“Well, you better pull the trigger because I am not letting him anywhere near you.” My mind is made up. I have no weapon, I have no physical ability to run at her and escape, and no guards are coming to our aid. If my body is the thing that saves Leo, then so be it.

Leo begins to cry, his tears and loud whimpers increasing in volume, and my heart breaks for this little boy.

I look right at her as I pull Leo behind me, my body protecting him like a shield, because I know what is coming. I see her begin to smile as her finger tightens on the gun and she pulls the trigger, just as some men storm through the front door, firing in her direction.

But I see and hear nothing more, the burn through my chest instant, my body pushed back, thumping against the kitchen bench before it slides onto the floor in a pool of vibrant red.

30

Dante

I meet Carter and the crew in the hallway—where the fuck they have been I have no idea. But I have little time to worry about it now until I know Leo and Annie are safe. I push through my front door and my heart immediately stops beating. There, in my living room, is my ex-wife, along with two men. Angelina's gun is raised, and as I walk farther into the house, I see that she is aiming it right at Annie, who is shielding Leo with her body. The two men both pull their guns as they see us come through the door, but my team and I don't hesitate, and I pull my gun, walking straight toward Angelina.

“Put it down, Angelina!” I yell out to her. The two men have turned, training their guns on me and my team, who now surround the space behind me.

She looks my way and smiles an evil smile, and in that split second, she pulls the trigger. Disbelief washes over me as Carter is beside me in a flash and doesn’t hesitate. He pulls his gun and shoots her just as she is about to turn the gun on us.

“Annie!!” I scream as I watch her small body take the bullet into the top of her chest and slam backwards into the kitchen bench, falling to the floor on top of Leo. This can’t fucking be happening. I run straight to them, not caring about the bullets that are still flying in all directions as Carter and Sebastian take care of the other two men.