He bounded after her, reaching for her. He had to get her to stop. Needed her to look into his eyes so she couldseethat he didn’t mean it. He couldn’t have her carry this for another four days and marry him with that between them. Catching up to her, he grabbed her hand and pulled her back to him. She twisted, eyes aflame. Her face was red and swollen, etched withhurt.
And then something prickled at his awareness. They were being watched.
No.
Targeted.
Behind Cassandra stood the man with the familiar face from minutes ago. Sneering at them with hatred. A pistol in his hand pointed straight at Cassandra’s back. Without a thought, Seth dove over her.
“Get down!”
“What are you—”
BANG!
A cacophony of voices screamed. Dozens of feet ran around them. Through the chaos, Seth sheltered Cassandra beneath his body and shielded her head with his arms.
“Stay down!” he yelled as she tried to move him off of her. Holding himself on his elbows, he searched Cassandra’s face. Droplets of blood joined the bruise on her cheek. Her eyes met his, hollow and in shock. She labored for breath under him.
“Are you hurt?” he slurred. On his side, a pain throbbed.
“Seth.” Fear racked Cassandra’s voice. “You’rebleeding.”
And then,agony.
Iron flooded his mouth and his nose, andpain.Sudden andhotand wretchedlightning stabsradiated through his chest, his shoulders, his lungs. He couldn’tbreathe.A numbness covered him. His vision blurred. Sounds muffled, as if he were underwater. Hot and cold. His heart beat a percussive storm in his chest.
Eyes wide, Cassandra pushed at him, but he couldn’t move. His eyes focused on her bonnet on the ground, changing color from pink… to red… to…
“Seth!”
He tried to say her name, but his lips felt strange.
Why was it so dark?
“No, no, no! No! Stay with me!Please!”
An angel of mercy ran her hands over him, her white gloves saturated with crimson. Hair wild.Crying. Her mouth moved and the last thing Seth heard before the darkness took him was Cassandra.
Screaming.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Seth’s eyes blinked open to blinding light. Lying on an unyielding surface.Cold.He couldn’t feel his toes or his fingertips. Frigid air hit his bare chest. When had he lost his shirt? Ears ringing, the world spun around him with shouted commands.
“—round is still inside—needs to be—”
“—can’t die! Please—!”
Cassandra’s voice broke through the inaudible clamor. Shadows danced above his unfocused eyes—black, white, and red.
“Cass—” His voice slurred. Wrong. He wanted to reach for her, but he couldn’tmove. He needed to tell her… something important…
“Matthew, please!”
“Damn it, Davis! Get her out of here!”
Cooper.
