My heart is singing but still, I can’t believe he didn’t tell me this. “I am thankful you feel that way because I feel the same but still, Declan—”

“No, Amberlyn, as much as I want to have it all, I refuse to rush you and make you feel as if you have to marry me. I won’t do that. I know you, and I know that you’ll jump to help me, but I refuse to do that to you. Instead, I’ll lose it all in the hopes that one day you will marry me and continue to make me the happiest man alive because I—”

“Leave me alone!”

Declan stops short and my heart stills because I am sure he was about to tell me he loves me. I want that more than anything but instead of saying anything else, he turns to look in the direction that the voice came from. Following his gaze to where two people stand in a heated conversation, I ignore them and am about to ask him what he was about to say because obviously, we are not done here, but then someone who sounds very much like Casey, says, “No, you have to tell them I didn’t touch you! I can’t leave. I can’t move my ma. I have to stay here!”

“I don’t know if you did or not! Take the money and go, Casey. Your ma will be fine wherever you move her to. Just leave, make my life and yours better.”

“Lena?” Declan asks and Lena whips around, shock visible on her face.

“Declan, what are you doing out here?”

“I should ask you the same,” he says, and starts for her. I rush to catch up as he says, “What the fuck are you doing here, Casey, especially talking to my sister?”

“Declan, it’s nothing. We were just talking. He’s leaving,” she says quickly, putting her hands up to stop him, but Declan pushes her to the side, beelining for Casey.

“How did you get on this land? You are not welcomed here.”

“I know the spots to get in, Declan. Fuck off,” Casey says, his voice filled with nothing but hatred.

“Declan,” I say sternly, taking hold of his wrist.

“Not right now, love. I need to know what this wanker is doing talking to my sister,” he says, his voice dripping with acid.

“It’s none of your business, Dec, what my business with Lena is.”

“The fuck it isn’t. You better tell me before I beat it out of your ugly arse,” Declan warns.

“Declan please, it’s nothing,” Lena pleads once more, but Declan ignores her, his eyes set on Casey.

“Leave it be, Dec. Go on inside, dance and mingle with your pretty girlfriend,” Casey says, sending me a menacing grin.

“Don’t look at her or Lena for that matter. Get the fuck off my property.”

“You just think you own everything, huh? This land, this fucking town, your sister, Amberlyn, don’t you? Wanna know why I’m here? ’Cause your da is doing everything in his fuckin’ power to reopen the case against me. I need Lena to tell the truth and get your da off my back. I can’t leave my ma or move her, not even with the hundred grand he is offering me. You’re ruining my life, and I need it to stop!”

“I told him I didn’t know, I can’t lie,” Lena says, and I notice that she has started to cry. This doesn’t feel right. Something is off, and I know that it is Casey. He always had me on edge. I don’t trust him one bit.

“Declan, please, let’s all go inside. Call security of something,” I suggest, but he ignores me.

“The truth is that you raped my sister and fucked us all up. So no, she won’t lie for you and that’s it. Take the money, Casey, and get the fuck out of here. Until then, though, stay the hell away from her, or anyone I love for that matter. This is your last warning,” Declan says, taking a step towards him, his shoulders taut, along with the rest of his body. I reach for his hand, lacing my fingers with his, trying to stop him as he says, “Now get the hell out of here.”

“I fucking hate you, Declan. You are the biggest fucking tool in this God-awful town. It’s disgusting how much everyone loves you when you are worthless. You have been a constant pain in my ass since the beginning.”

“And you’re not going to do anything about it, Casey, so leave.”

Nothing is said for what seems like hours but really its only seconds before Casey says, “The hell I’m not.”

When he reaches in his pants and pulls out a gun, my world completely stops. It’s like everything is frozen in time as he lines it up on Declan. I look at Lena, her mouth falls open, and my sweet Declan is standing as tall as ever. Not scared at all.

“Casey, what the hell!” Lena cries. “Put the gun away.”

“Yeah, can’t fight with your hands, you arse? Put that shit down. No one is scared of you.”

“You should be!” he yells, the gun shaking from where his hand is trembling. “I’m going to ruin your life, like you have mine.”

I can see the hatred in Casey’s eyes, and I know that he is going to kill the man I love. Without thinking, I step in front of Declan as the gun goes off and pain rips through my chest. I hear Lena scream and Declan yell my name as I crumble to the ground, the warmth of my blood spilling out of me and down my breasts, staining my gorgeous, white dress. The pain is unbearable. All I feel is the white-hot sting of agony and it has me gasping for breath as Declan gathers me in his arms, crying my name. I try to answer him but nothing is coming out as I gasp for breath, tears rolling down my cheeks. As my eyes slowly close, I’m not sure if I’m dying or what, but all I can think is that I just did everything my mom wanted.

I did something drastic, I took a risk, I fell in love… but the only problem is that I might die for the man that I love.

No. No. No. No. No!

Gathering Amberlyn in my arms, blood spills all over her dress, and I start freaking out. This did not just happen; Casey did not just shoot my love. Lena drops to the ground beside me, pressing her hand into the wound at the top of Amberlyn’s chest as she screams for help. Tears are flooding my eyes, I can’t breathe, and I don’t know what to do. I move her hair from her face, trying to keep my tears in as I hold her, but then her eyes slowly start to close.

“No, no, love, please stay awake.”

“It hurts,” she cries, tears falling in heaps along her cheeks.

“I know, love. Please, don’t close your eyes, don’t leave,” I cry as I lean my head onto hers. I didn’t think he’d shoot. I didn’t even think it was loaded. I thought he was just being a punk, trying to scare me, since he’s never even shot a gun before. I know that for a fact because the gun was his grandda’s old revolver, and he has always been afraid of it. Why didn’t I realize what was going on? Why did she jump in front of me? This should be me—not her.