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Even now after everything we’ve done together, he’s still avoiding me. I could understand him having to do a perimeter check, but did he really have to go to the gym? He’s always freaking volunteering to do the check outside. He couldn't for once get someone else to do it? Gah. I sound so freaking clingy.
I return to the bedroom and grab my bag. I run my fingers along the lining, pulling it back to grab the fake passport and ID I had made along with the prepaid cards and cash. I shove everything into my pocket, wishing I still had a phone. I grab my boots and pull them on. It will be the best thing for everyone if I got out of here. It will keep them all safe. It will also keep my heart that way.
I slip out of the bedroom and keep my head down as I walk to the garage. I luckily don’t run into anyone. Once inside with all the vehicles, I spot the keys hanging in the ignition of the snowmobile.
“Bingo.” I dart over toward it, making sure I know where everything is on it before I open the garage door. I grab a helmet and my coat off the rack, and then I hit the garage door opener. Once I hear the door begin to open, I head back to the snowmobile. I put the helmet and my coat on quickly and reach down to turn the key, but I don’t make it.
I let out a scream as my body is lifted off the snowmobile, and the helmet is pulled from my head and tossed away. I drop my head back only to meet Tiernan’s eyes. It’s on the tip of my tongue to sarcastically ask how the gym was, but the look in his eyes has me holding back.
If I thought I’d pissed him off before, then I was fooling myself. Because the look he’s giving me now tells me I hadn’t. I swallow. “Sorry?” I try.
“You’re sorry?” He closes his eyes, shaking his head.
“I’m just leaving. It's time to hit the road, you know,” I try to say casually. “No big deal. Thanks for keeping me safe and all that other stuff. Especially the other stuff.” I try to wiggle out of his hold. He keeps glaring at me. “I wasn't going to steal it. I was just borrowing the snowmobile. I swear.”
“You’re just pissing me off more, Daphne.” Ouch. Why did it sting when he called me by my real name?
“Pissingyouoff? You’re pissingmeoff.” I point in his face. “You had your fun with me. It’s time for me to go now.” I keep my words firm. “Think of all the free time you’ll have for the gym and all the security checks you’ll be able to do without having to knock me out first.” I shouldn't have said the last part, but clearly I’m salty.
“Red!” he shouts. I gasp when Tiernan moves. One second we’re standing there and the next I’m on the floor of the garage with Tiernan over me.
“What are you...” I stop talking when I see that he is now holding a gun in his hand. He raises it and fires. I turn my head to see a man in all white drop to his knees just outside the garage. His eyes open wide. Blood drips from the hole in his forehead before he falls forward into the snow.
Tiernan hauls me to my feet and hurries me back to the inner door. He shoves me inside. I grab him, wanting him to come with me.
“Closet,” he orders. “Light on this time.” He grabs me and gives me a hard kiss.
“No,” I say when he pushes me back. “Don’t go out there! They want me.”
“Too fucking bad for them, because you’re already mine.” He slams the door shut. I try and go for the handle, but it won’t open. I hear the sound of more gunfire.
“Panic room.” Bells grabs my arm and starts pulling me along with her. “Clover!” she shouts. Clover comes running out.
“What are we doing?”
“What we were told to do.” When we round the corner that leads to Aurora's room, I stop when I see the wall is open. “In.” Bells pushes me inside. Aurora is already in there. Clover hops in. Bells lets out a low whistle. Leonard slides into the room seconds before the door slams shut.
I look at all the girls in the small panic room. Aurora doesn't look the least bit scared. The only thing that I pray is that I didn't just ruin one of their happily ever afters.
12
TIERNAN
We may as well rename the lodge to “Murder Party Central” at this point. I toe the dead assassin. He still has a surprised look on his dumb face. Good. That means the people coming for us have no idea who they’re fucking with. Advantage, us.
“More? What the fuck is all this about?” Charles rushes into the garage with Barrow and Diego on his heels.
“Daphne.” I point to the remains of the drone. “I traced the tech. Purchased from an illegal arms dealer based in Ukraine, then upgraded by a specialty black ops unit in LA.”
“They left a signature?”
“As good as.” I close the garage and wait for the other shoe to drop. Where there’s one, there’s more. “I hacked back as far as I could, worked on it all night and this morning. Looks like two of the men named in Daphne’s article paid for the drone, and I would bet the same assholes are the ones sending mercenaries.”
“How many?” Diego strides to the weapons locker and starts looking over an array of sniper rifles.
“I don’t know yet. But suffice it to say, these guys have plenty of cash, and they want my girl dead.” I grit my teeth at the thought, at the fucking audacity of these shitheads. No one hurts my Daphne. No-fucking-one.
“Plan?” Charles asks. “I mean, other than kill them all?”
