Page 79 of Shielded Hearts

An absurd thought filled her mind.I loved that window!

She wanted to stand there with Colt again, to watch the sun setting on the water before they turned into each other’s arms.

A big male body blasted into the bedroom, followed by a second. Aspen’s stare locked on the Malone brothers even as her confused mind failed to put the pieces together.

Willow grabbed at her. “Are you okay? Are you all right?”

Her stunned mind finally jerked into action. She clasped Willow, their tremors melting into one big shaking sensation, like the whole cabin was about to crumble.

“I’m all right. What happened?” She swung her head toward Gideon.

He was sprawled on the floor, blood pooling beneath him.

A single bullet hole between his empty, staring eyes made bile rush up her throat along with a cry of relief that they were safe.

“How? What happened?”

Carson strode forward, stepping around Gideon and the blood—god, there was so much blood—and wrapped his arms around both women who were clinging to each other.

Her legs shook, threatening to give out, but another set of arms pulled her gently away from Willow.

“Gray,” she choked out.

“I got you. Colt, I got her.” Gray locked an arm around her middle and towed her to the bedroom door.

“Get them out of here!” Carson barked the order from behind her, but Gray was already moving her to the stairway. She didn’t realize Colt was standing in front of her until he yanked her off her feet into his arms.

“Fuck, princess. Jesus Christ, you’re bleeding all over the place.”

She was?

The homey décor of the cabin blurred past her vision as he carried her into the kitchen. Using his foot, he snagged the leg of a chair and dragged it out. When he carefully set her on it, she blinked for what felt like the first time since she saw Gideon dead on the floor.

Strong, warm hands closed on her shoulders, and dark gray eyes burned into hers with worry. “Aspen, are you okay? Are you hurt from more than these cuts?”

She looked down at her bare arms. Blood streaked her skin where the glass had nicked her.

The scraping sound of another chair being pulled out made her turn her head to see Willow sinking to the seat.

Their gazes met. In that moment, Aspen saw that she had a friend for life. Even before this horrible ordeal, she and Willow had formed a bond. Tonight’s events cemented it.

Her friend nodded as if she understood the unspoken emotions. Carson grabbed a towel and pressed it against a cut on Willow’s forearm.

“Gray.” Colt didn’t look away from Aspen’s face. “Get the first-aid kit under the kitchen sink.”

“On it.”

When Colt lifted his hand to cradle her face, she felt her tremors morph into shivers. “Aspen. Talk to me. Are you all right? I didn’t see him hit you, but—”

“I’m all right.” Her voice was a low rasp.

Again, she looked down at the thin streaks of blood. “The window exploded.”

He gave her the faintest of nods.

“Gideon’s dead. Shot.”

His face tense, he searched her eyes.

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