Smith's POV

The second his finger twitched, I moved.

I wasn’t thinking. I didn’t have the luxury to think. There was no logic, no plan, just raw instinct. My body surged forward before my brain could even register the danger. I lunged at Jeremy, both arms extended, grabbing for the barrel of the gun just as the shot rang out.

The sound was deafening...sharp and violent. It tore through the air like an explosion, echoing off the walls and rattling in my skull. It was like a bomb had gone off in a confined space. My ears rang instantly, a high-pitched whine setting in as the immediate aftermath of the...