Chapter Seventeen

“Jillian,” I whispered, grabbing his wrist, “don’t go out there alone.”

His hand closed gently over mine, gun in the other. “I’m not. You’re with me.”

“That’s not what I—”

He turned, eyes locking on mine, serious. “Christy, if anything happens, I need you to run. You know the side hallway by the library?”

I nodded.

“There’s a hidden passage behind the tall bookshelf. Pull the black book with the red spine. It opens a door. Go through, stay quiet, don’t stop.”

“You’ve had that here this whole time?”

“I have escape plans for everything.”

“And when were you going to tell me?”

“When I was sure I could trust you to come back to me.”

I stared at him, the weight of his words sinking in, warming me even through the rising cold of fear.

A creak echoed again, closer now.

Jillian turned toward the hallway. “Stay behind me. Keep your eyes open.”

We moved through the dark corridor like shadows, silent but alert. I could hear my own heartbeat in my ears, pounding wildly. The hall stretched long and ominous, lit faintly by moonlight streaming through high windows.

Another soft click—metal against metal.

Jillian froze, and so did I.

Then a voice rang out, low and deliberate.

“I wouldn’t take another step, Jill.”

It was smooth. Unbothered.

A man stepped out of the shadows at the end of the hallway, dressed in black, a silencer fitted onto his pistol. I didn’t recognize him.

Jillian tensed. “Graham.”

My stomach dropped.

Graham?

He stepped forward. “Didn’t expect me, huh? You should’ve.”

“Didn’t think you’d be stupid enough to show your face in this house.”

“Oh, but I’m not here to stay.” His grin widened. “Just passing through.”

Jillian stepped forward. “Put the gun down.”

Graham’s eyes flicked to me. “Is this her? The wife?”

I felt Jillian’s hand clench tighter around mine.

“She’s none of your concern,” he said coolly.

“Oh, but she is. Alyssa’s orders were specific. Bring the girl. Kill anyone who gets in the way.”

I stiffened. “Alyssa sent you?”

“Darling, Alyssa sends everyone. You think she’s been sitting around doing her nails while you play house?” Graham smirked. “She’s been planning. Watching. And she knows everything.”

Jillian’s eyes darkened. “And yet she didn’t tell you how fast I am with a trigger.”

“Maybe not. But she did say you’d hesitate with me.”

“Why?”

Graham laughed. “Because I’m family.”

I blinked. “What?”

Jillian didn’t respond. He just stood there. Still. Quiet.

“Tell her,” Graham taunted. “Tell her I’m your cousin. Tell her we grew up side-by-side until you took over the business and I got kicked to the curb.”

Christy: “Is that true?”

Jillian’s jaw flexed. “He betrayed us. He sold out intel to a rival gang and nearly got my father killed. He’s lucky we didn’t bury him six feet under.”

“Touching,” Graham said mockingly. “But you didn’t, did you? Because you had a soft spot. For me. And now? I’m returning the favor.”

His gun lifted toward me.

In an instant, Jillian stepped in front of me. “You’re not touching her.”

Graham cocked the weapon. “One bullet. Just one. And this all ends.”

Jillian’s voice dropped. “Do it. You’ll be dead before you hit the ground.”

We stood frozen. I couldn’t breathe.

Then—*

A click. But not from Graham.*

From behind him.

“Drop the gun,” Maya’s voice rang out.

Graham stiffened. His head turned, just enough to see the barrel of a pistol pressed to the back of his skull.

He cursed under his breath.

“Now,” she said.

He dropped it.

Jillian moved quickly, grabbing the gun, yanking Graham forward by the collar, and slamming him against the wall with a force that made my bones rattle.

“You picked the wrong side,” Jillian growled, pressing the gun under his jaw.

Graham spat blood. “We’ll see about that. She has an army, Jill. You’re outnumbered.”

Jillian’s eyes burned. “Let them come.”

Maya stepped beside me. “He’s not wrong. There are more coming.”

I turned to her. “How do you know?”

She didn’t answer.

“Maya,” I pressed. “How do you know?”

Her eyes flicked to Jillian. “Because I was one of them.”

Jillian froze.

“What the hell did you just say?”

“I was working for Alyssa. Before. She paid me to keep watch on Christy. Report back. I sent updates.”

My breath caught.

“You what?” I asked, numb.

“I sent updates. At first. But then… I stopped.”

“Why?” Jillian asked sharply.

Maya looked straight at me. “Because I saw the way she looked at you. And I saw the way you started looking at her. I knew Alyssa’s plan was messed up. I didn’t want to be part of it anymore.”

Jillian took a step closer, gun still tight in hand. “You could’ve told me.”

“You wouldn’t have listened.”

“She’s right,” I said quietly. “You barely trusted me at the start.”

Jillian let out a heavy breath, releasing Graham and letting him slump to the floor. “We’re all too damn good at lying.”

Graham coughed, laughing. “This is touching. Really. But you’re still not ready for what’s coming.”

Jillian crouched beside him. “Then I guess I better start.”

He slammed the butt of the gun against Graham’s head. The man collapsed, unconscious.

We tied him up and threw him in the basement. Jillian ordered two guards to keep watch—armed, silent, and rotating every two hours.

After everything, we returned to the bedroom. But sleep was a stranger neither of us could invite in.

Jillian sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing his hands over his face.

I sat behind him, wrapping my arms around his shoulders.

He didn’t pull away.

“Tell me what you’re thinking,” I whispered.

He exhaled. “I should’ve never let it get this far.”

“With Alyssa?”

“With everything.”

I pressed a kiss to the back of his neck. “You’re fixing it now.”

He reached up, grabbing my hand. “I don’t know how to keep you safe.”

“You just did.”

He turned, cupping my cheek. “She’s going to come for you.”

“Then let her.”

“No,” he said sharply. “You don’t understand—she’s not like me. She doesn’t hesitate.”

“Then we’ll have to stop her first.”

He stared at me. “You’re not afraid?”

“I’m terrified.”

“Then why are you still here?”

I kissed him softly. “Because I love you. Because if you’re in danger, I’m not hiding behind a door.”

Emotion flickered in his eyes—genuine, raw.

He kissed me like it was the only thing keeping him alive. His lips moved against mine with a quiet desperation, a trembling passion that pulled every ounce of love from my heart and laid it bare.

We didn’t sleep that night.

We held each other as the storm gathered.

At breakfast the next morning, Joseph Colbert was already sitting at the head of the table when we entered.

“Looks like I missed some excitement,” he said casually, sipping his coffee.

Jillian didn’t smile. “We need to talk.”

“I assumed we would.”

Joseph’s eyes flicked to me. “You’re glowing.”

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

“Pregnant, aren’t you?”

I stiffened. Jillian wrapped an arm around my waist, protectively.

Joseph nodded slowly. “Then it’s time we end this. You’ve got more than your pride to protect now, son.”

“And I intend to,” Jillian said coldly.

“I’ll handle the inside traitors,” Joseph said. “You deal with Alyssa.”

Jillian’s eyes narrowed. “What are you planning?”

Joseph smiled. “I’m planning a wedding.”

My heart skipped. “What?”

“An official one. Big. Loud. Public.”

Jillian shook his head. “That’s a terrible idea.”

Joseph raised an eyebrow. “On the contrary, it’s perfect. She’ll have to show her hand if the whole city’s watching.”

I felt my throat go dry. “You want to use our wedding as bait.”

Joseph’s eyes met mine. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”

I looked at Jillian, unsure what to say.

He was silent.

But then… he nodded.

“Fine. We’ll do it.”

Joseph smirked. “I’ll call the caterers.”

And just like that, our love became a weapon.

And the countdown to chaos had begun.