Crystal's POV

"Jackson-" I tried to warn him when I noticed her shift on her feet, but it didn't matter because she struck out lightning fast like a coiled snake.

The kick slammed into the side of his ribcage. The punch that followed hit his face. It was painful to watch. Jackson tried to throw a few strikes of his own, but none of them landed. Tried to dodge and block her strikes, but it didn't work.

Even though she had a knife in her hand, she didn't use it. Not yet. She was toying with him first. Like she'd been doing to me on the yacht until she saw that I was somewhat of a threat. Jackson however, appeared to be absolutely no threat.

I kept the gun in my hand at the ready, adrenaline was beginning to flood my system and I knew that if I had to fight, I could. Though I also knew I wouldn't be able to beat her, at least I could actually shoot her this time.

I was tempted to try and take the shot now, if not for the fact that she was moving too fast and I'd more than likely end up hitting Jackson instead . . . which actually wasn't that bad of a thought.

The next blow she landed was another punch right to his jaw that caused him to stagger back, blood coming from his lip. He rubbed at his jaw and spit out blood. He stood tall and looked over at her as she stood still a short distance away, still smiling.

Jackson began unbuttoning the buttons on his jacket. "Thank you," He told her.

She frowned at him now, eyes narrowed in suspicion. "For what?"

Jackson shrugged out of his jacket and tossed it to the floor. "For showing me your preferred fighting style."

He held out a hand to me. "The knife you took from her," He said to me. "If you please."

I handed him the knife, still keeping a good grip on the gun.

"Shoot her if this goes sideways," He whispered so only I could hear him.

I nodded slowly.

Jackson turned his attention back to her and he purposefully made a show of twirling the knife around in his hand as she had done before.

She narrowed her eyes at him, watching him closely.

This time, he was the one to strike first. And she wasn't expecting it.

I watched in shock as Jackson managed not only to land hits on her but also managed to dodge her attacks with ease. And when she came at him again, he caught her fist in his hand, twisted her arm around, kicked at the back of her knees, and then threw her forward onto the ground.

He backed away quickly, which was a lucky thing since she was pissed and had swung her legs around with the intent to knock his out from under him.

"I think you'll find I'm a quick study," Jackson said mockingly to her.

She swung out with the knife, just barely managing to slice into his leg. He swung out with his, managing to slice into her side.

She touched her hand to her side and when she pulled her hand away, there was blood. She glared her eyes at him and twirled the knife around in her hand again.

He copied her.

"It would appear I have underestimated you, Jackson Storm," She said as they both began to circle each other.

Jackson shrugged nonchalantly. "That's kind of the point," He replied.

Both of them went at each other again. She struck out first this time. There was the clang of metal between their blows to each other as their knives collided a few times.

I watched them closely, gun at the ready in case things went "sideways" as Jackson had called it.

Although, I realized very quickly that Jackson was going to have to be on his own because Branson came rushing around the side of the house. He noticed Sarah and Jackson fighting and began moving toward them, drawing his gun. He didn't even notice me.

I reacted on instinct. I raised the gun and began firing off shots at him.

He swore and ducked back behind the side of the house. "I'm going to enjoy killing you!" He shouted to me.

He tried to peer around to get a better look at where I was and I fired another shot, right where his head had been seconds before.

"Funny," I called out to him. "I was going to say the same to you."

I looked over my shoulder for a second at Jackson as he continued to fight with Sarah. He was beginning to lose, but there was nothing I could do to help him.

If I began firing at Sarah, Branson would round the corner and begin shooting at Jackson and me.

Of course, if Jackson lost, then Sarah would kill him and me either way.

Neither option was great.

Unfortunately, my options disappeared rather quickly.

"Crystal!" I heard Jackson shout in warning.

Not that it mattered. The knife she'd thrown sliced into my arm deep enough to cause me to swear and drop the gun.

And of course, Branson took notice of that.

He came at me, gun raised and I dove out of the way as he fired it off. I was close enough to him that I was able to bring my foot up and kick it right into his knee.

He toppled to the ground beside me and I lunged for the gun still in his hand. I grabbed hold of the gun but was unable to get it from his grasp. I didn't let go though because I if did he'd shoot me with it.

Staying alive was a pretty big motivation to hold onto the gun for dear life as we wrestled around on the ground.

He elbowed me in the side and I nearly lost my grip on the gun from the force of it. It was taking both of my hands to hold onto the gun otherwise he'd be able to pry it from my grasp.

So, since I couldn't punch him-even though I desperately wanted to-I swung my leg back and kicked him as hard as I could in the shin. Repeatedly.

Someone else came up and kicked him in the head, however, with enough force to finally get Branson to let go of the gun.

I grasped the gun in my hand and rolled away from Branson, getting to my feet as fast as I could and looking over at Noah as he stood over Branson with wide eyes.

"Get back," I told Noah as I aimed the gun at Branson.

Branson laughed at me from his place on the floor. And then held up the magazine of bullets that he'd removed.

Why did everyone know how to do that so quickly?

I looked to Noah as Branson got back to his feet and pulled a knife from a sheath on his hip. "You don't still have that cattle prod on you, do you?" I asked him.

Noah stared at Branson with fearful eyes and shook his head.

When Branson came at me, I ran toward him and ducked under his swing. I threw my elbow into his back, swept my leg out under his, and watched him fall. I then turned to Noah.

"Run," I said as I grabbed hold of Noah's arm and pulled him after me.

"What about Jackson?" Noah called after me as we ran.

"He can handle himself," I said and I hoped that was true.

I ran toward the cliffside with Noah close behind me. He was following me, I knew, but I did not want him between me and Branson. So I slowed for a second to shove him in front of me, telling him to keep running.

"Where are we going?!" He called back to me.

"Just keep going straight," I shouted back. "Trust me," I said.

We ran as fast as we could. I could hear Branson at our heels with every step we took until eventually, he overtook me.

I hit the ground hard and let out a groan as I tried to roll away from him. Something was shoved in my face and I realized a second too late that it was a gun. Before he could get a shot off, however, the gun was kicked from his grasp, and Branson was hauled to his feet by Jackson who immediately began throwing punches.

I looked over my shoulder to see Miss Sarah Smith in a crumpled heap in the distance.

Jackson and Branson fought, with each one struggling to get the upper hand on the other. I dove for the gun that had been kicked away. I picked it up and made sure it was loaded before turning to aim it at Branson.

Only, I hadn't noticed that Branson had pulled a knife and as Jackson took another swing at him, Branson caught his arm, twisted it behind his back, and pulled him in front of him. He used Jackson as a human shield as he pressed the knife to his throat.

Branson's eyes locked on mine, silently daring me to pull the trigger. He looked down at the knife he was pressing into Jackson's neck. "I don't know what you did to Sarah," Branson hissed. "But you're going to pay for that."

"Oh please," Jackson said with a shrug. "I could never beat her in a fair fight." He paused for a moment like he was thinking about it. "But then again, I don't fight fair."

Branson pressed the knife harder into Jackson's neck and took a step back and away from me, toward the cliff's edge. A cliff's edge, with rocks at the bottom.

True, when the tide was high enough, there was plenty of water. Still, I wouldn't recommend a jump off. Right now though, there would not be enough water. Not where all the rocks were, at least.

"Stop!" I shouted as Branson took yet another step closer to the edge.

Branson laughed and it was an ugly sound. "What are you going to do if I don't?" He asked me, taking yet another step back.

"Crystal," Noah said, fear in his voice as he watched Branson dragging Jackson back with him every step.

I kept the gun aimed at Branson. Tried to circle around to his left, hoping that he'd move more to his right and hopefully far enough away from the edge of the cliff for me to take my shot.

"Let him go," I ordered Branson.

"Your hands are shaking," Branson told me with a smile.

And dammit, he was right.

I tried to steady my hands, tried not to panic as he took another step to the right, but still toward the cliff's edge.

I watched every step he made. Watched where he placed his feet.

Still not right.

"Stop," I said. "Let Jackson go."

"Why?" Branson asked me. "I mean, do you really want me to let him go? What has this man really done for you?"

Great question. I didn't have an answer.

I shrugged. "Not a damn thing," I muttered before jerking my head in Noah's direction. "But the kid cares about him. So let. Him. Go."

"Drop your gun first."

"If I drop the gun, you're just going to throw him over," I said. "or slit his throat. You're not going to let him live."

Branson shrugged, not all denying it. "If you already figured that out, why bother trying to save him when you could be saving yourself?"

Just keep talking tough guy.

I locked eyes with Jackson. I noticed how he shook his head as if telling me to do just that, save myself.

I really wanted to say an empathic, trust me. Just to screw with Jackson, but then Branson might figure out what I was up to.

My grip on the gun tightened until my knuckles turned white and I let out a disbelieving laugh. "Because even though I hate him more than words can describe-"

Jackson flinched as if my words brought him more harm than the knife currently pressed into his throat.

"-I can't just let him die," I said as I looked at him. "I should. I know I should. Bastard's been nothing but horrible to me." I shrugged and let out another laugh of disbelief. "But I owe him one," I said.

Now, whether that one was a bullet, a punch, or a favor, I hadn't yet decided. But I figured I could be mad at the guy after I saved his damned life.

Jackson frowned at my words but didn't say anything.

I took a step forward.

Branson was too close to the edge of the cliff now, and if he took another step back, he'd step right off. So, he stepped to the right as I had taken a step toward his left.

Almost.

"Why do you want to know?" I asked Branson.

Keep talking.

"Going to try and convince why he's not worth saving?" I questioned.

Branson looked at me carefully. "It appears you already know he's not worth saving. So why bother?"

I just shook my head.

"Need I remind you of all he's put you through? You're only in this position because of him. Your life is in ruins because of him."

My life was going to be in ruins without his intervention, so . . .

"So, what?" I asked Branson. "I should just leave him to you?"

Branson smiled his wicked smile. "Now that's the best idea you've had so far."

"Crystal," Noah said. His voice begged me not to listen to Branson.

I ignored him and focused on Branson. "And what exactly do I get out of this?"

Branson stared at me. "I'll make sure your father never finds you."

I lowered the gun slightly in my hands.

Noah swore.

I stared at Branson. "You're offering me protection from my father? You? My father's righthand man?"

Branson shrugged. "Your father would never know it's me," He said. "and he'd never be able to find you. You could start over. Live your life as you want to. Free to be yourself wherever you were instead of living a life truly on the run."

I lowered my gun even more without realizing it. He was saying all the right things. Saying everything I wanted to hear. Everything I wanted. Lying through his teeth while he did it, but he was saying all the right things.

"I can't believe this. He's lying to you," Jackson said and Branson pressed the knife harder into Jackson's throat.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at him. "And you've never done that?" I questioned. "Never lied to me?"

"Think before you act," Jackson hissed between clenched teeth.

I looked back to Branson, took another step forward. He didn't take a step this time. So I took another one. Watched as he took a step to the side.

Still not right.

"See," I said as I raised the gun up once more. "There's one problem with that," I said as I looked at Branson. "you still get to live," I said. "and after everything you've done to me." I shook my head. "I'm not jumping at the chance to let that happen."

Branson's eyes flashed in anger. "You're really going to throw your life away for Jackson Storm?"

I shrugged. "I was already throwing my life away." I aimed the gun at him.

"If you shoot me, I'll take him down with me and we'll both die," Branson reminded me as he took another step to the side.

Finally

I looked at the gun held steadily in my hands and then back at him.

"You know what? You're right," I said as I looked at Branson. "You're right about all of it."

Branson suddenly looked alarmed. "No. Wait just a minute-"

"No," I shook my head. "You're right." I locked eyes with Jackson. "After everything he's put me through, I'm okay with it."

Jackson's eyes widened in fear and he opened his mouth to say something, but never got the chance.

I pulled the trigger, watching as they both fell.

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