Page 110 of Middle Ground

“He’s not a threat,” I say desperately, head shaking. “I didn’t want him here at first, I agree, but now I do.” My eye flit to Jackson, apology written in them. “He has helped me so much.”

Felix’s grip tightens on the gun. “You’re just saying that. Hetrickedyou.”

“He didn’t trick me.” I hold my hands out in front of me in a placating gesture. “Please, can we talk about this? Without the gun.”

Felix’s jaw tightens. “No. You’re not going to convince me of anything. It’s alllies. He has to go.”

Tears spring to my eyes. I hate appearing so vulnerable in front of this man, but my terror is quickly taking hold.

“Please don’t hurt him,” I beg. I turn to Jackson. I fuckinghatethat I’m saying this for the first time while being held at literal gunpoint. “I love him.” My gaze lands back on Felix. “Ilovehim. If you care about me and my happiness at all, you’ll let him go.”

Felix shakes his head. “No. You don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m helping you!”

“Please,” I sob. “Please. I don’t want this.”

“I saidno!”

My cheek begins to sting before I’ve even registered what happened. I have no doubt that if I looked in a mirror right now, I would see a bright red handprint marring my skin.

Felix takes a step back, stunned. “Meyer…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to! You were crying and you wouldn’t stop and you made me soangry. You were being ungrateful…”

He keeps murmuring to himself, apologizing, though I tune him out when I spot movement from behind his shoulder. But I keep my attention focused on him, trying to buy Ilsa some time.

While I had him distracted, she managed to sneak up behind him. Now, she aims a large flower pot at Felix’s head and swings. The move disorients him enough to loosen his hold on the gun. Jackson takes this opportunity to swoop in, trying to disarm him.

Time almost stands still. My heartbeat hammers so loud,I can hear it inside my head. Like with my car accident, everything happens in slow motion.

Thump, thump, thump.

Jackson struggles against Felix, and my breath catches in my lungs. Distantly, I register the pot falling from Ilsa’s hands and crashing to the floor.

Thump, thump, thump.

The gun goes off, and I let out a strangled scream.

In the next second, all I can picture is blood and a world without Jackson in it. I hear nothing but silence and the ringing in my ears. My heart stops as tears stream down my face.

But then I hear him groan, and I’ve never loved a sound more.

“I’m okay,” Jackson says through gritted teeth. “It hit the wall.”

“You fucking better be okay.” I cross to him and press my hand against his arm where the bullet must have grazed him. Blood leaks from the wound, staining his shirt. “Don’t do that again!”

His wild eyes settle on me. “Don’t dowhat?”

“Don’t almost get yourself killed!” The tears won’t stop flowing. “You idiot. I can’t lose you. You’re not allowed to die!”

Jackson tucks me against his side and guides me across the room, near where Ilsa is standing. Felix sits against the far wall, head in his hands. He rocks as he mutters to himself. He’s bleeding, too, but I’m finding it hard to feel sorry about that.

Sirens sound outside, and I breathe a small sigh of relief.

“Is it over?” I whisper.

Jackson presses a kiss to the top of my head. “I think so, baby.”

The next few minutes feel like they last an eternity, but as soon as Jackson hands over the gun and Felix is led out the door in handcuffs, I turn in Jackson’s arms. And then I fall apart.

CHAPTER 38