"That wasn't the plan!" The ground beneath me felt unsteady, the floor shifting beneath my feet as the situation veered wildly off course.

　　Leon's laughter echoed, devoid of any hint of remorse. "I'm a cheater, baby," he taunted, his words a twisted reminder of the deceit that had shattered the trust between us. His hand moved with practiced precision, reaching for a concealed weapon—a gun.

　　A deafening sound erupted, a gunshot piercing the air like a bolt of ...