Page 102 of Juliet's Echo

Drool slid down his chin and a disturbed smile spread across his face.

“She fooled you too. That’s what her slutty ass does.”

Juliet shrank back.

“The reason I put bullets in her years ago is the same reason I got to put bullets in her now.”

One second, he was listening, the next he was gone again, lost somewhere inside his own madness. Juliet's eyes widened as the barrel settled on her, and that was all it took. There wasn't another conversation to have. No magical combination of words was going to bring him back. My cousin was about to shoot the woman I loved.

Everything after that happened fast.

The moment his attention shifted completely to her, I moved. Launching myself at him with everything I had, I aimed low and drove my shoulder into his ribs. The gun fired before I could fully reach him.

Plaster exploded from the ceiling as we crashed through the glass coffee table. We hit the floor delivering blow after blow. Alonse fought like a rabid animal. No rhythm. No technique. Just pure fucking insanity.

A fist caught my jaw.

I answered with two shots to his ribs.

The sick bastard bit my shoulder.

“Ahhh!”

Slamming his head into the hardwood, I watched the gun slide across the room.

For a second, I thought I had him. I thought this shit was over and all I had to do was get to my baby.

A cold freeze rushed through my body and seemed to pull me to my feet quicker than I should have been able to move. My legs immediately carried me toward Juliet.

Then the lamp hit me.

The world flashed white.

My knees buckled.

Another shot of pain exploded through my skull and the room tilted. Hitting the floor almost felt comforting because my body simply gave out. Sleep called to me and no matter how hard I fought it, my body was succumbing.

A feeling of cold water suddenly rushed behind my eyes, steadying my vision.

That’s when I saw Alonse had the gun again.

“No,” I groaned.

“You all thought you could beat Sloane.” He laughed.

Sloane?

“Please,” Juliet sobbed. “I’m not who you think I am.”

“It doesn’t matter what you call yourself, Simone.”

He stepped closer.

“Look around. Once again you’re alone and at my mercy.”

“Psalm!” Juliet screamed. “Please get up!”

God knows I tried.