her as well. If I were in Xander’s shoes, I’d probably be kissing my life goodbye right now, too. In all actuality, knowing he’s slept with her, Xander should be happy to be leaving this world having experienced what it’s like to exist inside Fallon Reese.
Fallon’s face was pure beautiful agony as she begged, “Don’t kill him, Thomas. I’ll…I’ll go with you. I’ll do whatever you want.” I smiled, ready to bask in my win when the unprecedented happened.
I hadn’t counted on Xander initiating the inevitable.
The impact of his right arm coming up and knocking my arm back set in motion a fight for our lives when Xander landed a punch with his left into my ribs, causing the gun to fly out of my hand. I heard screaming, but Fallon’s lyrical pain was a distant observation. Xander Raynes wasn’t fucking around. But then, neither was I.
After recovering from the blindside, I went at him full force. I tackled him, and we both went flying over the back of the couch. Punches were being landed by both of us, but then, we both knew what was at stake here.
Fallon.
The man who won would win her and I refused to be the loser in this. I’ve been in love with Fallon Reese long before Xander Raynes even knew she existed. Fallon and I shared a childhood together. Xander would never know her the way I did.
The grappling was life or death, and while Xander landed some fierce blows, I had love on my side. A love that even Fallon would never be able to comprehend. “She’s mine,” I grunted as I took another blow to my stomach.
“Never,” Xander swore through bloody teeth. “You’ll never have her.”
The blows didn’t let up and Fallon’s crying symphony rang in my ears as I fought Xander with everything I had. The hits were vicious, but then that’s what men have been doing since the beginning of time; fighting for that one woman who they can’t live without.
I ignored the blood. I ignored the pain. I ignored the destruction of furniture under my body. I ignored everything that could distract me from winning this fight.
Glass shattered as I slammed Xander against one of the windows and I knew the noise would bring someone running. Sure, I had disabled the alarm system, but I hadn’t counted on a full-on brawl that would disturb the neighbors, so it was now or never.
Xander rushed me, unconcerned with the glass shards or the blood, and we landed hard on the floor. It also gave him the advantage of lording over me. While I wasn’t a delicate flower, Xander Raynes was fit and strong.
I could still hear Fallon’s cries, but that was good. It meant she hadn’t run off to call the police. It meant she was still going to be here when I finished Xander off.
My teeth rattled in my mouth as Xander landed a blow across my jaw. I swung back and landed my mark. “You’ll never love her the way I do,” I growled.
“Maybe,” he snarled as he tried his best to keep the upper hand. “But she’ll never love you. She’ll never love you because she loves me.”
And that was all it took.
That one sentence that suggested he’s won.
I let out a roar and swung until he was thrown back by the force of my fists. “She’s mine!” I screamed as insanity cloaked me in everything that was Fallon Reese. “She’s mine!”
We were facing each other in a stand to end one another when the unmistakable sound of a gun being cocked vibrated through the room. Over our heaving breaths, over Fallon’s tears, over the rush of blood swimming in our ears…over everything was that one unmistakable sound.
“Stop!” Fallon shrieked. “Stop!”
Xander and I faced off, but neither of us moved. I wasn’t entirely sure Fallon wouldn’t shoot me, and I suspect Xander was afraid she might accidentally shoot him. It was one thing to die for Fallon, it was another to be accidentally shot by her. Both Xander and I wanted to walk out of here with her. Being dead wouldn’t help either of us.
Xander finally turned to look at her, and when he did, I turned as well. “Fallon, baby…”
Her face was blotched with tears and pale with fear. Her beautiful blue eyes were round with misery, and I knew she could very well shoot us both unintentionally in her frenzied state. But like I said, I wasn’t afraid to die for her, but to be