The echo of that bang was still rattling in my skull when the sound of boots pounded up the marble staircase.

My heart wasn’t ready for the switch from his kiss to the chaos but the world didn’t care.

"Jaxon " My voice trembled, half from what had just happened between us, half from the instinctive knowledge that whatever was coming wasn’t good.

He didn’t look back at me. His shoulders were tense, his steps silent but fast as he moved toward the top of the stairs. The gun in his ...