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He smirked at me. “I’m sure William will get over it. Especially with all the money we’re paying him.”
He motioned to the guy standing behind me. I didn’t see the blow coming, the hit to the head making me sway and stumble away from Thea who was crying out, reaching for me. Someone else restrained her and she fought against the hold.
My vision was blurry and I didn’t see the next punch coming, hitting my stomach. I evaded the hit aimed for my face and reached for the gun still in my holster. But my sluggish movements were easy to predict, and the guy who’d punched me removed the gun before I had a chance to touch it.
I was surrounded by four guys, my view of Thea blocked. I knew I had no chance to get out. Usually I would have tried to take out as many guys as I could before they shot me. But with Thea so close I didn’t want to risk it.
She had a chance if they focused on me. I always knew I’d have a short life expectancy, but I’d hoped for more for Thea. She deserved better than to be killed in a smelly back alley.
My gaze found Thea’s tear strained one. I wanted her to be the last thing I looked at before I’d die. But when the guy standing closest to Thea lifted his weapon and pointed it at her, my blood went cold and my muscles tensed.
I didn’t feel the pain anymore. The only thing on my mind was to eliminate the threat to Thea. Before the guy could do anything, his head exploded, leaving chunks of brain matter and bone behind. His body slumped, the gun clattering onto the ground.
Thea screamed, and I threw myself at her, taking her down to the pavement. Good thing she was small, because my body covered hers completely. Footsteps sounded behind us, and I spotted Kelvin running our way, blood covering most of his face.
I lifted my head and was met with motionless bodies. But the body I wanted to see on the ground wasn’t there. Their leader was absent from the carnage.
Gently untangling myself from Thea, I got up, pulling her with me. She was shaking so hard her teeth clacked together.
“His h-head,” she stuttered. “G-Gone.” More clattering of her teeth. “Blood.”
The rest of our men were behind Kelvin. I’d never worked with any of them before this assignment, but Gunner only hired the best. I should have known there would be a skilled sharpshooter on the team.
Nodding at the guys, I moved Thea so she was facing away from the blood and chaos.
Kelvin came up to us, his gaze landing on Thea, who had moved her face into my chest, not making a sound. “Let’s get her home. Police are on their way, and I have the men scouting the area.”
Grunting my assent, I pointed to the end of the alley. “If we’re lucky, the cameras I spotted at the entrance of the alley are working.”
Kelvin was on the phone before I’d even stopped talking. “Carter, I need you to check some cameras for me. It’s a priority. Thea was just attacked.” He relayed our location and waited.
Lowering the phone, he put it on speaker. “Okay, they can hear you. Go ahead.”
“It’ll take me a few hours to get the footage,” Carter said. “And another couple to run it through an identification program. Gunner wants a report by tomorrow.”
I tightened my arms around Thea, who was still shaking so hard she could barely stand up. “Tell him I’ll get it to him first thing in the morning.”
“Roger that.”
He hung up, and I led Thea back to the car, Kelvin close behind. When we made it there, I let out the breath I’d been holding in. Today could have ended a lot differently.
When I opened the door for Thea, she didn’t release me but instead took my hand and sat down. I crouched beside her, watching as she sat in the passenger seat, her shoulders hunched, her grip on my hand tight.
I pulled out the seat belt with my free hand and buckled her in, brushing her belly and side. My heart thundered in my chest at the contact. Despite this being the absolute wrong time, I couldn’t help my reaction.
Pulling back, I stood up again. “You’re going to have to let me go, beautiful.”
After visibly swallowing, she nodded, then released my hand. I clapped Kelvin on the back who’d be staying behind to help with clean-up before getting in the car.
As soon as I’d closed the door, Thea’s hand found mine again.
Using my left hand to turn the ignition, I put the car into Drive with our joined hands.
Thea didn’t look at me once, but she held my hand in a tight grip the entire drive back.
10
THEA
