THE STERLING SECRETS

Chapter 18: Caught in the Crossfire

The interior of the cabin was rustic, cold, and smelled sharply of cedar and disuse.

Like no one had been here in years.

Julian immediately locked the heavy iron bolt on the front door. The sound echoed.

Then he began pacing the perimeter. Drawing the thick blackout curtains over every window.

One by one. Like he was sealing us off from the world.

He was a man besieged by ghosts. His jaw was tight. His hand never strayed far from the weapon tucked into his waistband.

"There's no cellular service here," I observed. My voice was small.

I stared at my new phone. It displayed a stark No Service icon.

"I'm completely cut off."

"That's the point," Julian muttered. He threw a log into the stone fireplace and struck a match.

Flames caught immediately. Casting wild shadows on his face.

"The network here is an encrypted satellite uplink. It's untraceable. Eleanor can't find us here. No one can."

The fire crackled. But it didn't make the cabin feel any warmer.

Suddenly, a sharp, rhythmic knocking echoed against the heavy oak front door.

I jumped. Letting out a small scream.

Julian moved with terrifying speed.

In a fraction of a second, his handgun was cleared from its holster. The slide racked with a loud, metallic clack that made my blood freeze.

He shoved me roughly behind his back. Pinning me against the kitchen counter with his left arm.

His right aimed the weapon directly at the door.

"Julian Sterling! Open the door!"

A voice shouted from the other side. Muffled by the howling wind and rain.

My heart shattered.

"Adrian?" I whispered.

"Clara, I know you're in there!" Adrian yelled. He was slamming his fist against the wood. "I followed his car from the highway! Clara, get away from him, he's losing his mind!"

"If you don't leave my property in three seconds, Vance, I will put a bullet through this door and your chest," Julian roared back.

His entire body was shaking. An erratic, possessive fury radiating off him.

His grip on my waist tightened until I could barely breathe.

"Julian, don't!" I screamed. I struggled against his iron grip, trying to reach the door. "He's unarmed! Adrian, run! Go away!"

"I'm not leaving you with a killer, Clara!" Adrian shouted.

A heavy thud echoed as he threw his shoulder against the locked door. Testing it.

Julian didn't hesitate.

He took a step forward. His finger tightening on the trigger.

The look in his eyes was pure, unadulterated madness. The look of a predator about to slaughter a rival over territory.

And I was the territory.

Driven by pure instinct, I threw myself in front of Julian.

My hands slammed into his chest. Covering the barrel of the gun with my own body.

"If you shoot him, you'll have to shoot me first!" I cried. Tears were streaming down my face. "Is that what you want? To kill me too?"

Julian froze.

His breathing was ragged. His chest heaving against my palms.

He looked down at me. The muzzle of the gun pressed directly against the fabric of my sweater. Right over my pounding heart.

For a long, agonizing moment, the silence in the cabin was suffocating.

Only the rain and the fire.

Slowly, the murderous rage in his eyes fractured. Cracking into something else.

Deep, hollowing despair.

His hand trembled. Then he lowered the weapon.

Outside, the sound of a vehicle's engine roared to life. Tires spinning in mud.

Adrian, realizing the lethal danger, finally backed down. He tore away into the storm.

The taillights disappeared down the gravel road.

Julian dropped the gun onto the floorboards. It landed with a dull thud.

Then he grabbed my wrists. Pulling my hands away from his chest.

His grip was so tight my bones ached.

"You would die for him?" he whispered. His voice was broken. Erratic. "You would step in front of a bullet for him?"

"No," I sobbed. My strength finally giving out as I collapsed against him. "I don't want anyone to die, Julian! Not you. Not him. Anyone."

I buried my face in his chest. My whole body was shaking.

He didn't answer right away.

Instead, his arms came around me. Crushing me to him.

One hand came up to tangle in my hair. Holding me like I was the only thing keeping him anchored.

"Then don't ever do that again," he murmured into my hair. "Don't you ever put yourself between me and a gun, Clara. Do you hear me?"

I nodded against him. Crying.

Because we were caught in the crossfire now.

Not just of Eleanor's war.

But of whatever was breaking inside Julian too.