Page 8 of Accidental Wedding

Chapter 9- Shane

April is terrified and with good reason. This isn’t her world; she’s never had preparation for anything like this. I could tell how scared she was, back in our hotel room but she listened to me with surprising ease. I could see her calm down, those icy eyes slowly becoming clearer until she was following my instructions.

When I told her to change, I could have looked away—but I didn’t. I told myself that it was for her protection, in case the sniper got a better angle. The whole time we were on the floor, that red dot roamed the wall behind us, and I was just waiting for it to lock onto April’s forehead again. Thank God it never did.

As we walk quickly down the hallway and into the main, I capture April’s hand in mine. I notice the same thing now that I did at the bar last night: Her hands are deceptively strong, evidence of her craft. Similar to the woman herself. She was scared, but she did what she needed to despite that.

I’m finding that I have great respect for my wife of less than twenty-four hours. And maybe I’m feeling something more than respect. She’s absolutely beautiful and if we would’ve been on the floor, her mostly naked, for any reason other than hiding from an assassin, I would’ve been kissing the living daylights out of her.

As it is, I’m very aware of her presence as she stands pressed against me in the elevator. We should probably be taking the stairs, but they’re on the same side of the building as the shooter was and I don’t know if there are any windows between the floors. Besides, we’re on the twenty-eighth floor and I don’t expect April to jog down all those flights of stairs in sandals, a sundress, and literally nothing else.

Damn. I was trying really hard not to think about the fact that she isn’t wearing anything under that lightweight pink cotton.

Without warning, April drops my hand. I expect her to say something, but she doesn’t. Out of the corner of my eye, I see that she’s braiding her damp hair with shaking fingers. She ties the end off and takes my hand in hers again. Subconsciously, I rub my thumb over her wedding band. Just like mine, it’s a perfect fit.

The elevator lets us out at the lobby, and all that’s waiting for us is a mildly hung-over couple in their fifties. They nod and offer a smile as we exit the elevator and they get on. I lead April at a casual yet quick walk to the front doors and we slip out.

We make it to the sidewalk that leads to the parking lot without any issues, so I stop April in the shadow of the building to discuss what our next move is. “The parking lot is wide open. Our problem is, that sniper has had time to relocate—they’ll be expecting us to leave the hotel. We need to get out of here fast. Are you with me so far?”

April nods, cool eyes wide.

“So what I need you to do is wait right here. I’m going to go and get us a car ‘steal us a car, more like’ and come and pick you up. I’ll be as fast as I can.”

“Why can’t I just come with you?” April asks.

“Because I want you to be safe,” I say, the truth coming out faster than I can hold it in. Seeing the surprised acceptance on her face, I continue. “I’m going to have to steal a car—hotwire it. And I can’t be worried about you while I do that. So, even if that sniper does start shooting again, I need you to wait right here for me.”

April closes her eyes and slowly nods. I squeeze her hand and by the time she opens her eyes again, I’m already on my way through the parking lot, darting around parked cars. I’m distantly thankful that there aren’t many civilians around as I select a newer sedan and break the window.

I’m doubled over in the driver’s seat fiddling with the dashboard wires when the next shot goes off, shattering the back-driver’s side window. Shit, I thought I’d have a bit more time. I work as quickly as I can, twisting and stripping wires until the engine revs to life beneath me. Cramming myself all the way into the driver’s seat, I close the door and back out of the parking space, scratching the other cars nearby. I’ll feel bad about that—and stealing a car—later. Right now, I’m focused on getting April and myself to safety.

She’s waiting right where I told her to be and dives into the passenger seat as another shot goes off, this time hitting the brick wall of the hotel.

I’ve got the car moving before her door is even all the way closed. The needle doesn’t dip below forty as I race us out of the parking lot and through the Las Vegas streets. April is quiet the whole time and I’m a bit worried about her—could she be going into shock?

“April, I need you to do something for me.” I twist slightly and pull my phone from my back pocket. “My lock screen password is six eights, all in a row. Go into my contacts and pull up the person nicknamed “CO”. Can you do that for me?”

“Want me to hold the phone while you drive?” Her soft voice is a relief. She sounds normal.

“Please,” I say and listen to the dial tone in my ear before the gruff voice of my commanding officer answers. “Gilman, you’re supposed to be on vacation.”

I don’t waste time with the formalities. “Yeah, about that. Want to tell me why the hell someone is shooting at me?”

There’s silence across the line before my commander starts talking again.

The conversation that follows shakes me so much that I have to pull over. I’m glad that April’s still holding the phone to my ear because I need both hands to grip the steering wheel when he tells me what’s going on. Eventually, I thank the man and April hangs up as I sit there, shaking. Then I start talking. April deserves answers.

“A few months ago, I was overseas with my team. The vehicle we were riding in got hit. My team didn’t make it. I guess the caravan that blew up our vehicle must have seen me get out, seen the medical crew pick me up. There’s a hit out on me. My commanding officer just told me that someone in my unit had come across intelligence that they were trying to get into safe hands. It got lost when the fire started but… the people who killed my team must think I have it, that I know something.” As I talk, I can’t look at April. I just stare out the front windshield and think.

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