Page 147 of Shades of Loyalty

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Julian knows.

This bastard was driven by jealousy. He got four of the people closest to me killed. And I let him. I let him get too close, let myself believe I could control everything—including him.

But in the end, it wasn’t just him.

It was my blindness.

I let them die.

Now, they’re all gone. And I’ll never get the chance to make things right.

Every single one of them deserved better. Someone who would have seen the truth before it was too late.

But that person wasn’t me.

And I’ll have to live with that for the rest of my life.

A soft sound—footsteps. Someone stepping forward.

My breath hitches.

The only person who could be moving right now is…

Jennifer.

Fuck.

No.

No, no, no—

Why isn’t she running away?

Why isn’t she getting help while he’s focused on me?

I snap my head up. Julian does the same.

She’s holding up the Glock 19. After countless tries, she got the right one.

And fuck me—she’s aiming it right at Julian.

My eyes widen.

Jesus, no. Shecan’tdo this.

She has no fucking idea how to shoot. She’s either going to miss, and he’ll kill her instantly—

Or she’ll hit me.

Either way, she should have stayed out of this.

But she doesn’t look scared.

She looksdetermined.

Her hands don’t shake. She doesn’t hesitate.

She lifts the gun with perfect precision, like she was fucking born for this.

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