One night was all it took: Season 3 "One second was all it took"

Love Me

Jared has his hand on the alarm button. He has already pressed it, but he is frozen in fear. I am standing here wanting to run while Claudia is standing near the door holding the gun at me. She looks hysterical. I cannot believe this is truly happening right now. I feel like this should be a horrible nightmare. I know if I try moving, she will shoot me.

Hannah has been trying to step in front of me to protect me. She is willing to risk her life for me. "This isn't something you want to do Claudia!" She pleads while holding her hands in the air and trying to step in front of me. Every time she gets closer to shielding me Claudia gets closer to pulling the trigger.

Jared clears his throat. His eyes are wide, and his mouth is hanging open. "Yeah! If you love Natalia as much as you say you do, killing the one person she loves the most isn't going to solve the problem." I see him begin to loosen up. He is slowly stepping around the bar. She quickly points the gun in his direction. He raises his hands over his head. He scrunches his face. "Girl! Do not point that shit at me mother fucker! I'm just trying to help!" He slowly backs away.

She scoffs. "Just... no one moves!" She closes her eyes and points the gun back at me. "I am so sick and tired of losing so much because of this bitch!' She stomps her foot down like a child. "She took Natalia from me! Then she took my business from me! I could have somehow eventually gotten over all of that! But now! Now she takes my money from me too! I need to take something from her! And her life seems like a fair trade."

Jared is pressed against the wall. He is slowly moving toward her every time she is not looking. I am stuck right where I am at. There is no way for me to get out of this unless she decides to let me go, or I end up in a body bag. Derek looks like he is trying to contemplate something. I am scared he will try something stupid.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. "What if I made you a deal?" I look over as Derek speaks. "Let her go and you and I can give it a try. You would not shut up about it. Now you can have your chance. I mean...let us be honest. I was looking at you before you and I both dated Natalia. I was interested when she had you and now that I see you. I want you. So, let Lacey out of this and take something from Natalia that she never thought you could have. Take me."

I watch as a sinister smile forms on her face. "Okay!" She says and points the gun at Derek. He raises his hands. "You should be careful what you ask for." She closes her eyes and squeezes the trigger. I jump back and close my eyes as a gunshot rings through my ears. I quickly open my eyes and turn my attention to Derek.

I scream as I look into his wide and wild eyes. "You shot me!" He is holding his stomach while blood streams down his arm. He looks down. He looks back at Claudia as he slowly drops to his knees. "Why did you shoot me? You bitch!"

She is no longer smiling. She has anger sitting on her face. She does not look scared or shocked, but she does not look like she wants to shoot him either. She has a wild look in her eyes. I have never seen it on someone's face before. "It is what it is. I didn't mean to pull the trigger, Derek."

I hear Jared scuffle. I look over as he is rushing at Claudia. "No, you didn't bitch!" He pummels her and the gun flies out of her hand. I quickly kick the gun toward the kitchen doors. He is fighting her to keep her down while I stand here in fear. He grips each of her wrists and pins her against the floor. I can hear the sirens increasing outside. "Lace! I got this bitch! Get the bat and smack her upside the damn head with it."

I look at the doors, knowing the cops are going to come in any second now. "No. The cops will take care of her. She will rot in prison." I look over at a smiling Derek. He has his thumbs up. A bar patron is holding a towel on his stomach and stopping the blood. I think he is smiling because the bar patron is a pretty girl. He does not even look concerned about the bullet sitting in his abdomen.