Page 129 of The Twilight Theft

“Isn’t that why you spouted off all the lovey-dovey stuff in the hotel?”

His brows drew down.

“Plus, you threw yourself in front of Enzo for me.”

A tiny smile appeared on Drew’s gorgeous face. “I guess that’s all true, isn’t it?”

“The sentiment is sweet,” Rav said as he took me from Drew, “but your boyfriend is bleeding. He needs medical attention.”

“Geez Louise, Drew!” I pulled at his jacket, turning him so I could see the wetness decorating his tux sleeve. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Drew rolled his left shoulder and grimaced. “It’s just a graze. I’ll be fine.”

“Scarlett’s waiting by the ambulance.” Emmett pointed beyond the police cars. “Let’s get you looked at.”

“What happened with Vanessa?” I asked.

Emmett glanced at Drew. “Does he know?”

No. I’d been too busy trying to save him, then trying to stay alive, to mention our encounter with his ex. “Noah’s the one who sent us the tip about the huma bird. For some reason, he also sent Vanessa after me—with a gun.”

“No.” Drew walked next to us and took my hand. “That was me, not Noah. Before I figured out Craig was behind everything, I told them about your text message.”

“If you got the message, why didn’t you respond to me? Warn me she was on her way?”

“Craig destroyed my phone before I could.” Drew was trying so hard to maintain a calm, stoic exterior, but his jaw wasn’t clenching the right way. He wasn’t frowning the way he normally did. He was breathing differently. Maybe it was partially the gunshot wound, but maybe he was reflecting on how much he’d lost tonight.

We’d fallen right into Fenix’s hands. They had the beak, even though we recovered the bird and the chip. And Drew lost his ex-girlfriend, his boss, and one of his co-workers.

“Vanessa said she was going to sell the bird.”

Drew nodded absently.

Holding his hand while Rav was carrying me was awkward, but I couldn’t let him go. I had him. We were safe. We were with my team. “And I think she bugged your apartment. She knew things we talked about Thursday night.”

I wanted to say more and put everything out on the table so we could deal with it, but the way Drew’s gaze unfocused, it might have been too much. He just squeezed my hand again and brought it to his lips.

The door to the building’s lobby opened, and Craig walked out, his hands held up. A line of police officers watched him, guns drawn. Liana came out next, sobbing her guilty little heart out.

“We left Vanessa tied up in the antiques shop,” said Emmett. “Then we called the police and reported a break and enter. We left the statue with her, so it’ll be returned.”

Everything had worked out the way it was meant to. We did our job and protected the chip, somehow took down three members of Fenix, and I had a boyfriend. For the first time in over a decade, I had a man who thought I was beautiful and wanted to make me happy.

Even if it was only until we left for home.

If he could get over everything that happened tonight.

Chapter 47

Drew

Thewaterbeatdownon us from the side, but I kept my grip firm under Jayce’s thighs. I had her pinned against the gleaming tiles of my shower, just like I’d fantasized.

Her lips froze on mine, tiny gasps coming with each thrust.

“That’s it,” I moaned. “Take it all.”

“So good.” She clutched the back of my neck, taking some of the weight off my injured arm as I drove into her. “Now slow down.”

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