Madeline looked up and saw Julian coming out of the water, his whole presence icy and forbidding. His face was hard, his eyes locked on her with a cold intensity. Instantly on edge, Madeline raised her gun and aimed straight at him. The night was weighed down by a heavy, gloomy sky.
Julian’s gaze was sharp as a blade. He let out a short, cold laugh. “Didn’t expect you to have it in you.”
He’d thought she was dead in the water. Instead, she’d hauled herself out and even managed to save someone else. If they hadn’t been so far from shore, would she have tried swimming all the way back?
“Planning to shoot me?” he asked.
“Let me and my friend go,” Madeline shot back.
Julian’s lips twisted in a mocking smile. “You really think you can threaten me with that little gun?”
He stepped closer. The crack of a gunshot rang out as a bullet slammed into the deck right in front of him, so close it could have hit him. Julian froze. Miles rushed forward, and every bodyguard raised their weapons, aiming straight at Madeline.
Julian’s face turned even darker. His eyes locked with hers, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. That shot had nearly hit him. She hadn’t held back at all. How heartless.
Anger bubbled up in Julian. He hated the way she looked at him, hated the barrier between them.
He gave a quick signal, and the bodyguards lowered their guns. Julian walked up to Madeline, stopping only when her gun was pressed right against his chest. The barrel was still warm. He could feel the heat of it through his shirt.
Madeline’s eyes were steely, her grip tightening on the gun. “Come closer and I’ll shoot.”
Julian just made a low sound, like he didn’t believe her for a second. He reached out, his hand wrapping around the gun. “Go ahead. Do you really have the nerve?”
Madeline’s hand started to shake from how tightly she was holding on.
“Madeline!” Brenda’s voice was desperate as she grabbed Madeline’s arm.

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