Page 131 of Let Me Show You

I keep my eyes on Noah, hoping he understands how much I love him. I wish this wasn’t happening, and we were back at the grand opening eating hot dogs and listening to music. Today was supposed to be different. It was supposed to be our day.

Brittany steps closer. “Any final words you’d like to say to her?”

She places the gun to my temple, then looks at him. Noah yells and rushes forward, giving Brittany enough time to turn her body and pull the trigger.

It happens too fast.

The shot.

The ear-piercing sound.

Then watching Noah fall lifelessly to the ground.

I scream and try to break free as Brittany’s laughter echoes throughout the space.

“It’s over,” she says. “It’s finally fuckin’ over.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

NOAH

The gun goes off.

I feel the pain as I fall to the ground. Brittany's laughter rings in my ears as more gunshots ring through the air.

I stay still, not wanting to draw any attention toward me.

“Put the gun down,” Brittany says. She breathes heavily as her feet shuffle around me.

“Not happening,” Eric tells her, loading another round. Though my head is turned the other way, I know he's killed Nicolas. There's not a doubt in my mind.

“Put your fuckin' gun down!” Brittany screeches.

Eric chuckles, unfazed. “You first.”

“I'll shoot,” she says, and I open my eyes as she moves farther away from me. Eric’s using the car as a shield while Brittany steadies her shaking hand.

I hear Katie crying, and I want nothing more than to go to her, but I can't move.

“If you know what's good for you, you'll get in your SUV and drive the fuck away,” Eric warns. “You have no idea what you've done.”

“Fuck you,” she hisses. “I’ll finish what that bastard started. This has nothing to do with you,” she screams and pulls the trigger.

Based on Eric's laughter, she misses. “Shoulda probably gone to the range for some target practice before trying to act like a badass. Pathetic.”

Brittany points her gun again, and I hear a revving engine accompanied by tires squealing.

Then I watch as a silver Toyota slams into Brittany from behind at a high speed. Her body flies over the hood and crashes to the ground.

Seconds later, Eric comes into view. He walks past me and goes to Katie. I manage to roll over on my side, my chest burning, and she comes to me after she's free.

“Noah, Noah. Baby,” she says, moving my body around, frantically sobbing.

“Katie,” I say, grabbing her wrists and trying to sit up. “I'm fine, sweetheart.”

Eric comes over and gives me a hand, and I help Katie up, then pull her into my arms. I smell the scent of her hair, kiss the softness of her skin, and take her all in.

“How’re you alive?” she asks. “I watched her shoot you.”