at her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about p>
He knew.
He knew one wrong word and he would be the next body on the floor.
“Okay,” Roman said again, steady, grounding. “You want answers. You want revenge. I understand that. But this isn’t the way. Put the gun down. We can talk. We agreed to work together, didn’t we p>
“Put the gun down, Lydia,” Jace said softly. “Please. You’re going to hurt someone else. ”
She turned toward him, her expression twisting with betrayal and pain. “You promised me, Jace, ” she said, her voice cracking, “You said you’d help me. You said you’d help me take down the General p>
“Yes,” Jace said quickly, stepping in front of Mom, shielding her without even thinking about it. “And I will. I promised you, and I intend to keep that promise. I’ll make sure you get justice. You and me, Lydia p>
He held her gaze, unwavering. “So please,” he continued gently, “put the gun down. Okay p>
For a moment, everything else faded.
The room, the blood, the bodies–it all disappeared as Paula stared at him, her eyes glassy, her chest heaving. It was like they were alone in that space, locked in some silent conversation the rest of us couldn’t hear.
And somehow… It was working.
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MAY 106, D66 30
Chapter 416
Panda’s grip in the guve feed streaky, painfully denty, kte fersish it, bei! Xing je contact with few. As if he was the day person wir so her. The only one who understand her goat.
And surprisingly, a pan of jealousy hit me.
Jace stepped forward, careful, his hand outstretched. “Give me the gun, dear he wormed, “We fix this. I promise
She swallowed hard. “You promise?” she asked, her voice barely ate a whisper,
“Yes,” he said, glancing briefly at the body on the floor before looking back at her, “I promise ”
Relief flooded the room. I saw Mom sag slightly, her shoulders dropping as she released a breath the’d been holding Alyus stood frozen, her face pale as she stared at the spreading pool of blood, eyes unfocused,
Paula placed the gun into face’s hand and he pulled her into a hug
Julius groaned, I saw him roll his eyes and mutter something.
And then the gunshot rang out.
For a split second, I didn’t understand what had happened. The sound echoed in my ears, sharp and deafening, rattling my bones.
I wouldn’t have known who was shot… If not for the blood.
It seeped from the corner of Paula’s mouth, dark and shocking against her pale skin. Her eyes widened in surprise, confusion flickering across her face as her chin still rested on Jace’s shoulder. Still in the hug.
Her body went slack.
Jace stiffened, his arms tightening around her instinctively as her weight sagged against him. “No,” he breathed, horror ripping through
his voice.
And a scream tore from my throat, raw and piercing, as the room erupted into chaos once more.
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Sara Lili
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.