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“I stashed Clover. She’s safe.” Charles checks his magazines.
“Bells, Aurora, go back to my room and lock yourselves in.” I take a pistol and two knives, then help Bells to her feet. “No matter what you hear, you stay in there, all right?”
She nods, fear in her eyes, but also trust. “Will you be okay?”
“Don’t worry about us. We’re going hunting.” I smirk and kiss her, then hurry down the hall as Diego does the same with Aurora.
“What is it now? Someone trying to kill me again?” Aurora sounds almost bored, as if this is all old news to her. She’s already used to the way of things around here.
Bells, well, she’s always been tough as hell. “Maybe one of your last assassins got lost and he’s finally caught up.”
“That’s embarrassing.” Aurora almost giggles. She has so much faith in Diego that she isn’t the least bit scared.
I give Bells one hard kiss before urging her into our room. “It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt.” I smack Bells’ ass, and she squeals. “And I can guarantee you someone is about to get hurt. No one comes for us. No one puts you in danger. You’re mine, Bells. Forever. I promise you.”
“I believe you.” She steals one quick kiss before ducking into my room.
Diego grabs Aurora and mauls her with a kiss of his own. “You’ll be safe in here.” He guides her inside with Bells, then slams the door. “Lock it, songbird.”
I hear the lock click, and then we return to the main living area. Charles is armed to the teeth, and Tiernan has already stalked out the door and into the snow, Leonard on his heels.
“Things sure have gotten interesting around here.” I scan the treeline as Diego and I head out.
“In a good way.” He grins, his bloodlust already high.
I point through the trees. “Muzzle flare was up that way, but he was making a circuit around to the right.”
“I’ll flank him.” Diego takes off, stealthy as fuck despite how huge he is.
I head straight for the shooter’s nest. He’s not there anymore. I can feel his absence, but if I can find where he was, I can track him, then take him out.
When I get there, Tiernan’s already on it. “Something weird about it.” He kneels and looks at the discarded shell casings. “This guy’s not a—”
“Professional,” we say at the same time. No trained assassin leaves this much evidence behind.
“I’ll keep circling.” He stands and takes off through the trees.
Something itches on the inside of my skull. If this guy isn’t a professional, he’s not going to be smart enough to form a plan of attack. He just got lucky with those shots through the door. In fact, they were high as fuck. He’s a bad shot. Amateur. But that makes him more dangerous. Unpredictable. Stupid.
“Fuck.” I follow his tracks until they meld with Tiernan’s usual perimeter check.
I turn back, certain Tiernan is on the same trail. When I reach the patio area, I find the glass door still shut tight, and I have to use the code to unlock it. That itch grows, and I hurry down the hall.
“Bells?” I call.
She doesn’t answer.
My panic rises.
I start running, and when I get to my door, it’s still locked.
“Bells!” I yell.
A small sound from inside is all I hear. I try the door. Locked. And then I stand back, lower my shoulder, and break it down.
Bells is inside. She’s looking at me with wide eyes as some asshole has his arm around her throat.
“Please, let her go.” Aurora stands by the closet, both of her hands out.
