The sound of the gun going off causes me to falter. I push Dee behind the island and look around for some form of protection. Damn! The knives are by the open doorway we just ran through. The only thing I can see is the cast-iron frying pan left on the oven from Dee’s breakfast. Thank God! Picking it up, I test the heaviness of the metal out in my hand before holding it down to my side. I bend down and check on Dee. She is shaking but seems okay.
“Get under the desk and don’t you move,” I tell her. I make quick work of the knot behind her back before letting her move from my side.
I watch her scurry around the far side of the island and burrow under the desk built into the wall. I push the chair in behind her and cover her body the best I can.
Moving back to the center island, I brace my legs apart and wait. I don’t know who is going to come around that corner but I’m ready. I won’t let him win. I won’t let him take my happiness.
It’s time that I remember what is important and fight for the future I want.
The future I deserve.
The future I have earned.
A future with Axel and our baby.
With an evil laugh, I hear him and my fears are confirmed. Oh, God. Greg!
“Oh, Isabelle? Come out, come out, wherever you are!” He laughs again before stumbling into the kitchen. “Where is that little bitch friend of yours, Isabelle?” He cocks his head to the side, and I notice that his left arm is hanging at an odd angle and the gun is missing.
I feel slightly better knowing Greg was able to put up a fight. The fear for Greg bubbles back up, but I push it back and straighten my shoulders.
I won’t let this man win.
Never again.
“Where is Greg?” I ask, shocked that my voice sounds strong and sure.
“Don’t you worry about him, Isabelle.” He takes a step forward. There are only a few more steps before he will have rounded the island. “Come here, bitch.” he spits out.
“No.” My voice sounds powerful in the stillness of the house.
“You’re going to be sorry for that.”
He lunges forward but doesn’t make it far before I swing wide and crash the frying pan against his skull. He looks into my eyes in confusion before crumpling to the floor. I throw the frying pan to the side and jump over his fallen body.
I run into the living room and almost fall to the floor when I see Greg’s still form and the pool of blood forming under his chest. Choking on the sob that escapes my mouth, I begin to frantically look for the gun. I get on my knees and search under all the furniture before finding it in the far corner of the room tucked under the couch.
I try a few times to reach it before I finally succeed. Right when my hands wrap around the handle, I hear him. Before I can straighten from the floor, my hair is gripped in his strong hands and he throws me towards the far wall. My body collides with Greg, who doesn’t move even with the force of my weight slamming into him. His warm blood soaks through my side.
I look up into Brandon’s disturbing face and smile when I feel the cold medal of the gun still in my hands. He takes a step forward but stops when I raise the gun level with his chest.
“Fuck you!” I scream and pull the trigger, empting every bullet into his chest.
I can hear Dee screaming from the other room, but before my arm falls back down, I overcome with the overwhelming fear running through my veins and let the numbness take over my body. I vaguely hear the gun hit the floor before I slump back against Greg’s body and the darkness rolls back in.
Axel
“IZZY!” I scream again into the phone. I run down the stairs and jump into my truck. When I heard her ex-husband’s voice coming through the line instead of Izzy’s, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me. For days we have been searching for him. Not one goddamn clue to where he has been, and the second she is out of my sight . . . the worst possible situation is playing out and I am helpless. There is no way I can get there quick enough.
I grab my phone while I tear out of the driveway and call Greg, the only one I can think of who will be close enough to save my girl.
“What’s up, Reid? Just talked to—”
“Shut up. Where the fuck are you?” I interrupt.
“Damn. On my way to Dee’s house. Izzy ca—”
“Brandon is there,” I interrupt again. I don’t have time. Izzy doesn’t have time.
“What?” All teasing has left his voice now.
“Just got a call from Izzy but it was him I heard over the line. I didn’t hear her once, Greg.” I take a second to calm down before I’m able to continue. The fact that I don’t know if she is okay is not lost on me. “I’m too far out. Get there. God, please get there and save my girl.” I don’t even realize that tears are rolling down my face until I hear the anguish that colors my words.