Twin Cupids at Work Daddy Come Home novel Chapter 641

Bang.

The second he pulled the trigger, two more shots echoed from somewhere out in the dark, so close together it sounded like one burst.

Both bullets hit Carter in the shoulder. Just a moment ago, he was snarling like a wild animal. Now his eyes went wide with shock and pain before he crashed to the ground.

Madeline’s world was nothing but blackness. She couldn’t see what was happening, only heard someone collapse right beside her.

Those unexpected gunshots scattered Carter’s men into chaos. They spun around, desperate and confused, but then a rush of people surged in, closing in from all sides, trapping them tight.

Julian spotted her right away, kneeling in the dirt. His chest squeezed painfully. Just looking at her, he could feel how close this had come, how much she'd narrowly escaped.

“Madeline?”

She recognized his voice and lifted her head.

Casey was nearest. He dropped down beside her, steadying her with a firm hand.

“Julian...”

Casey paused, taking in her dirty, tear-streaked face and her clothes, ripped and snagged by branches. He shrugged off his own coat, voice sharp as ice. “Madeline, you lost your mind over him or are you just—”

He cut off, staring hard at her. His expression went dark, his tone dropping to a haunted whisper. “Your eyes. Madeline, your eyes?”

He looked right at her, searching for something in those eyes, but they didn’t move. Empty. Staring past him.

He reached a trembling hand to her face. She didn’t even blink.

“Madeline?”

“Casey?” Her voice was so small, barely more than a breath.

Now Casey’s brow knit tight, a dangerous anger radiating from him. “You can’t see.” It wasn’t a question. It was the terrible truth.

Madeline’s heart twisted. She blinked, trying to pretend it didn’t matter. “This isn’t important right now. Luke’s hurt. He needs help. Please, help Luke. He comes first.”

Casey actually shook with fury, his voice rough. “Unbelievable. Even now, you’re still worried about someone else? You seriously deserve to leave your bones here.”

“Yours? Who the hell do you think you are? If you hadn’t dragged her back to the city, none of this would’ve happened! She wouldn’t be hurt. Helene, Claire—every disaster’s got your name on it. You some kind of bad luck charm? You still think she even belongs to you?”

Casey was livid, voice cracking as he spat the words.

Julian yanked Madeline out of his hold, cold rage etched in his face. “This is between me and her. You’re just an outsider. Mind your own damn business.”

Casey looked ready to hit him, but Ray cut in with a low laugh, shaking his head. “You two want to fight it out, fine, but let me take her for treatment first.”

Julian shot him a murderous glare. “Stay out of it.”

Ray just shrugged, leaving Julian to carry Madeline away.

Casey looked like he’d punch a hole through Julian. Cody hung back, uneasy, watching Casey storm after him.

“Boss, where are you going?” Cody called after.

“I'm going to make Claire wish she'd never been born.”