Chapter 25

Kyle’s eyes widened in shock as he saw Joe holding a gun to Kiera’s head.

“Joe, what’s happening? Please, lower the gun. We can talk this out.” His gaze met Kiera’s, her eyes welling up with tears.

“I’m sorry, Kyle. If only that coward Charlie had left town when I told him to, none of this would be happening.

“I didn’t want any of this, but I’m out of options. If only you hadn’t stumbled upon that site.”

Kyle tried to step forward, but Joe pressed the gun harder against Kiera’s temple, forcing him to freeze. “I can’t believe you’re mixed up in this, Joe. Why?”

“Why? You want to know why? I’ll tell you why. I’m tired of being the poor friend of the successful Kyle Hicks. I want wealth too. And thanks to this site, I’ve made millions.

“You’ve always had everything—this hotel, the women, the money.

“You were born into privilege. Everything was handed to you, while I had to work my ass off just to pay my bills.”

“So, this is about jealousy? You’re jealous of me?”

“Not of you, just of everything you have. I want it too.”

“Joe, we’ve been friends since we were kids. We’ve been through so much, and I consider you a brother. How could you do this? How could you murder those women?”

“I didn’t kill them. Charlie and the other two men did, and then he killed them. Charlie was the one who found the women for me.”

“You’re just as guilty as he is. You need to turn yourself in. It’s the only way.”

Joe kissed the top of Kiera’s head, inhaling the scent of her hair.

“When I discovered you on the site that day, I was shocked at first. Then I thought, why not let you have some fun? What harm could it do?

“But then you had to go and fall for her. I don’t blame you though. There’s something about her. Even I like her.”

“Then let her go,” Kyle pleaded, his eyes locked on Kiera. “Charlie will tell the cops about you. It’s over.”

“Yeah, I’m sure your brother-in-law will crack him soon. But by then, I’ll be long gone.

“I came here tonight to say goodbye. I was going to leave you two alone to live happily.

“Charlie was supposed to have left the country. Then no one would have known about me. We all could have lived a good life, and no one would be the wiser.”

“It’s not too late. Just let us go. We won’t call the cops.”

Joe’s grip around her neck tightened as he began to sweat. “It’s too late. Charlie will spill the beans soon, so now I have to go into hiding.”

“What are you planning to do with us?”

“I’m sorry. I can’t let you live. You know that. Kyle, I’m really sorry.”

“Joe, wait,” Kyle shouted, raising his hands. “I know you have feelings for Kiera. I’ve seen it in your eyes and the way you look at her. Let her live. Take her with you. Make her yours.”

His shirt was drenched with sweat. He wondered what was taking Roy so long. He had to keep stalling Joe.

Joe whispered into Kiera’s ear. “What do you say, sweetheart? Would you come with me? Be my girl?”

“Tell him you’ll go and you’ll do whatever he wants,” Kyle urged, his eyes pleading with her to agree.

He locked eyes with her, praying she would play along.

Tears streamed down her face as she looked back at him. She knew what he wanted her to say. “Yes, yes, I’ll go with you. Whatever you want. But you have to let him live. Then I won’t give you any trouble.”

If it meant that Kyle would live, then she would do whatever it took, even if it meant leaving the only man she would ever love.

“That’s touching, but I can’t. You both have to die.” He looked at Kyle. “I’m sorry, bro. I really am. Please forgive me.”

He aimed the gun at Kyle and shot him in the chest. He lost his grip on Kiera as she struggled and ran to Kyle. As she bent over him, sobbing, Joe aimed the gun at her.

“I’m sorry, Kiera.”

But before he could pull the trigger, the door was kicked in, and Roy, gun in hand, shot Joe in the head, killing him.

***

^BEFORE THE SHOOTING^

The moment Roy discovered Joe was the mastermind behind the site, he called the guards protecting them.

When he got no response, he called Kyle. Still no answer. He knew something was wrong. He called for backup, instructing them to meet him at the hotel.

The guards were nowhere to be found. When he got his hands on them, they’d be out of a job.

His mind raced, replaying Charlie’s confession about Joe being the ringleader and hiring men to do his dirty work.

He had known Joe for years and never suspected him of such a crime.

He was Kyle’s best friend. Surely he wouldn’t hurt him.

The sight that greeted him when he kicked in the door to Kyle’s suite made his blood run cold.

He had no choice but to shoot when he saw Joe’s gun aimed at Kiera, his finger on the trigger.

***

He pulled the trigger, hitting Joe in the head. Joe dropped like a stone, blood pouring from his temple.

Rushing to Kyle’s side, he saw blood seeping from his chest. The bullet’s entry point told him it was bad. Kiera was crying, pressing a towel to the wound.

He dialed 911 and dropped to his knees.

“Kyle, hang in there, man. Help’s coming.”

Kyle’s eyes flickered open, but as they met hers, he saw the life fading from them. “Keep talking to him. Let him know you’re here,” he said, fighting back his own tears.

“Kyle, stay with me, darling. I love you. Don’t leave me. I need you. We need you,” she said, her hand caressing his face while the other held the towel to his wound.

When she saw him looking at her, struggling to keep his eyes open, she nodded. “I’m pregnant. We’re going to have a baby, so you have to hang on.”

She leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips. “Fight for us.”

Roy was stunned by her words. But he wasn’t sure if she was saying it to give him the will to fight, or if she was truly pregnant.

Either way, it didn’t matter as long as it gave him the strength to hold on. He glanced at his watch, wondering where the ambulance was. He moved to check on Joe.

He knew the man was dead, but he had to confirm it.

When the ambulance arrived, he rode with her. He wasn’t sure how he was going to break the news to Judy.

But he knew he had to call her once they got to the hospital, and he knew she’d be mad at him for not telling her sooner.

Even though they had a rule not to discuss his cases until they were closed, this was different. This was family.

She kept dabbing his forehead with a cloth. “I’m here. I won’t leave you. You fight, Kyle. You fight to stay with us.”

She didn’t know if he could hear her, but she kept talking, hoping he could.

Her heart pounded in her chest as he opened his eyes a few times, then closed them again.

When they got to the hospital, she tried to follow him into the operating room.

Roy had to restrain her as she tried to break free, insisting she had to be with him. Her sobs echoed through the hallway as he disappeared behind the door.

“Kiera, let’s sit down and let them do their work,” he said, guiding her to a chair with his arm around her.

“I need to call Judy and tell her what happened. Stay here.”

He walked over to the wall and pulled out his phone. His heart ached as he heard his wife cry when he told her the situation was grim. He hung up and returned to sit beside Kiera.

She stared at the blood on her hands. Her clothes were stained with his blood. “He’s going to make it, right?”

He flagged down a nurse and asked for a wet cloth and towel. “They’re doing everything they can for him. We have to believe he’ll pull through.”

He took the wet cloth from the older nurse and began to clean her hands and the blood from her face. “I know this is a tough time, but can you tell me what Joe said before he shot Kyle?”

Through her sobs, she recounted everything she could remember.

“He said he was going to leave, let us have a life together. But then he heard that Charlie was caught and knew he would rat him out. So he decided he had to kill us too.

“How could he try to kill his best friend? He did seem remorseful.”

“I’m sure part of him regretted what he was about to do. They were so close. They always had each other’s backs.

“I remember when I first started dating Judy. Kyle came to see me. He punched me and said I better treat her right or he’d come back to beat the shit out of me.

“I was in my second year as an FBI agent. He could have been arrested. Joe was with him, and he glared at me, said he’d be happy to help Kyle. I can’t believe he wanted to kill him.”

“I can’t lose him,” she said, breaking into tears.

He wrapped his arms around her, comforting her until he saw the nurse approaching. They both stood up. “Can you tell us anything?” he asked, wishing Judy was there.

“He’s in surgery. The bullet hit his heart, and they have to remove it. It’s a delicate operation and could take a few hours.”

“But he’s going to be okay, right?” she asked, gripping Roy’s arm.

“I’m sorry, it’s too early to tell. I suggest you call any other family members and have them come.”

“Oh my God. I know what that means. You don’t think he’s going to make it,” she cried out. She collapsed back into her chair, sobbing. She felt Roy’s arms around her.

“They’re wrong. He’s going to live, because I can’t live without him.”

He lifted her face to look into her eyes, searching for the truth.

“If you were telling the truth earlier about being pregnant with his child, then you have to live on, for his sake and for the baby’s.”

“I ~am~ pregnant. I didn’t know until that night when Joe and Kyle were having a drink in the living room. I had one and felt sick. I threw up.

“I haven’t taken a test, but I know I’m pregnant.”

“Yeah, Judy knew she was too, before she took a test. I’m glad you told him. It might be what makes him fight.

“Kiera, if I had known Joe was at your place, I wouldn’t have said anything over the phone. I would have just come over.”

“It’s not on you. You couldn’t have known he was one of us. If there’s blame to be thrown around, it should land on me.”

“Why’s that?” he asked, curious about her train of thought.

“If I hadn’t come into his life, none of this would’ve happened. He wouldn’t be in there, battling for every breath. It should be me in that bed, not Kyle.”

“Hold on, you need to stop that kind of talk. He’s the one who sent you away from that place. No one’s at fault here.

“Joe’s actions are inexcusable, and Kyle would be pissed if he heard you blaming yourself like this.”

His attention was drawn by Judy’s voice calling out to him. Releasing Kiera, he stood up, drawing his wife into a comforting embrace.