I dropped to the ground and curled into myself, waiting for the pain, the blood, anything that told me I'd been shot, but there was nothing except my own hammering heartbeat.

I stood shakily, hearing ragged breaths from a corner. I saw a chained woman with a side-shaved head, bra top, torn jeans, and bleeding cuts, a bullet wound in her shoulder.

The bullet hadn't been for me.

My mouth fell dry. I turned back to Ronan, "What... is this?"

I knew he was ruthless, but... a gun?

He was sitting ...