The sound of a gunshot ripped through the air.
Too close.
Too real.
For a split second I felt nothing.
Then the heat came.
Piercing. Burning.
My body jerked back.
Ryne's eyes widened. "LLOYD!"
My feet lost their footing.
I didn't even have time to look toward the sound before my knees hit the ground.
Blood began to seep warmly from the side of my stomach.
Someone on the wall of the main family compound still held a gun. A dark shadow on the guard balcony. Who knew whose orders or perhaps actions were behind them. One-sided.
Ryne knelt quickly and caught me before I fell completely onto my back.
His arms wrapped around me, keeping my head from hitting the asphalt.
"No... no... no..." his voice was trembling, panicked.
I could smell his scent changing drastically—a sharp, unco
