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Really looks at me.

And for one horrible second—I see how sick she is.

How lonely.

How broken.

Then she backs away.

One step.

“She was just supposed to go away, and I was supposed to be a star! You weren’t supposed to show up! You weren’t supposed to love her!”

Another step.

“Put the gun down and kneel on the ground,” Less commands.

Others join us on the roof, Brielle looks at them and shakes her head.

“It doesn’t matter now,” she says, “Someone else always wins and I always lose!”

“Step away from the edge!” Less tries again.

One of his team creeps around the side, and I can see the second the man lunges for her.

Her heel slips on the rain-slick roof.

But he’s too far.

Too late.

Way too late.

“Brielle!” I scream.

Her eyes widen.

The gun falls from her hand.

Less lunges, catching the weapon before it falls.

My eyes are riveted to him.

Then they flick to Brielle, and I watch in horror as she disappears over the side of the building.

The scream cuts off abruptly.

Then—nothing.

Only thunder.

Only rain.

Only silence.

I collapse, but I don’t hit the ground because suddenly he's there.

“RUSTY!”