Kaitlan pressed her palms to her thighs, every muscle gathered to run. She could see Ed’s knuckles whiten around the handle of the frying pan.
Frying pan. A hysterical giggle birthed and died in her throat. How insane, this scene.
“Kaitlan.” Craig’s voice sounded hard and cold. “I know you’re back here somewhere.”
She glanced at the short hall leading to the garage. He wouldn’t know if she had gone that way. He’d have to pass the cooking island to check.
“Hear your grandfather calling for me?” The footsteps came closer. They stopped near the other side of the island. “Come out now or when he gets here, I’ll shoot him. I figure you got about thirty seconds.”
No.
Kaitlan rose. Just like that. Craig stood a mere seven feet away, gun pointed.
She nudged Ed with a foot—stay down.
“Well, there you are.” Craig smiled, so cool, so good-looking in his brown sport jacket. Or so she once would have thought. “You’ve led me on quite a chase.”
“How did you know? That he’s my grandfather.”
His lips curved to a smirk. “I’ve known since the beginning.”
Kaitlan searched for words and found none. Her mind had blanked to white.
She gripped the slick tile of the counter. Maybe if she told him she was pregnant … But that wouldn’t stop him. Not now.
Sound filtered from the hall—a muted shuffle. Her grandfather, trying to be quiet.
In a casual move Craig turned and fired.
“No!”
From outside her line of sight came her grandfather’s wrenching “hngk!” She heard him fall.
Kaitlan screamed. Blindly she shoved back from the island. Run, run to him! she told her feet, but they cemented to the floor.
Craig lunged around the island for her.
Ed leapt up, whipped back the frying pan like a baseball bat, and swung. He smashed Craig square in the cheek.
“Ah!” Craig dropped to the ground. The gun flew from his hand and spun around on the tile. Ed threw down the pan with a clang and heaved toward the weapon.
Dazed, Craig thrust himself up on one elbow and caught Ed’s ankle. Ed dove toward the floor, chin first.
Kaitlan screamed again and jumped from their path. Ed landed half on top of Craig, and the two men grappled. They clutched, seeking hold, punching each other’s heads. Kaitlan’s eyes jerked with their movements, trying to find the gun. Neither held it.
They rolled to one side, Ed on the bottom. Black metal poked from beneath his thigh.
Kaitlan stumbled forward, reaching shaking fingers for the gun. The men rolled again. The gun disappeared.
Ed slugged Craig in the temple. Craig’s head ricocheted to the side. Rage flamed his face red, a vein throbbing in his forehead. He slapped his hands around Ed’s throat and squeezed.
Ed’s mouth sagged open. His eyes widened, his fingers clawing talons at Craig’s deathly grip. He dug a foot against the floor and pushed. His body jolted a few inches backward.
The gun popped from beneath his legs. Kaitlan grabbed it.
She flew up straight, weapon glued to both hands, pointed down. Trying, trying to aim at Craig, but she’d never held a gun before, and what if the bullet went through him to Ed?
Craig’s teeth clenched, spittle at his mouth. He shifted his knees to either side of Ed, clamped his fingers tighter. Ed’s face purpled. Desperationglazed his eyes.
Kaitlan folded over, rammed the barrel into Craig’s side, and pulled the trigger. The explosion was loud. Her arms jolted.
Craig convulsed and jerked up. His face slackened, his hands falling from Ed’s throat. Shock quivered across his features like the shedding of snake skin. Slowly, dumbfounded, his head rotated to Kaitlan.
Their eyes met.
Craig’s rolled up. His neck flopped to one side.
Ed shoved him hard in the chest. Craig slid off him and collapsed.
Kaitlan threw down the weapon and ran to her grandfather. He lay on his back in the hallway, feet facing the kitchen. Not moving, his face waxy. Blood stained his left shoulder. Vaguely Kaitlan registered a gun some feet away.
Kaitlan threw herself beside him and cradled his head in her hands. “No, no, please.” A sob wrenched from her lips. “Grandfather, listen to me. Please don’t die!”
Behind her—an animal cry of rage.
Something wrapped around Kaitlan’s throat. Yanked her from her grandfather. She caved sideways and slammed onto her back.
Above her, upside down, Kaitlan saw Hallie Barlow’s fury-drenched face.