Page 32 of Cruel Ice

“Boss wasn’t done talking to you,” the shadow informed Keith. “And it’s not nice to shove pretty ladies to the ground.”

“Damn rude,” the other shadow agreed.

Declan grabbed Keith and hauled him back. “Exceedinglyrude,” he corrected in a chilling voice. “The kind of rude that will get you an ass-kicking.”

Marley brushed off her palms. Her head tilted back as she looked up.

Something just moved on the roof.

Her gaze sharpened. They were in a narrow alley, caged between the club and an old pool hall. She didn’t know why someone would be on top of the pool hall but…

Someone is.

“Need a hand up, PI?” A shadow came closer to her. He extended his hand to her.

She didn’t look his way. Her gaze was on the roof. And…

The light in the alley was still flickering. On and off. On and off.

But up on that roof…

A flash of red.A red shine that shouldn’t be there and if she followed that quick burst of red as it angled down…

It’s pointed at Declan as he pins Keith to the wall.

“No!” Marley screamed as she shoved past the shadow that had offered to help her up. She scrambled forward and her arms wrapped around Declan’s legs as she hurtled her whole body at him. Declan grunted as he went down.

There was a whoosh behind her. A crack. Then another. A sharp cry sounded, and Marley glanced back.

The lights flashed off. On.

Keith’s mouth hung open. He touched his chest.

The light turned off.

“What the hell, Marley?” Declan barked. He tried to push her aside.

The light came back on. Keith was on the ground. Not moving. And…why did his shirt front look so dark? And his head—oh, no, his head!

Marley pressed her lips together.

One of Declan’s shadows—guards—thundered, “Shooter!”

“On the roof!” Marley cried. “To the left!” And she shoved down against Declan just as something hot streaked over her right arm. Marley hissed out a breath.

Declan heaved beneath her.

“Dammit, staydown!”Marley yelled at him.

Gunfire erupted behind them. As in—the shadows were firing up toward the roof.

And Declan was not staying down. He’d rolled and pinned her beneath him.

“You don’t fucking use yourself to protect me,” he gritted. “Not ever.”

Her breath panted out as she stared up at him. Or tried to.

The light turned on. The guards had moved to stand between them and the threat. Their weapons were pointed at the roof.

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