The Nerd Who Stole The Quarterback (Astra and Zayne) novel Chapter 177

The Nerd Who Stole The Quarterback

I reached the doorway and rushed through it.

Then everything stopped.

Silás had the gun.

Landon was on the floor, blood soaking through the hand pressed to his side.

And Astra…

Fuck.

The gun was against her temple.

“No.”

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Silas turned his head toward me. Blood streaked one side of his face. Tears had left tracks through it, but there was / something disturbingly calm about the way he looked at me.

Then he smiled.

“Well.”

His finger settled on the trigger.

“Another Ashton.”

Landon’s head snapped toward me and the fear on his face was immediate.

“Zane.”

I hardly heard him.

All I could see was the black mouth of the barrel pressed into the soft skin at Astra’s temple.

“Take it off her.”

Silas’s brows lifted in mild surprise.

I took one step forward.

“Zane.” Landon’s voice sharpened. “Don’t.”

“You shouldn’t be here,” Silas said, voice strangely polite again. “This was supposed to stay between your father and me.”

My gaze dropped to Astra. She gave the smallest shake of her head, so slight it was almost nothing.

Her lips formed a single word. “Please.”

I looked back at Silas.

“Take the gun off her.”

“And why would I do that?”

“Because I’m asking nicely.”

Silas stared at me for a beat, then another soft laugh slipped out. “You broke into my house, assaulted whoever was supposed

to keep you outside, and now you think you’re in a position to make requests?”

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The Nerd Who Stole The Quarterback

“Zane.” Landon again.

There was real warning in it now.

He knew that look on my face.

Silas didn’t.

I took another step.

The gun pressed harder against Astra’s temple, forcing her head slightly to the side.

A frightened whimper slipped out before she could hold it back.

“One more step,” Silas said, almost gently, “and I pull the trigger.”

I stopped instantly.

S vourhers

“Good,” Silas murmured. He smiled the way people do when they think they’ve finally figured something out. Like the gun in his hand made him the most dangerous person in the room.

Let him believe that.

“You’re the one who solved my first riddle, aren’t you?”

I said nothing.

“I wondered about you.”

“Congratulations.”