I raise my hands beside my head, showing her I’m not a threat. “Whatever you say.”
“Walk and stand over there,” she orders, flicking her chin to the edge of the couch. A good distance from Iris.
Fuck! I can’t protect her from there.
“I said. Move!”
“Okay, okay.” I walk sideways, keeping both her and Iris in my line of sight. I don’t stare at my girl’s face, despite sensing her obvious distress and tangible fright. I need to focus on ensuring we make it out of this alive.
Yukta is a twist I didn’t see coming.
Was she involved too? What did we miss?
I scan the rest of the room to take in the situation fast. Half-eaten dishes set on the coffee table, wine dripping onto the white carpet. In my peripheral vision, I notice a pair of legs peeking out from behind the couch on the other side.
Bianca or Rosalie?
Don’t let them be dead.
If they are still here, either Dash or Nova must be on their way. A plan forms fast in my head. I need to stall and keep Yukta talking until one of them arrives. I also need to get closer to her, so when one of them arrives and knocks on the door, I can tackle and steal the gun in the split second she becomes distracted.
My heart stops when Iris pleads to her.
“D-don’t hurt him.”
“Stop talking, Iris,” I command her.
“It’s me you want, Yukta,” she continues as if I hadn’t spoken. She cannot put me first. Dammit. “I-I was the one who spilled Arjun’s name to the police. Let him walk away.”
“Like you let Arjun walk away,” Yukta spits out angrily, thumb hovering over the trigger. “You ruined EVERYTHING! Why couldn’t you mind your own fucking business? What’s with this need you have to save the poor and the needy? He’s the love of my life. We were supposed to run away. Now he’s in jail because of you, you fucking BITCH!”
Iris flinches, shaking like a leaf. “I’m-m sorry. Please. Don’t do this.”
“I am going to kill you!” Her grip tightens around the weapon.
“Arjun’s dead!” I shout.
Her head whips toward me, and she gasps, “What did you say?”
“I killed him with my bare hands. He’s dead.”
“Kian, no!” Iris yells.
“If you wish to hurt someone, it’s me.” I take a step toward Yukta, as her arm shakes while tears gather in her eyes. She swings the gun in my direction. “You want to punish us both? Shoot me. It’s the perfect punishment. I’ll be dead like your boyfriend, while she’ll have to live without me.”
“Don’t listen to him, Yukta,” Iris yells again, panic bleeding into her soft voice. “He’s lying. Yukta!”
“Shut the fuck up!” Yukta aims at Iris once more. “I will decide.”
I close another inch of distance between us.
“Hey! Move back.” Her hysterical gaze flits my way. “I told you not to move! Step back.”
Jaw gritting, I back away.
“Yukt- AHH!” Iris wails in horror as Yukta shoots right beside her.
“Mouth shut!”
