Page 181 of The Counterfeit Lover

"Don't move," I call out—or I think I do.

There's a buzzing sound in my ears, and I can barely make sense of my surroundings or what's happening. I only know one thing.

I need to get to her.

Another gun joins the shoot-out and I absent-mindedly realize it's Vlad.

That buys me enough time to take the final step, diving between the two cars just as one of the men aims at me.

I spread my arms open, wrapping them around Noelle as I take her to the ground with me, cocooning her to my chest and holdingtight.

She struggles to move but I hold her still.

"Don't," I rasp out, harsher than intended.

She stills in my arms, slowly raising her head to look at me.

"Stay put, Noelle. I'm not joking with this. Don't you dare do something stupid," I grab on to her chin, looking her dead in the eye so she can see how serious I am about this.

"But you're all alone."

"And I'll deal with it. Just… If you're in danger, I can't think straight. You get me?"

Slowly, she nods her head, her big eyes still watching me with apprehension.

God, but what could have gone through her head to make her dive like this into danger?

"Good. The more focused I am on them, the faster this will be over. Are we clear?"

She nods again, though something tells me I should doubt her easy acquiesce. Still, I don't have time for this as I hear steps coming towards us.

Sparing her one last glance, I let her go as I get up, assuming my stance as I get ready to aim.

One person appears in my field of view. The man has his gun out, his finger ready to fire as he's undoubtedly searching for a good angle. I don't give him time for that. The moment I have a decent shot, I take it, my bullet hitting him in the shoulder and making him drop his gun.

He curses out loud, bringing his other hand to clutch at his bleeding shoulder. It's then that I realize something.

He's a new one.

Between the one I already hit and the one currently carrying the machine gun, this guy is a new one.

But I don't get to dwell on that as another shot rings out before a wide hole appears between his eyes. He falls to his knees with a thud, a knife dropping from his hand.

My eyes widen as I slowly turn to seemywife holding a gun aimed in his direction, her finger on the trigger, her entire face devoid of any emotion.

TWENTY-SIX

RAFAELO

She noticesme and she finally lowers the gun.

"He was going to use the knife," she simply says, fluttering her lashes at me.

"You…"

"It was a fluke…" she smiles timorously, her entire body shaking lightly. "But I couldn't not…"

"Damn it, Noelle," I curse just as I take her in my arms, holding her while I meticulously assess our surroundings.

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