Always For Keeps ( For Keeps part 2)

Forty Nine. Scarlett

The gunshot echoes in the apartment, but Carter and Mandy are okay. I push them towards the bedroom, but stumble as pain sears through my leg.
"The door is open. Press the big red button and call Brady."
"I can't leave you." She says and tears fill her eyes.
Another gunshot rings out. It's a miss, luckily, and  I propel myself forward and push Mandy into the bedroom.
Starla is right behind me so I push the door closed and she presses the red button.
They're safe.
"Always having to save the day." Starla spits blood.
"They aren't a part of this." I say and stand up straight.
The front door opens and I push her. She grabs me and pushes me towards the door. The barrel of the gun is pressed to my temple as she walks me out.

They come into view and I want to run to them. Luke's green eyes fill with tears and Cooper's face pales.
"You're hurt." Cooper breathes.
"She was going to kill Mandy. And Carter." I sob.
Brady's fists clench.
"Don't be so dramatic." Starla says. "I wouldn't hurt the kid. I felt bad enough paying that drunk to try and kill Scarlett and having him kill Cooper's son." She says the words and I swear you could hear a pin drop. Anger rips through me as I elbow her in the face. She stumbles back but trains the gun on Cooper. The shot rings out and his leg gives out. Luke instantly grabs him to stabilize him.
"Look now you'll have matching scars." She laughs maniacally. "Well kind of. One of you will be rotting in be ground."
My heart sinks.
"Everyone out. Except Cooper and Scarlett." She says but nobody moves.
It flashes before me quickly. Her killing Luke and Cooper and me sitting on a rocker all alone, while my son with grey eyes plays with Carter; both fatherless.
"Go." I whisper. "Please." I look up to Luke who shakes his head. I point to the tattoo on my wrist and it leaves a smudge of blood. His eyes plead with mine, but I look to his left.
"Mandy is safe. Brady, please." I look into his brown eyes and see a tear spill over the edge as he nods.
He grabs Luke and pulls him, unwillingly out the front door. Everyone else files out. Loki's eyes catch mine. He taps his head.
"Loki is good at diversions." I think to myself.
I walk out onto the balcony, stumble really. Starla pulls Cooper along and they stand in front of me.
"I'm not going to kill you and the baby, I've decided." She smiles. "I'm going to kill Cooper so you have to live with it the rest of your life." She paces around. "Do you know the effort I put into trying to tear you apart? For years I drugged Cooper! Smiling at every bruise on you that my cocktail made him do."
"You drugged me?" He asks.
"Oh come on! You hated when your dad beat your mom. It was your biggest fear! That's why I knew it would work." She shrugs.
"I could have killed her!" He sobs.
"Well unfortunately you didn't. Neither did the car wreck. When she finally left I was so happy. Then Natasha got in the way!" She hits him with the gun and I gasp. "It was supposed to be us." She yells.
"You were my friend. We didn't even like each other." He shakes his head as blood trickles down his chin.
"I've loved you since we were kids! You never once wanted me! Or so I thought. There was one night your eyes filled with lust when I told you to fuck me. The night she came along and ruined it." She cocks the gun and Cooper whispers I love you. I tap my wrist as my mind catches up with Loki pointing to his head. 
I can be just as crazy.
"Could you maybe go for the chest." I say. "It's hard to play the saddened widow at a closed casket."
She spins towards me. "What?"
"Can I sit?" I ask and sit down anyway. "I've been trying to think of a way to off him and take his company for so long. You're really doing me a solid, Star." I smile.
"You're lying. You're trying to trick me!" She screams.
"Look, when this baby comes out Luke's, Cooper is going to be pissed. Luke and I have this planned. And you know better than anyone that Cooper can't resist me." I smile wickedly and she moves the gun off him; on me.
"I told you she was no good!" She yells at him. "Well good luck with your plan when you're worm food!" She screams and I point to my wrist for Cooper. I close my eyes tightly right before she pulls the trigger.