Her Heart

Chapter 42

Riley's POV

"Well good thing I'm stubborn and don't listen." Olivia says and fires the first shot.

But Roman is faster.

In a blur of movement, he shoves my uncle to the side, the bullet missing its target by inches. Chaos erupts around us. Jackson lunges forward, guns raised in response, and I feel Olivia pull me behind her as she reloads, determined to make her stand.

"You think Carter will be able to live if you give up your life for her?" She shouts over the noise, glancing back at me. "Don't you dare."

Jackson steps forward, gun aimed squarely at Olivia.

"Enough of this," he growls. "You want to play hero, Liv? Fine. But you're not walking out of here if you keep this up."

"Oh Jackson when I get my hands on you you're gonna be so sorry for messing with me. You did the one thing that I can't forgive and that is hurting Sofia."

Jackson's face twists into a smug grin, completely unfazed. "Sofia?" he sneers. "She was just collateral damage, Liv. You know how this works. People get hurt." He steps forward, his gun still aimed at Olivia's chest.

"She was your friend," Olivia snarls, her voice trembling with fury as she tightens her grip on her gun.

The room feels like it's shrinking, the tension suffocating. Jackson's smirk never wavers, and his cold eyes glint with the kind of indifference that makes my skin crawl.

"Friend? Liv, don't be naive," Jackson scoffs, inching closer. "People like us don't have friends. We have alliances, and when those alliances don't work anymore—"

Olivia doesn't let him finish. In a swift motion, she raises her gun and fires again, this time grazing Jackson's shoulder. He curses under his breath, stumbling back as blood starts to seep through his shirt.

Chaos erupts again.

Roman lunges at Olivia, but I'm faster. I grab a chair and swing it toward him, the wooden legs cracking against his side. He grunts in pain but doesn't stop. He comes at me with wild eyes, fists swinging. I barely duck in time, adrenaline pumping through my veins as I retaliate, kicking him square in the chest. He crashes into the wall, momentarily stunned.

I glance over at Olivia. She's locked in a deadly dance with Jackson, their movements fast and furious, punches and gunshots echoing around the room.

"Hey Liv if by any chance your baby lives why don't you let me be the dad." Jackson says.

Olivia's eyes narrow, her face a mask of unyielding resolve. "You can for sure try," she snaps, her voice icy.

Jackson fires a shot Olivia somehow dodges. I can see how hard she's breathing from here I go to help her but Roman is getting right back up.

Roman charges at me with fury in his eyes, his face twisted in rage. I brace myself, taking a quick step back just as his fist comes flying toward my face. I duck, feeling the rush of air as his punch whizzes past my head. I retaliate immediately, driving my elbow into his side. He grunts, stumbling back, but he's relentless.

"You're not getting away that easily," Roman snarls, his voice dripping with venom as he swings at me again. This time, I block his punch with my forearm, twisting his wrist until he cries out.

"Give it up, Roman," I spit, shoving him away. He stumbles, holding his wrist, but I know he won't back down. I glance over at Olivia; she's still dancing around Jackson, every move calculated despite the strain on her face.

Jackson fires another shot. Olivia dodges again, dropping to the ground and rolling to the side, coming up in a crouch. She looks exhausted, her breaths coming out in short gasps, but her eyes burn with fury. She's not going to give in.