Page 37 of Tempting My Billionaire Master

“I can’t trust you to make sound judgments when you’re delirious from blood loss! And stop caring about my safety for once!” I yelled, tears streaming down my cheeks. “This is my fault! Because I was stupid and insecure and didn’t listen to you. You should be furious with me, not thinking about my safety!”

Ethan’s eyes searched mine, his expression softening. “Why did you come back for me yesterday?” Ethan asked. “After you escaped to town, why return?”

The question caught me off guard. “I needed to wait until Damon found something we could use to expose your competitors.”

A faint smile graced his lips. “That means you tried to help me, the only way you could think of. Thank you, Chloe.” He paused, taking a deep breath. “But now, we need to move.”

He took a step forward and promptly collapsed.

“Ethan!” I rushed to his side, panic clawing at my throat. My hands shook as I tried to cover the bullet hole, hoping to stop the bleeding.

“Please, Ethan…please,” I sobbed as I frantically stripped off my sweatshirt and pressed it to his shoulder as hard as I could.

Just then, a police cruiser appeared from around the bend.

Chapter Fourteen

Chloe

The police cruiser’s tires screeched on the pavement, speeding towards me like a lion pouncing on its prey. My heart leapt in terror and I clutched Ethan closer, as if I could shield his unconscious body.

This was it. We were done for. After everything we’d been through, we would meet our end on this deserted country road.

I braced myself for the impact, squeezing my eyes shut. The car came to a sudden halt just a few feet away from us, and for a moment, time seemed to slow down. My eyes flew open as the acrid scent of burnt rubber assaulted my nose.

As I stared at the vehicle, memories of the policeman who had tried to kill us at Ethan’s home flooded my mind, and I knew that this was it—I couldn’t save both myself and Ethan.

The driver’s side door burst open, and a stocky man in a deputy’s uniform climbed out. His hand rested on the revolver at his hip, his face stony. My stomach twisted into knots at the sight of him.

And then my dread transformed into a strange acceptance of our fate, as if all the fight had drained out of me. Every detail became vividly clear; the sound of my own breathing, the warmth of Ethan’s blood seeping through my sweatshirt, the metallic tang in the air.

But then the passenger door of the police cruiser swung open, and Susan struggled out.

“Patrick!” she barked. “What are you touching your gun for? Can’t you see Chloe’s gentleman friend needs help?”

Patrick’s stony expression melted into one of chagrin. “Come on, Nana,” Patrick mumbled sheepishly. “I didn’t know it was them.”

“Don’t ‘Nana’ me! Get the medkit!” Susan snapped, and Patrick hurried to pop the trunk, and at that moment another vehicle pulled up beside the cruiser. It was Mary’s electric Smartcar, the tiny vehicle looking almost comical next to the imposing police car.

Mary stepped out, her pink hat perched jauntily atop her head. “Honestly Patrick, did you have to drive so fast?” she began, but then stopped short at the sight of Ethan and I on the ground. “Oh dear!” Her wrinkled face creased in concern.

Elisabeth emerged from the passenger side, gasping dramatically at the scene. The three elderly ladies rushed over to us, clucking in worry.

“Are you okay?” they kept asking, their voices overlapping in a chorus of concern.

My stupor shattered and I collapsed into tears, sobbing in relief.

We were safe.

Patrick returned with a small first aid kit and knelt beside Ethan.

“Looks like a bullet wound,” Patrick said, running his fingers over the torn fabric of Ethan’s jacket. He glanced at me. “What happened?”

“Sticking your noses in other people’s business runs in the family, huh?” Mary chided, glancing at Susan.

“Leave him be, Mary. My boy’s a policeman; it’s his job to ask,” Susan said firmly.

I swallowed hard, my voice barely above a whisper. “It’s okay. Ethan was shot with a pistol. I don’t know which kind.” As I spoke, Patrick began cutting away at Ethan’s jacket, revealing the blood-soaked shirt underneath.

---