Page 35 of Cruel Ice

Her eyes narrowed as she fought to see better in the dark.

James barreled toward them. “Are you hit? Tell me you’re not hit.”

“I’m not hit.” He sounded annoyed. Pissed. “I’m getting her to safety, now.”

“Her?” James’s voice rose. “Forget her. Get in the damn car!”

“Thank you!” Marley declared because there was another reasonable person around. “It’s about time that someone?—”

“Screw it.” Declan scooped her into his arms. “I’ll take care of you myself.”

And ithurt.It hurt so much that she couldn’t speak because her right side had just crashed into him. Declan double-timed it to the limo, with James covering his back. Andy had the door open and ready, and Declan practically threw her inside.

She sprawled on the seat and tried to catch her breath as the pain rolled through her.

“Don’t eventhinkof leaving.” Declan slammed the door shut.

He didn’t get in the limo with her. The idiot had not gotten into the bulletproof vehicle.

She fumbled and pulled out her phone and…because she didn’t exactly trust his guards to do the right thing and call the cops, Marley dialed nine-one-one.

When the operator came on the line, Marley said, “There’s been a shooting.” She hurriedly gave the address. “Two victims. One down. Possibly dead.” She shrugged off the suit coat and tried to eye her injury. The gorgeous cashmere top was soaked with blood and stuck to her arm. “The other vic is injured. Send the cops and an ambulance, would you? And, uh, hurry.” She kept the line open even as she looked down at the seat in the limo.

She was getting blood everywhere. Dammit.

Chapter Eight

“He was long goneby the time we got to the roof,” Cade Grimm announced flatly as he rushed back to the alley and stopped near Declan. The former SEAL sounded pissed.

Fair enough, Declan was certainlypissed,too.

“McQueen is still double-checking the building, just in case, but the place is hollowed out. Totally empty on our first sweep. The pool hall looks like it’s been closed for a long time.” Cade motioned toward the dead body. “What the hell are we gonna do with him?”

A siren’s wail cut through the night.

“That’s what we’re going to do,” James announced. “We’re going to let the police take care of the matter.” He’d been staring down at the body for a few, silent moments. As soon as he’d arrived on scene, he’d immediately searched for a pulse on the bartender.

Declan had told him it was useless.

And it had been.

“If your PI hadn’t spotted the shooter,” Cade’s growling voice continued, “then you could be the one on the ground, Declan.”

The stupid light kept flickering on and off.

“Is it safe for Declan to be out in the open?” James wanted to know as worry threaded through his voice. “I tried to force him into the limo with the PI, but he refused.”

“The shooter is gone.” Declan had suspected that outcome long before Cade made the announcement. “He stopped the bartender from talking. He did his job. Then he cleared out.”

“I’m not so sure his job wasn’t to kill you.” Cade crouched next to the dead man. He whistled when the light flashed on, and he got a good look at Keith’s bloody form. “The head and the heart? That’s a professional job.”

More sirens screamed. They were a lot louder. And closer.

Cade rose. “The bullets didn’t hit you, boss?”

“I’m fine.” His hands fisted at his sides.

“You don’t sound fine.”

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