I Just Need You - J. Nathan Page 0,77

because I needed to be able to see without tears blurring my vision. “He’s leaving the knife so you can get yourselves out of the tape,” I assured them. “I never meant to bring danger to your lives.”

“Okay. Let’s go,” the Frenchman said, grasping the back of my shirt and yanking me to my feet.

I prayed he wouldn’t deceive me and hurt my friends. I prayed he stayed true to his word. It was me he wanted. Not them.

The door swung open and my head twisted toward it.

Tristan stood there with his gun aimed directly at the Frenchman.

Relief washed over me, but it was short lived. The Frenchman wrapped his arm around me roughly, holding me in a choke hold and pulling me against him to use me as a shield. “What are you going to do now?” he taunted Tristan as he aimed his own gun at him.

I dropped my eyes, wanting to let Tristan know I had my gun.

Bang! Bang!

My eyes shot up as Tristan’s body was thrust back against the hallway wall.

“Tristan!” I screamed, struggling to rush to him, but the Frenchman tightened his hold on me.

“Oh no you don’t,” he said.

Blood spread through Tristan’s shirt like a rush of ink above his heart and at his hip. Somehow, he kept himself braced against the wall and lifted his gun, aiming it at us with his eyes trained on the Frenchman. But since I was still his shield, Tristan couldn’t shoot him.

My body trembled as I watched the color draining from Tristan’s face. He needed help and he needed it fast.

“What are you gonna do now, bodyguard?” The Frenchman snickered, the sound cold and mocking. “Do you save her or save yourself?”

The mocking sound of his laughter mixed with my fear of losing Tristan gave me the nerve I needed. I reach for the gun in my jeans. With shaking hands, I released the safety like Tristan had shown me while it was still tucked in my jeans.

The Frenchman was too busy taunting Tristan to notice me slip the gun from my jeans “I had no trouble shooting her other bodyguard either,” he continued. “Did he make it or did he end up six feet under?”

I spread my legs and aimed the gun down at his feet. I closed my eyes, hoping to God I hit him and not me, and fired.

Bang!

“What the—” The Frenchman released his grip on me as he jumped back, startled by the unexpected sound and uncertainty of where the bullet landed.

I ducked away from him, and that was all the time Tristan needed. The sound of his gunfire echoed through the small kitchen.

Elodie and Alice screamed beneath their tape.

The Frenchman staggered back, but not before turning his gun on me.

I froze, my eyes wide and my heart in my throat.

Bang!

I recoiled, nearly jumping out of my skin.

But the bullet hadn’t hit me.

It hit the Frenchman square in the forehead.

I looked away from the gory sight as his body was thrust into the counter behind him.

I looked to Tristan whose gun was still extended. I rushed over to him. The blood on his shirt had spread, covering most of it. “Oh my God. Please be okay.”

“I’m fine,” he said, though I knew he wasn’t. “Baby, you did so damn good.”

My head spun, and I felt lightheadedness wash over me. I pulled in a deep breath and focused, needing to get him help. I needed to be the strong one. I pulled out my phone to call for help, but my hand shook so wildly I almost couldn’t dial. Once I did, I lifted the phone to my ear. “We’re in the basement of Gorham Hall at Remington University. Send police and an ambulance!” I hung up and looked to Tristan who moved to the Frenchman’s body, now strewn on the floor. Though he was clearly dead, Tristan kicked the gun away from him. Not taking any chances.

“Please tell me you’re gonna be okay,” I said, needing his reassurance.

“They’re just flesh wounds,” he assured me, before calling Briggs.

I grabbed the knife from the table and rushed over to Elodie and Alice. I pulled the tape from their mouths and they dragged in gulps of air.

“Oh, my God,” Elodie said as tears trailed down her cheeks.

“Is it over?” Alice asked through her own tears.

I slit the tape at their ankles and wrists. Then, they both threw their arms around me and held on tightly.

“That was so scary,” Elodie said. “I thought he’d kill us.”

“I’m so