Chapter 9
CHAPTER 9
Matt led us through the restaurant, and I followed behind him. I needed to talk to Jackson alone. I had no idea what to say, but he couldn't go back to Virginia with it ending like this. We needed to talk. He might have decided that he didn’t want to marry me, but I needed to make things right between us. We were having a child together. We needed to get on the same page and figure this out. Did he want custody? Did he even want to be part of this child’s life? We had so much to figure out. I had no answers, but at the very least, we needed to start a dialogue.
A high-pitched scream startled me out of my reflections. Matt stopped so short that I ran into his back. He stumbled to the side. I watched, confused as he dove between two tables and landed on his knees. He ducked for cover.
I turned my head and came face-to-face with the barrel of a gun. My body tensed. Fight or flight? Try completely frozen. I couldn’t bring air into my lungs while my mind, in slow motion, pieced together the situation in front of me.
Dirty face. Head shaved. My breath rasped, and my heartbeat thrashed. Would it hurt? When the bullet pierced my brain, would it hurt or would I just be gone? His hand and the gun shook. Is this how it would all end for me?
“Give me your purse.”
I stared at the man, noting distractedly that his lips were cracked. Dark circles lined under his eyes. He looked deranged.
The silence in the restaurant deafened. I was certain that everyone could hear my heart hammer.
Two big hands wrapped around my shoulders and gently pushed me aside. My numb trembling legs moved against my will. I turned and realized with horror that Jackson had pushed me aside. Now he stood face to face with the man and the gun. The gun pointed directly at his chest.
No .
It wasn’t supposed to end like this. Jackson couldn't die in a restaurant saving my life. He wasn't allowed to sacrifice himself for me.
“Take your gun and walk out and no one will get hurt,” Jackson’s voice was matter of fact. Relaxed.
The guy looked scared. He raised the gun to Jackson’s head. “Fuck you, asshole. Give me your wallet. And her purse too.”
“You can have it,” I bleated, holding my purse towards him. “Take it all.”
The guy’s eyes dropped down to my black Givenchy bag. Jackson moved so quickly, I didn’t even see how it happened.
Now Jackson held the gun.
What?
Jackson now held the gun. We all watched as he grabbed the top of the gun, slid the chamber back with a deafening click. He lifted the gun and aimed it at the guy’s forehead.
The man looked down at his hand like he couldn’t believe he was no longer holding the gun. He looked back up at the barrel of the gun, his eyes wide. True terror radiated out of his eyes.
“Get out before you do something even more stupid and I end up killing you,” Jackson’s voice was clear .
The guy stood unmoving. Yup. I knew that feeling. Frozen in fear. Then Jackson’s words resonated with the man. He slowly backed up, and he spun around. The entire restaurant watched in mute silence as he barreled towards the door. A loud sound echoed as the door slammed and he disappeared into the night.
Jackson’s voice sounded casual. The kind of casual tone you would use when you asked someone if they wanted a second cup of coffee. “Emily, are you okay?”
I wanted to speak. I wanted to say something, but I was using all my energy to just stay on my feet.
Sobbing sounded from behind me. Distracted, I looked over my shoulder. Irene crouched on her knees behind someone’s chair. She sobbed like the gun had been in her face.
Matt appeared at my side, breathing hard. His eyes looked wild. He looked me up and down, checking to see if I had been shot. “Oh, my God, Emily. Are you okay?”
Said the guy who had jumped out of the way, so I was in the line of fire. Call it adrenaline, call it shock, call it whatever you want to call it, but suddenly words tumbled out of my mouth without any filter, without any forethought.
“Jackson, is your marriage proposal still on the table?” My voice echoed through the room. You could hear a pin drop. I glanced around, and dozens of shocked faces swam before my eyes.
It was safe to say I had the room’s attention.
At first, it seemed like he hadn’t heard me. We all watched as he pointed the weapon down and expertly dropped the magazine out of the gun.
“You want to get married?”
Green eyes glanced up at my face. One look and he took in my trembling lips. My wide eyes. The way my chest rose and fell with emotion.
“Yes,” I sounded mangled.
His eyes dropped back down to the gun. He slid the gun chamber back with a click that the entire restaurant heard. I watched as the remaining bullet flipped out of the gun.
His eyes came back to my face. Assessing. Weighing. “What changed your mind?”
I became aware that the entire restaurant leaned in to hear my response.
My whole body shook. My voice quivered. “Do you need a reason?”
His eyebrows moved up a small notch even though his tone was edged with disinterest. “Just curious.”
I felt lightheaded. I knew that if I weren’t truthful with him at this moment, he'd probably not agree to marry me.
“We need you.”
It was the truth. Even if he didn’t want us, this baby and I needed him desperately. We'd be nothing without him. Even if it was wrong to trap him like this, I was incapable of stopping myself.
Green eyes narrowed on my face. His jaw tightened. Then he nodded. “Okay.”
The entire restaurant exploded in applause. Chaos erupted around us. The maitre d’ approached Jackson from behind. He held out a tray for Jackson. I watched as Jackson set the gun and the magazine on a tray. The man said something to Jackson.
Matt spoke, but his words barely registered. “Emily. Don’t do this. Please don’t do this.”
The maitre d’ was looking up at Jackson with the same level of hero worship as he would a world-class sommelier. His expression one of complete reverence.
I ignored Matt. Had I proposed to Jackson in public? In front of an entire restaurant full of people? Had he said yes? Was this happening?
Matt grabbed my upper arm, his fingers cutting hard. “I’m serious. This is the worst mistake of your life.”
I yanked my arm out of his grip and looked up at Matt for the first time. He looked incredibly frustrated .
“Irene needs you,” my voice sounded wooden. He abruptly turned and moved towards Irene.
I looked back at Jackson who shook hands with the maitre d’ and three waiters. He glanced over at me. He motioned with his head for me to move towards him. I somehow managed to walk over to him. I felt one big arm come around my shoulder and pull me against his warm, strong side.
“You’re shaking,” he said quietly. His tone was so gentle I moved my face against his chest and took in a deep breath. I loved how this man smelled. If I could burrow my way into this man, I would. He represented everything safe and warm to me. He felt like home.
“I thought he was going to shoot you,” my voice muffled against his chest.
He snorted. As if what I suggested was so preposterous it was almost insulting.
I put my hand on his chest. I could feel his heart beating. So slow and steady. I started to slowly calm down. “Your heart isn’t even beating fast.”
“My heart rate only goes up when the bullets are coming out of the gun.”
“I thought you were going to die.”
He looked down at me, reading my expression. I looked back up at his face. Didn’t he know that the mere thought of him in danger filled me with so much angst, I could barely breathe?
“Come on,” he grabbed my hand and started to pull me out of the restaurant.
“Shouldn’t we wait for the police or something?” I tripped after him, glancing over my shoulder.
He ignored me and pulled me outside, leading me to the truck.