Shock vibrated through Ashton as he stared at Nicole. Her body lay on the floor, still as death. Blood soaked the bodice of her gown as well as her left shoulder. Fear immobilized him for several seconds. What had just happened? Had he really shot the woman he loved? There was no smoke coming from the end of the pistol barrel.
His mind scrambled to comprehend what was going on. He hadn't meant to pull the trigger, even though he'd threatened to shoot her, but when the pistol fired, the sound came from somewhere in back of him. Prickles of awareness danced over him, hinting that he wasn't the only person in this room with a pistol.
He swung around, aiming his weapon on the unknown stranger. Glynn Nickerson stood in the doorway. He held the still smoking pistol as his wide-eyed gaze reste
