Page 92 of Dangerous Games (Tempting SEALs 2)

"Let me go." They were getting closer to the back exit and still Kell or Ian hadn't made a move on Grant.

She had a chance of surviving a gunshot. A slim one, yes but a chance. And if she did die, at least it would be fast. If Fuentes got hold of her, death would not come easy, not would it come peacefully.

"I won't let you take me, Grant." She dug her feet in as they reached the wall and he began leading her to the exit light that glowed in the color of blood.

Something in her voice, in the sudden resistance of her body, had him pausing. He jerked her closer, bringing a gasp from her lips as his hand tightened around her upper arm.

"A gut shot hurts real bad, Morganna," he sneered as he pressed the gun into her abdomen. "There's no way Clint will get you to the hospital in time, and even if he did get you there before you died, you'd never survive surgery. Just think with Clint's contacts, he might find you before Fuentes kills you. You have a chance by going peacefully."

Morganna tightened her lips in the almost certain knowledge that she was going to die there.

"Shoot me." She fought him as he began to pull her to the door. "I won't let you do this." "Then I’ll shoot a few friends of yours; how does that sound?" The pain as his grip tightened further stole her breath as her knees weakened. "Do you want to choose the first one I shoot on that dance floor, Morganna?" He turned her until she could see the dancers, most of whom she knew, at least in passing. "How many should I start with? One? Three? I have a dozen bullets in this clip just waiting to discharge. Pick out the first one."

Oh God! Morganna felt the strength leave her body, the horror fill her soul as she saw the determination in Grant's stone-hard brown eyes. He would do it. He had nothing to lose.

"Please don't do this." The fear raging inside her left her shaking, desperate. There had to be an escape.

"Are you going to move, or do I start shooting?" She moved. Her breathing became jerky as terror started to overwhelm her, whipping through her mind as she fought to find an escape. There had to be a way to stop this, to stop him, but as the door ahead slowly came nearer and no help arrived, hysteria began to edge at her mind.

"Hey, Morganna." Sandy stepped in her way, his dark eyes staring down at her as he smiled with an easy, engaging grin that was just a shade tighter than he normally used. "Where's your boyfriend?"

"Behind her," Grant growled. "Get out of the way."

"Hey, dude." Sandy blinked, glancing from Grant to Morganna. "He's not your boyfriend. What's up?"

Yeah, what was up? This wasn't the quiet, almost shy Sandy she knew. "Excuse us, Sandy-"

"Are you crying, Morganna?" He tilted his head, his body shifting just enough that if Grant tried to shoot him he would have to reveal the gun first, rather than keeping it hidden between them. "You making her cry, man?" Sandy glanced back at Grant.

"If you don't move, I'm going to make you cry," Grant snarled.

"Fine. Whatever."

Morganna had no warning of what was coming next. Before she could prepare for it, before she had any clue that Sandy was as perceptive as he was, she felt herself being torn from Grant's grasp and flung against the wall. She bounced against it, her head striking the stone as she heard the gun go off.

Somewhere, someone screamed her name. Funny, she didn't feel as though she had been shot. She shook her head as she stumbled to the floor, staring around, dazed, her eyes widening as hard hands gripped her waist and pressed her closer to the wall.

Then she saw it. Clint and Grant fighting for the gun as the crowd began to flee. Another shot went off wild, scream echoing around her as Sandy collapsed against her.

He'd been shot. She twisted around, catching the young man as he collapsed to the floor.

"I'll live." He grimaced, snarled actually, his expression twisting painfully as his hands gripped his side.

"God! Are you insane!" she raged as she pressed her hand over his, feeling the blood seeping through his fingers. "Where the hell has your mind gone, Sandy?"

"Trust you ... to bitch ... at me," he gasped, his face pale. "Bullet went through my side. Shit hurts." Oh hell. There was so much blood. Another shot rang out as she lifted her head again, staring in shock as Joe stood to the side of the two grappling men, Clint and Grant. Joe's gun was held in both hands, his expression so grief-stricken, so filled with pain, her breath caught.

Slowly, Grant slid from Clint's grasp, the gun held between them falling to the ground as Clint caught him.

The music was silenced. An eerie, pervasive absence of sound filled the club as everyone watched.

"Bastard," Grant gasped as his hand pressed to his chest. "You should be dead... not me...." He coughed as Clint laid him on the floor. "You should be dead."

Morganna's eyes widened. They were friends. Joe treated Grant like a brother, loved him, always joked with him.

"Morganna?" Clint was beside her, pulling her to him as his hands began to move over her quickly, checking for injuries. But she couldn't take her eyes from Joe. "Are you hurt, baby?"

She shook her head slowly. "Sandy." She showed Clint the blood on her hands. "Sandy's hurt."

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