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“We have to get a lot of things straight, Madeline.”
“Oh really?” She tried to infuse some sass into her tone, but it was sadly lacking. He’d come for her. She had no idea how to resolve all of their concerns, but Nolan was here and he was holding her and the rest could wait.
“Get this straight,” she said.
Then she arched up and kissed him.
Nolan kissed her back, the love and yearning he felt for her lighting her up and infusing her with energy, purpose, and love.
He carried her into the house and kicked the door shut with his foot. It felt like she was a new bride being carried over the threshold. She wanted that with this strong man, but there were a lot of things to get straight.
Nolan lowered her to her feet and pulled back, catching a breath. “Maybe things are more straight than I think they are.” He gave her a crooked grin that she absolutely loved.
She pulled his head down and whispered against his lips, “I’ll straighten you out. After we kiss for a good, long time.”
“I love that plan.” His mouth came down hard on hers, the perfect mixture of coaxing, determination, strength, and humility. He’d do anything for her. She could taste it in his kiss.
The door next to them swung open so hard it knocked over a vase on the nearby entry table. Two large men stood on the porch, pointing handguns at them.
Nolan yanked Madeline behind him.
“Get inside,” a female voice said from behind the men. “Clock is ticking.”
Madeline’s stomach turned over at the sound of that voice.
“Naomi?” Nolan stepped cautiously backward, easing Madeline away from the men and Naomi.
The men both pointed their pistols at Nolan’s head, and Naomi stepped in from the porch. Madeline’s heart raced out of control. There was no way those men wouldn’t kill Nolan instantly with both of their pistols pointed at his head and at short range.
“Greetings, King Nolan.” Naomi smiled wickedly, then checked over her shoulder. “We’ve only got a minute. You left your men in the dust, but they’ll catch up. You’ll be dead and we’ll be gone before they can interfere. Then I’ll pick off all your children one by one. You took everything from me. You need to know before you die that I will return the favor.”
Two vehicles raced into the neighborhood, both moving much too quickly to be one of her neighbors. Naomi turned to look and cursed. Her men’s gazes swung out the open door as well.
“Get down,” Madeline begged Nolan, pulling on his shoulder.
He ducked and pushed her back out of the way. Car doors opened and slammed.
Madeline aimed the pepper spray she’d worked out of her pocket over Nolan’s shoulder and pressed the button.
“Get inside,” Naomi barked at her men, shoving them from behind. The men coughed and sputtered as the spray hit them.
Naomi ducked away from the stream, hiding behind the two large men.
Madeline closed her eyes and held her breath, holding the button down. She had to distract these people from hurting Nolan.
Nolan wrapped his arms around her and dropped to the floor, covering her with his body. The pepper spray flew from her hand. Nolan coughed and wheezed, and Madeline’s eyes watered as the mist from the spray enveloped them.
Shots rang out, and she screamed. Nolan flattened on top of her as several loud thuds echoed around them.
Was Nolan hit? No! He’d come for her, and now he’d been killed because of her. She’d done exactly what that monster demanded this morning and gotten him alone, away from his protection. What had she done? She couldn’t live without him. If she’d had any reservations about loving him and his family with all of her heart, they disappeared in the reality that she may have just lost him.
Footsteps pounded up the sidewalk.
“Nolan!” Madeline screamed. She blinked open watery eyes and tried to determine if he’d been killed.
He rolled off her with a groan and a cough.
Her heart skipped a beat. He was alive!
