Fold

"Death isn't complicated. Accepting you're going to die is.” —Preston Holden

Get it together, Kit.

I silently urge her to look at me, but she's checked out completely.

Can't say I blame her. Not only is a lunatic holding a gun up to her head, she just witnessed two people get shot and killed.

I shift my weight to one foot and then the other, wondering how the fuck Kyle managed to get out of jail in the first place.

I doubt he made bail, considering he shot a nurse at the hospital before he tried to attack Breslin. And God knows he isn't savvy enough to not only hatch but effectively carry out an escape plan in the few short hours he was locked up.

And let's not forget the alarming fact he has not one, but two guns.

I watch as Kyle turns one of those guns on Landon. “You—get the bag from under the table and pull out all the bungee cords. Then, I want you to secure the doors shut with them. I'll be watching you, so make sure you make it nice and tight. Got it?”

When Landon nods in agreement, he digs the gun into Kit's temple. “If you run out those doors, I will kill her and then him. Their lives are literally in your hands right now, four eyes. Understand?”

I don't know a lot about my brother's boyfriend, but I do know he's a stand-up guy.

However, this is life or death, not giving up the last slice of pizza.

What we think we know about others doesn't mean shit when the stakes are this high.

I'd walk right out that door and never look back if I had the same opportunity.

My eyes fall on Kit again, and the sheer terror I see in those hazel orbs makes something in my chest pull tight.

I have to divert my attention back to Landon because looking at her so scared and fragile is fucking my head up and I can't think straight.

I watch in bewilderment as he pulls out a black bag with the word Police on it from under the table before he locates the bungee cords.

My brain attempts to put some pieces together again, but then Kit chokes out, “Please don't.”

How Kyle snagged himself a police bag is now the least of my worries...because all I care about is doing whatever it takes to keep that sorrow out of her voice.

“I'm not go

I can practically hear her heart beat with every step he takes toward the doors and it strikes me just how brutal this must be for her.

If Landon bolts, Kyle will kill us.

But in Kit's case, it's not just the fear of death that has her panicking.

It's the fear of being abandoned and left to die like her parents were.

Primitively, I take a step in her direction.

“No one move until those doors are secured,” Kyle barks at me. “Then we can get this party started.” His eyes narrow. “Maybe I'll take another bite of a juicy apple off the Holden family tree and make it a real party.”

Rage pumps through my blood and if it wasn't for Landon almost dropping the bungee cords and Kit's loud gasp—reminding me there are other people here with me—I'd lose my shit and do something that would be liable to get us all killed.

Suffice it to say, their reactions tell me they know exactly who Kyle is now.

However, it occurs to me Kyle has no idea who Landon is—because I'm positive if Asher's deranged stalker knew he was my brother's boyfriend...he would have killed him already.

Landon looks spooked; and for a split second, I think he's going to make a run for it.

I keep my eyes trained on him as he finishes securing the doors... until the elevator on the opposite end of the cafeteria chimes.

The heavyset guy holding a camera looks absolutely horrified when the doors open and he sees a man pointing a gun at him.

A millisecond later, Kyle pulls the trigger and fires two bullets into his chest, causing his large body to drop between the elevator doors.

His entire life ended in the blink of an eye.

Kit starts sobbing hysterically and Landon staggers back over to us.

And Kyle, bastard he is, latches an arm around Kit's waist before he proceeds to drag her around the room like a toy.

“Now that that's all taken care of,” he says, fastening his grip on her.

Kit winces through her tears and my blood simmers because he's clutching her so tight there's no doubt he's hurting her.

Abruptly, he stops moving and zeros in on Landon. “You know, I'm not sure what to do with you.” He gestures to me and Kit with the gun in his right hand. “The bestie and the brother are valuable assets in my revenge plan. But you? You serve no purpose, which means you're dead weight in this scenario. Pun intended.”

His statement is so wrong it's almost comical. If he really wanted revenge against my brother and Breslin, Landon would be the perfect way to extract it, given they're both in love with him.

Christ, it's downright bemusing how unaware Kyle is. You'd think someone would have been more diligent and done their homework before going through with something so extreme.

Then again, the emotionally disturbed aren't known for being meticulous.

The gun in Kyle's hand shifts to Landon. “Which means you have to go.”

Fuck, that backfired with a vengeance.

“Wait,” I yell at the same time Kit does.

I need to know his endgame so I can figure out a way to get us out of here alive. “What do you want, Kyle? Tell us and we'll do it.”

“Unless you kill him,” Kit adds jutting her chin at Landon.

Kyle shrugs. “We're all go

As far as responses go, that one has to be the worst.

History has proven assassins and terrorists never fare well...because they always die along with their victims.

Nevertheless, I was hoping Kyle was delusional enough to think he'd end up getting whatever he wanted out of this ordeal. Like Asher telling him he loved him and promising they could live happily ever after, and in turn; he'd set us free.

But the fact that he's already accepted his own death...means we don't have a chance in hell of making it out of this room alive.

I swallow and it feels like acid going down my throat. “What exactly do you want before that happens?”

As usual, the gambler in me can't help but roll the dice.

A smile stretches across Kyle's face. “Call your brother and tell him about the little predicament you’re in. Make sure you put him on speakerphone so I can hear the agony in his voice as he pleads for your life.”

“Okay.” I inhale deeply. “I can do that, no problem. But first, can I ask you for a favor?”

To say he's surprised at my request would be an understatement. “What?”

If my life is about to come to an end...I want to pay my debts.

And I owe Kit far more than I owe anyone else.

Because for a few hours on a bridge one night...I knew what it felt like to have a genuine co

And if I died three months ago...I never would have experienced that.

“Let me trade places with her.”

I know Kyle won't let her go, but at least now he won't be hurting her. Or holding a gun to her head.

Kit's glassy eyes widen and I'm not sure what to make of the look on her face.

Not until she gives me that angry scowl...and I bite back a grin.

She wouldn't be scowling if she wasn't angry, and she wouldn't be angry if she didn't care.

Kyle scratches his head with one of the guns, interrupting our little impasse. “Look, I'm not interested in whatever star-crossed lovers shit you two have—”