Page 56 of Impossible Thrills

“.308 full metal jacket rounds,” Johnny called out. “We had them hidden in the other room. Now, I suggest you bring me my wife. Unless you want her death on your hands too.”

Nick looked down at Darcy as she was pinned underneath him. “I love you,” he said softly.

Darcy’s eyes widened. She’d told him she loved him twice, but he’d never said the words. His deep-brown eyes told a story of their own. He did love her, and he was about to do something reckless and dangerous.

Nick eased his weight off of her, his fingers tightening on his gun.

“Please, Nick,” she begged.

“You’ll be safe,” he said, smiling at her. “Stay flat.” He eased his gun around the table and started shooting.

The return fire terrified her. She prayed and clapped her hands over her head and could swear the world was ending. The entire room shuddered.

Nick was lying down next to the edge of the table. Was he hit? She screamed in horror.

The rumble of tires thrummed from somewhere deep in the basement. It was almost as loud as the bullets, and then everything exploded. Plaster and dust shot through the air and then rained down on them. The house seemed to shudder from the impact. She prayed it wouldn’t collapse and hurt her little ones.

“Nick?” she called out.

He scrambled over to her. He looked unharmed. Oh, thank heavens.

“Are you all right?” she begged, clinging to his arm. “What just happened?”

“I’m fine. Paul is what just happened.” He grinned at her. It was his confident, alluring grin, but she was too upset, terrified, and confused to know how to respond. “Don’t move for a moment.”

“Nick?” a man’s voice called.

“Paul. Clear?”

“Yes, sir.”

Nick stood, hefting that huge gun and looking like a military hero. He’d rescued her and was her hero, but there were too many questions surfacing in her mind. He’d been after Johnny? Was that why he’d come here with her? The entire thing had been a setup to capture or kill Johnny?

Johnny was a criminal. That made sense. She’d wondered if his businesses were illegal or at least unethical, but never had any proof. But he was worse than unethical—drugs and murder?

She was so confused. Her head hurt.

“Did you see two more men?” Nick asked.

“Took them out on my drive back through the tunnel.”

“What was on the other end?”

“Loads of drugs, a rundown house on the American side of the border, and two now incapacitated and tied up criminals.”

“Nice work.” Nick bent down and offered his hand to her. “It’s safe, Darcy. Let’s get you out of here. My boss will be here shortly with the authorities to do cleanup.”

She took his hand and let him help her up. He quickly tucked her head into his neck and whispered, “You don’t want to see this. Trattori used his men’s bodies as shields. He’s under a pile. I’ve got you.”

Darcy wanted him to ‘have her,’ but did she really? Had her hero lied to her and manipulated her? She didn’t want to believe it, yet how could she not? Had he known who she was the entire time they’d known each other?

“Princess,” a voice croaked. “I’ll kill him.”

Nick whipped Darcy behind him to shield her. She heard a crack and a squeal. She peeked out to see Paul, she assumed, with his foot grinding Johnny’s hand into the concrete, and then kicking a gun away.

“Don’t try anything else,” Paul warned.

Johnny moaned. “You’ll never escape me.”

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