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CHAPTER 8
Maddox
What the fuck?
Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!
The gunfire was rapid and while the sound wasn’t close to the greenhouse, I immediately pulled Zoe further into the shadows, covering her with my body. Fuck me. While I’d been losing my mind, engaging in carnal activities with the one woman that wasn’t allowed in my life, the entire world of the Thibodeaux family had just been thrust into chaos. From what I could tell, there had to be at least four gunmen, but my guess was that there were more. Shit. My thoughts drifted to the little prick who’d attacked Zoe.
If I had to guess, I’d say the Italian and his buddy had been used as decoys.
Or perhaps worse.
There was no chance Arman had invited the little pricks.
I shoved my cock into my trousers, disgusted with myself for losing control.
“Stay calm and stay down,” I instructed in a hushed whisper.
“Oh, my God,” Zoe moaned. I pressed my finger against her lips, sensing movement outside. She understood what I was trying to tell her, nodding once. “Who would do this?”
The answer wasn’t one I was ready to think about just yet. Whatever Arman had found himself in the middle of likely had something to do with the surprise attack. The question was why? “Just stay right there.” Scrambling to my feet, I kept low to the ground, scanning the glass for any sign of activity.
Seeing none, I moved toward the door, glancing through the frosted panes. When I noticed no movement of any kind, I headed back to her, dropping down and raking my hand through my hair. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, her body still shaking. She’d sat up, doing her best to reach for her dress while covering her breasts. Her eyes highlighted terror, which added to the rage that continued to build.
My gut had told me that Dante and his sick buddy had been nothing more than sentries, but I’d yet to be able to ask Arman if they’d been invited to the party. It wasn’t like invitations were being checked at the door, which was something I’d advised.
Arman had refused, as if the sentiment was repulsive. Maybe he’d learned to listen to me after this.
“What’s happening, Maddox?” Zoe asked, shivering underneath me, her fingertips digging into my forearms. “Who’s shooting?”
“I don’t fucking know, but you need to listen to me, sweetheart. Get dressed. Stay out of the light and whatever the fuck you do, you will not leave this safe zone. Do you hear what I’m saying?” I’d never felt so out of control in my life. It wasn’t a good place to be, my absence one reason the assassins had managed to get past our security. Rage rolled through me, the kind that would lead to bloodshed and violence. I needed to rein in my emotions, or I’d lose all sense of control.
She was staring toward the glass, her lower lip quivering. When she said nothing, I was forced to grip her chin, tugging her face toward me.
“Listen. To. Me. I need to hear you say you’ll stay right here.” The girl had always had an issue following rules, but this time it could get her killed.
“What? My family. Everyone is inside. My little brother. You need to make certain they’re safe. You have to, Maddox. Please.” She clung to me, almost becoming hysterical. While she and other members of the family had been taught how to handle a crisis of this nature, it was entirely different when facing it for real. “Please. Please!”
“Calm down, little lamb. Iamgoing to fix this. I promise.” I backed away, grabbing her dress and tossing it in her direction. “But you will fucking follow my rules, Zoe. Do you hear me? Right now, I’m your only lifeline.”
The best she could do was nod, her eyes darting back and forth. I sensed there were things we both wanted to say but now wasn’t the time or place.
I rose to my feet, yanking my shirt from the floor and struggling to get into it. Shit. Where the hell had my weapon gone?
She nodded, still shaking as she crawled to her knees, fighting the material as she slipped it over her head. “Please be safe, Maddox. I can’t lose you.”
“Go to the back of the greenhouse and stay. No matter what you hear, remain in hiding. Okay? I promise I’ll come back for you.” Lose me. Her words cut into me like a rusty knife.
“Okay. Please don’t forget your promise. My family is important.”
“Remember your training. It might keep you alive.”
“I remember. You taught me what to do.” She tried to act resilient, but I could smell her fear. Hell, I didn’t blame her.
For all the bravado the beautiful girl always tried to show, the attitude that I’d known had been a cover for missing her mother and growing up with guarded friends terrified of her father, she seemed exactly like the little lamb I’d called her.
