Page 182 of Savage Hearts

“The last time that will ever happen.”

The voice, low and lethal, comes from our right. We look over and see Spider standing at the door. He’s holding a gun.

I freeze in horror. I taste ashes in my mouth. Beneath my dress, my scar tingles and turns hot, like it just caught fire.

I wonder for a split second how he has a gun when everyone else was searched, realizing just as quickly that not only would security have cleared Declan’s personal bodyguard, but he probably carried extra weapons for the occasion.

Mal’s entire body has fallen perfectly still.

Spider gestures with the gun. “Riley, move away from him.”

“No.”

His furious gaze never moves from Mal’s face. “Do it. Now. I don’t want a repeat of last time.”

Shaking all over, I still manage to keep my voice even. “You’re not going to shoot him. Put the gun down and walk out.”

His laugh is short and hard. “He might’ve promised you hewouldn’t kill me, but the reverse isn’t true. Get your ass away from him right now.”

In a low, deadly rumble, Mal says, “Speak to her like that again, and I’ll happily break my promise.”

“Fuck you.”

Spider’s voice is loud and full of hatred. It echoes off the tile walls.

In the ballroom, the music is still going strong. A cheer goes up. Passing by the hallway outside, a woman laughs. She sounds drunk.

Mal releases me, moving carefully. He pushes me behind him and stands facing Spider, holding me back when I try to move to get between them.

Panic claws its way up my throat. “Spider, please! Please don’t do this! You can’t do this! I’m—”

“I don’t want to hear how you’re in love with him,” he snaps.

“No, listen to me—”

“Get the fuck away from her. Walk toward the door. We’re going to do this outside, for everyone to see. You deserve a public execution. The Hangman should die with an audience.”

Pushing me back, Mal takes a step forward.

Red pulses at the edges of my vision. My panic is so total, I can see the blood flowing through my own veins.

I don’t understand why he’s listening to Spider, why he’s following him out the bathroom door. I stumble after them, shouting for them to stop. The music drowns out my cries.

Then we’re pushing through the crowd on the dance floor. People pull away, startled. Someone sees Spider’s gun and screams.

The band stops playing. The guy on bass guitar realizes it last, plucking away until finally he notices he’s the only one jamming and looks up, blinking in surprise.

Then, except for the roar of my pulse in my ears, there’s silence.

I don’t know where Sloane or Declan are. I don’t know what anyone else is doing. I can only focus on Spider standing ten feetaway from Mal in the middle of the dance floor, pointing the gun at his head.

I gather myself, take a deep breath, and say forcefully, “Spider, put that gun down right this minute!”

“Give me one good reason I shouldn’t shoot this Russian pig, Riley!”

Okay, if you insist.“Because I’m carrying his child!”

Surprise ripples through the crowd. Several people gasp.