Page 242 of The Villain We Tempt

“Wearefriends, Nacho,” I growl quietly. “But friends don’t point guns at?—”

“They don’t point guns at each other?!?” he roars, his face morphing into a livid mask of rage. “What about sneaking up on each other on benches at night and jamming guns into their backs?! Andthreateningthem?!”

I mean, it was a giant purple dildo. But I have a sneaking suspicion that pointing that out isn't exactly going to improve the current situation.

Galina chokes out a terrified sob behind me, and I start to turn.

“Don’t look at her!” Nacho roars, yanking my attention back to him. “Look atme.” His eyes narrow viciously at me, his hand tense as he grips the gun.

…That fucking finger of his iswaytoo close to the trigger.

“Back up, Lochlan,” he snarls.

My eyes glint as I glare at him.

“Not happening, Nacho. You’re scaring her. You need to think about what the fuck you’re doing andput down the gun?—”

Galina screams when I yank her down as a shot fires wildly over our heads.

“I said BACK! UP!” Nacho screams, his face contorted with rage. “Stoptouchingher! Back away from her!!”

He bares his teeth as he stalks closer, pointing the gun right at me.

“You think this is my first time holding a gun, Lochlan?” he barks. “Do you remember who my fucking father is?! He runs one of the biggest cartels in the world, you piece of shit! I’ve been shooting since I wasfive!”

He takes another two steps forward.

“But I know what adrenaline does to a person's aim, Lochlan,” he hisses. “Don't make this difficult, or I’ll just have to get close enough to make sure there’s nothingleftof your fucking face.”

Galina whimpers behind me, squeezing my hand tightly.

“I’m only going to say it one more fucking?—”

“Okay!” I snarl, dropping Galina’s hand and raising mine in the air. “I’m all ears, Nacho. You’re in charge here.”

I’m not worried about myself. I’m worried that he’s holding a .357 Magnum, and at this range, if he shoots me, that fucking bullet is going to go right through me and into Galinabehindme.

“Over there,” he snarls, gesturing with the business end of the gun to a spot a couple of yards away. “Move, Lochlan.”

I glance back at Galina.

“It’s going to be okay, baby,” I murmur under my breath.

She nods quickly as I give her hand one last comforting squeeze and then walk over to where Nacho’s pointed.

He instantly swivels his attention to her, but mercifully keeps the gun trained on me.

“Are you injured, my queen? Did he hurt you?” he asks in this weird, soft tone. “Did he?—”

“Why are you doing this?!?” Galina whispers, her voice breaking.

Nacho frowns. “B-because you’remine, love,” he mumbles. “Allmine, Villainess.”

“Nacho,” I snarl. “Let’s figure this out. Let'stalkand come to an agree?—”

“Shut up!” he roars, whirling on me and level the gun at me. “You shut your fucking mouth,GHOST.”

My face blanches.