-Sloane Delgado:
Kyle pushed his chair back with a harsh scrape and stood up, his body tensing like a predator ready to attack. "What the fuck do you mean you saw those men?" he barked, his voice so loud it made my ears ring. "You've seen those men around her house weeks ago and you didn't say anything?"
My heart jumped straight into my throat.
He looked unhinged — not angry in the normal way, but the kind of angry that made you think he could pull out his gun and actually use it without hesitation. His hand twitched toward his waist, and that's when I noticed it — the gleam of metal tucked against his side.
A gun. My stomach dropped. And I didn't think. My body just moved.
Before my brain could process what was happening, I was on my feet. My chair fell back with a loud clatter. I turned sharply, and instinct took over — my legs carried me without permission. I found myself stepping behind Roxy, gripping her shoulders without even realizing I was doing it.
