Page 95 of The Forbidden Bodyguard

“Stella!” I cry, sliding to the floor and pulling her into my arms.

Tony Marino lies dead on the ground near us.

One shot. Bullseye. My bullet arrived on the count of one, not after, and it was all the time I needed.

“Right between the eyes,” Grayson says, kicking him so he can get a clear look at the hole.

Shouldn’t have touched my girl.

“Sweetheart, talk to me.” I leave the team to deal with everything else and focus purely on Stella.

She’s shaking, but she’s alive.

The door is yanked open, and the police start calling out all the things, while Ryder introduces himself using his rank and position as General Manager of Private Security at Black Hawke Security.

Then I hear Josh’s voice.

Stella grips my arm. “Am I dead?”

“Not today, sweetheart. Not for a long time if I have anything to do with it.” I smile into her big, glossy eyes.

She starts sobbing and wraps her arms around me. I pick her up and lift her into my arms, holding her tight against my chest. All I want to do is get her home and away from here.

“Hold up, soldier. We need to question both of you.”

“SEAL,” I correct the cop, and he nods, mostly uninterested. “Can you please get a blanket for her?”

Stella is trembling, and I’m not wearing a jacket.

I move to sit on the sofa, and Grayson comes to stand a foot or two away, guarding us from everyone, but giving us his back respectfully.

“Hang in there. I’ll get you home soon, okay.”

“My dad.” She shudders, her tears breaking my heart. I don’t know what to tell her. I’m not even sure what she’s asking. “I did it for him.”

I close my eyes and nod. “I know.”

“I’m sorry Declan, so sorry.”

Christ.

“Don’t be sorry. I can’t say I wouldn’t do the same thing.” It’s a lie, I’d kill whoever tried to threaten my family, but it’s what she needs to hear.

Stella isn’t a trained killer like I am.

She should never have been put in this position, and I hope there are consequences for it. I don’t understand the legal position enough to understand if Voss will be punished, but I’ll do all I can to advocate that he is.

“You shot Tony. Oh, God!” Stella tries to pull out of my arms. “Declan, no! Will you go to jail?”

“No.” I brush my hand over her hair, hating this fucking wedding dress on her. “Don’t worry about that. Did he touch you?”

Her lips press hard together.

I’ve had enough body language training to know what that means. She doesn’t want to tell me. I curse, shaking my head.

“Fuck.”

“Declan,” Stella grabs my face, her voice a sob. “Please don’t do that. Please don’t be revolted by me now.”