Page 26 of A Wilder Wedding

“We’re inside. It’s just right up the stairs.”

Adam gave me a look. “And you really think that Amos is going to like it if I let you walk up there alone?”

I frowned, annoyed. “I don’t really think Amos has any say over what I do. Do you?”

The other man winced. “I’m sorry. How about this, do you think Ridge and Trace would like it if I let you walk around on your own when we don’t know what’s going on? They’re my bosses. They could fire me. You wouldn’t want that on your conscience, would you?” That made me roll my eyes.

“Fine. Fine. Do what you have to.”

He grinned at me and we made our way up the stairs, talking about the upcoming work meeting, when the lights went out in the hall.

I nearly tripped up the stairs but he gripped my arm, catching me before I fell.

“What was that?” The only light was coming in through a window further down the hall.

“Not sure. We’ll get upstairs. Probably a breaker?”

“Sure.” I let out a weak laugh. “Totally. That’s it.” But the emergency lights hadn’t come on and that was a problem. We had drills for power issues and the emergency lightsalwayslit up right after the initial power went out. We’d have to get someone on that as it was a potentially dangerous situation for our guests.

He frowned at me and I opened my mouth to say something but was cut short. I let out a scream as someone tugged my hair and Adam let out a strangled sound. The sound of a taser going off again sounded in my ears as Adam hit the ground but kicked out as he went down. I turned, the hallway too dark to see who was coming at me, but the guy pulled my hair again and I fell down two steps, hitting my already bruised hip.

“You think you can run away from me? Fuck you. You think these little security guys can help you? I’m just as good as they are.”

I knew that voice. And not just as the man who attacked before, though yes it was him—I realized this was Morgan.

One of the wine club leaders who was here every week with Maddie. Who talked to me and asked about my day.

Morgan, the former special ops guy who was just as trained as anybody on the security detail.

Alarm spread through me as I slipped in blood trying to go up the stairs and I realized it was Adam’s blood.

My eyes had finally adjusted to the darkness, and I looked to see Adam lying across the stairs, blood seeping from a head wound that Morgan must have given him.

I scrambled up the stairs, trying to get away.

“You think you can just smile at me and lead me on? I saw the way you’ve been with Amos, that asshole. He’s nothing compared to me. But I know you wanted him.

“You think you can just walk away like I meant nothing? If you were truly with Amos, if you truly loved him, then you would be with him. You should have just been with me. And then I would never have had to hurt you.”

He hovered over me, and I didn’t dare move. Not with the taser in his hands still, not with the way that he looked at me.

I barely remembered this man; I had barely spoken to him. I just wanted to get out of here.

But he’d hurt Adam. I could see Adam’s chest rise and fall, so I knew he was still alive, but I didn’t know anything beyond that.

“You’re going to come with me. You’re going to walk to my car, and then we’re going to get away from this. I’ll protect you. You won’t need the Wilders anymore. You won’t need any of this. You’re just going to need me.”

My hands shook, but I wasn’t sure what to do, what to say to get out of this. I wasn’t sure I could say anything to get out of this.

“Morgan.”

His whole face brightened. “You see? I knew you’d remember me. You remember my name. Everything about me. We were always meant to be, Naomi. Always.”

He leaned down to try to press his lips to mine and I flinched. I didn’t mean to; I didn’t know what else to do. But when he glared at me, I knew I had done the wrong thing. He lifted his hand, either to smack me, or something else, I wasn’t sure, so I leaned away, knowing I couldn’t get out from under him like this.

I could kick him, I could slash out, but he could hurt Adam or me more.

And I wasn’t sure what to do.

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