The gunshot was deafening in the small room. Liam stopped mid-lunge, almost like he was suspended in time, then his expression shifted from rage to confusion. He looked down at his stomach, where blood was already spreading across his white shirt, dark and wet.

"You shot me," he said, almost wonderingly. "You actually shot me."

"I warned you." Lauren's hands were shaking so badly she could barely keep the gun pointed at him. "I told you to stay back. Why didn't you listen?"

Liam took a step ...