Page 30 of Claimed By my Fake Husband

Luigi.A hell of a name to grow up mocking, thanks to Mario Brothers. He's losing focus on Tess, distracted enough by the call that his gun hand is loosening.

If I can knock the weapon away, I can take him myself. But how?

I scan the room without moving my head much. Cilento's still barking demands, and the FBI is keeping him talking, just like they should.

Not much down here to use as a weapon. There's a rake clear across the room. Too far.

Come on, Logan. Think.

Behind me—I can only glance for a second—there's a box of spare floor tiles. Marble, heavy.

If I can grab one, I can throw it. And I've got good aim.

"I'm not sticking around for you assholes. My people know how to reach me if you get squirrely. So order me a jet."

Of course he wants out of the country. Makes sense.

I catch Tess's eye and mouth,Stand in front of him.

Her brows shoot up, confusion all over her face.

"Just do it," I whisper.

She hesitates, then starts shifting her weight like she's uncomfortable, slowly working her way in front of Cilento.

The second she's clear, I move. I slide across the floor to the tile box, grab one, and roll so she's out of my line of fire.

I'm lining up the throw when Cilento catches on and swings the gun toward me.

Boom!

The shot cracks out just as I let the tile fly. For one endless second, everything stops.

Then sound rushes back. Cilento crumples, a gash torn open across his skull where the tile connected. Tess is on the ground, facing away from me.

I'm at her side in an instant, turning her gently. "Tess!"

She blinks, looks down at herself, then up at me. "I'm—I'm okay. You're—are you hit?"

I wait for pain. There isn't any. "No. I think?—"

"You son of a bitch!" Cilento's head snaps toward me, blood pouring down his face. Somehow he's still got the gun, and it's swinging toward us.

I shove Tess out of the line of fire and lunge at him, grabbing his wrist and wrenching his arm up. Another shot fires—into the ceiling, thank god.

"You're both dead!"

We grapple for the gun. He's stronger than I expected, and we jerk back and forth as I fight to keep the barrel pointed up.

Two more shots. My ears ring in the small, echoing space. Tess screams. I twist us both further from her, keeping my body between them.

Cilento drives a fist into my gut with his free hand. I cough but don't let go.

I use my weight to force him under me, then drive my knee into his crotch.

"Argh!"

The gun drops. I snatch it up, back away, and level it at him.