“Let her go, Stefan.” Taking a long step, I walked towards him.
His chest rolled, releasing an evil laugh. “Are you fucking kidding me? I should shoot you both, save me the trouble of having to see your faces anymore.” Bringing a finger to his eye, he scratched the corner. “Looks like you're about to get what you deserve.”
“Did you not hear me? I said let her go.” Balling my fists, I glanced over at Noella.
She was tied up, knees scrunched to her chest on the floor. A red welt swelled under her eye, body trembling. “See, I knew he would come for me, Stefan. You fucking asshole,” she said, inhaling deep breaths.
“Why are you doing this?” Shaking my head side to side, I took another step in. “Put the gun down, or you're really going to regret this.”
“You're in no position to tell me what to do. Not anymore.” Turning the gun sideways, he slid closer to Noella. “You don't get it, none of you fucking get it!” Lifting his thumb, he cocked the pin back.
“Get what?” Holding my hands up, palms out. I wanted him to think I wasn't a threat, maybe get him to drop his guard. Then I would make my move. He had a gun, he could shoot me if he wanted too. But I wasn't going to let him harm Noella, I didn't care if he shot me, as long as she was able to get out.
“Do I have to spell it out for you? You're an ungrateful bastard, Hegan! Everything our father did for you, everything that I should have too, and you treat him like shit!”
Our father? Did he just say our father? “Yeah, I know I haven't exactly been the greatest son, but it goes both ways. He could have done things different. Did you just say our father?” Cocking my head, brow arched, I tried to get myself between Stefan and Noella.
His lips parted, chuckling. “Are you seeing it yet? Look at me!” Holding his arms out wide, he glanced up and down himself.
That was my chance, I charged him. Hitting him hard, I wrapped my arms around his waist. Falling to the floor, the gun went off. My ears buzzed, the deafening pop split through the cabin. Holding his chest down, I pulled my hand back and laid a hard blow into his face. My knuckles hit the soft flesh, a crunching sound billowed around me.
And I couldn't stop, punch after punch rained down onto Stefan. I hit him until all the air seemed to escape his chest. His body went limp and lifeless, head angled towards his shoulder.
Pressing off him, I stood and turned towards Noella. She was yanking the rope from her wrists, freeing herself. Shifting her gaze to me, she yelled, “Hegan! Look out!”
I tried to duck, but Stefan laid into my skull with his elbow. Dropping to my knees, he kicked me in the back, my head was twirling, vision fuzzy. Rolling to my back, Stefan was standing above me, holding a knife from the counter.
“Hegan!” Noella yelled, sliding the gun that he'd dropped my way. Wrapping my fingers around the handle, I held it up and fired. Stefan stumbled backwards, eyes open wide, staring at me with a shocked expression.
The sound of sirens started to roll in the distance. Holding his shoulder, Stefan slid down to the floor. “He's my dad too, half of this was mine, Hegan. You never deserved any of it.” Letting his head fall back, his eyes closed.
Climbing to my feet, gun still held firm on him. “What?”
“I'm your brother, well your half-brother.” The air from his chest heaved out, head tilting towards me. “Brandon doesn't know it yet. That's why I went to your house that day, not for the butler job. But I was too nervous to tell him, and when he asked if I was there about the job I froze.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? So why didn't you say anything?” I wasn't sure if that was another ruse by him, or if he was being honest. I didn't trust him, never did, and certainly not after he just tried to kill me.
Shrugging his shoulders, Stefan made an aching noise. “I don't know, then I found out about his plan for you to have a baby and when she came along, I knew I'd never get what was owed to me.”
“I don't care about the baby, Stefan. I told my dad that tonight. He can keep his fucking money, I don't want it. Noella...” Eyeing her from over my shoulder, I said, “She's all that matters to me, nothing else.”
The loud pounding of feet echoed over the boat. “Drop the gun!” A police officer yelled from behind me.
Letting the gun fall to the floor, I held my arms up. Noella ran over to me and wrapped her arms around my waist. A large group of armed policemen rushed into the cabin, swooping the weapon up, and taking Noella and me out of the boat.
I was shocked, I had a half brother that was fucking crazy as hell and tried to kill me. Standing at the ambulance, I watched them put Stefan into another one and drive away. Noella draped her arms around my chest, head resting firmly against me.