*Jessica*

I wanted to scream at the sound of the shot. I want to scream at Linc to run or push her out of the way.

But there was no time.

And as it turned out, there was no need to.

I spun on my heel to face Linc, expecting to find her on the ground with a bullet hole in her, or teetering precariously on her feet before she collapsed. But I didn’t see either of those.

What I was saw Linc with her left arm outstretched, her thumb, index, and middle finger held ...