Eyes locked on Jessica.
Arms out—ready to grab should she make a break.
She lunges.
A mountain lion.
Claws out.
She swings.
Scratches.
Grabs my collar.
Spits.
Mascara streaks down her face.
Her punches are untrained.
Wild, glancing blows.
The one thing I register—she’s no longer a danger.
But she is a train wreck.
I catch her wrists.
Corner her against the wall.
Neutralizing the threat.
Her body twists—with less heart.
“Stop. It’s over.”
“Noooo.”
It’s half wail, half trapped animal.
She crumples, knees giving way.
With her full weight hanging from her wrists, I let her fall to the floor.
Alicia steps forward, picks up the gun, and passes it to me.
I spin the chamber. Empty.
She brought an unloaded gun.
“He was supposed to choose me.”
Tears and sweat mar her face.
“He said—he said—he loved me! We were supposed to be a family.”
Alicia’s dark blue eyes lock on the quivering wreck on the floor.