Chapter 175

Suddenly, Dalton knocked Paul's hand, and the gun slid across the hardwood floor, stopping under a chair adjacent to the couch where Elyse sat. Dalton hit Paul in the face with his fist, and Paul punched Dalton in his shoulder. Dalton skidded to the floor beside the chair, trying to catch his breath while pain exploded in his shoulder.

As Dalton's fingers wrapped around the gun under the chair, Paul broke a lamp over his head. Dalton dropped the gun, and Paul picked it up and aimed it at Elyse.

"Don't make me do this, Dalton. Please, don't make me," Paul pleaded as he kept his eyes on Jolene and Elyse. Dalton stood and shook his head.

Dazed.

His vision blurry.

His knees wobbly and about to buckle from beneath him.

But he had to save Elyse.

Dalton dove for her, grabbed her around the waist, and dragged her roughly onto the floor, just as Paul fired the gun. The bullet made a puff sound as it entered the sofa where Elyse had just sat.