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Yet a heartbeat later the sound of a gunshot ripped through the house I screamed The noise and the sinister, horrific implication joltedinto Kyle

“Dane!” I cried out

Just as Aun to Tom’s temple

Tom Talbot dropped to the floor

I stood and whirled around to face everyone Tom’s rifle hit the tiles and Amano kicked the weapon away I scrambled around the counter as Kyle helped Dane to a chair, which he slumped into

“Oh, shit!” I stared in shock at the blood gushing fro hole in his shoulder Kyle bled, too The bullet razed Kyle’s biceps

A rush of adrenaline propelled me forward I snatched two clean linen napkins froainst Kyle’s arm “Hold these firmly”

Then I raced back to the island, jerked open a drawer, and extracted several dish towels I hurriedly returned to Dane and held the thickasthrough me

Kyle had to helpthe napkins to his arm Dane fished his iPhone from his pocket and hit a speed dial number Amano was on the phone, too From the sound of the conversation, I’d venture to say he spoke with Jackson A man who kne to handle dire situations such as this

I certainly didn’t knohat the hell to do

Luckily, Dane had a private physician, and that hom he called

A in jeopardy All the while, Aun trained on Tom Who didn’t so much as flinch He was out cold

To be honest, I was surprised Amano hadn’t shot him It must have tested the very limits of his restraint not to have inflicted mortal injury when it came to someone he’d trusted with all of our lives—who’d betrayed us all Soet practice

“This is getting a little too real” Kyle’s voice was tense, rough around the edges “Like, seriously? Noe’ve reached the point of dueling over breakfast—to hell with high noon?”

“Pressure’s on the society,” Dane said His gaze slid to et your wish Creek house And you don’t leave Aht Do you hear me?”