Under Siege

‘Kira.’ Gideon was almost crooning. ‘If I have to die tonight, I want it to be by your hands.’ ‘Don’t try to make me a murderer!’ she shouted. ‘I’m not like you!’ The muzzle of Austyn’s gun was pressed directly against Gideon’s chest. Austyn’s voice was colder than the Arctic wind. ‘She may not have what it takes to pull the trigger, but the same can’t be said for me.’ ‘Kira.’ Gideon ignored the gun pointed at his heart. ‘I’d die for you, you know that.’ ‘Stop talking to me! I want nothing more to do with you!’ Kira screwed her eyes shut, her body vibrating with indecision. She didn’t know what to do. Part of her was already rejoicing over the possibility that Gideon would finally be brought to justice for killing her father. But another part was hating and berating herself—how could she watch Austyn commit cold-blooded murder? Gideon chuckled. He was about to say something else when he felt, rather than heard, the gunshot. Austyn had pulled the trigger, just like he promised he would.