Page 70 of Mad Love

Mrs. Delancey shook her head. “No. Your father picked this place because it was so isolated. There’s no way he could slip in and cause all this havoc.”

No, he couldn’t. Not alone. But Phoenix could.

I stood up, wringing my hands as I wrestled with going to find Ryan or staying put until he came for me.

More shots rang out, and I sat my ass down. As much as I wanted to run to him, I couldn’t even run. Hell, I could barely walk. I’d be more of a hindrance than a help right now. The last thing I wanted was to distract any of them and cause someone to get hurt.

The knob on my door shook viciously, and I gasped, hope lodging in my throat.

It crashed right back down into my stomach as the door was kicked in by Evan, a gun in one hand. His cold eyes found me and he stalked forward, grabbing my arm around the bicep. “We’re leaving.” He started dragging me toward the door.

I pulled back, looking at Mrs. Delancey for help, but she stared, gaping, as he manhandled me out of the room. She didn’t try to stop him.

I grabbed the doorframe in a last-ditch effort, my nails digging into the paint.

“Don’t make this difficult,” Evan snapped, glaring down at me. “I’ll knock you out and drag you out of here if I have to.”

“Then that’s what you’ll have to do,” I hissed back.

With a growl of frustration, he changed tactics and spun me around so my back hit the wall. Pain exploded so hard and fast I thought I’d throw up. I screwed my eyes shut as my legs gave out, and my grip fell from the doorway. I couldn’t breathe.

Grunting, Evan hauled me down the hall. “Let’s go.” When he turned for the stairs, I barely managed to stay upright, knowing that, if I fell down them, he’d let me go and then drag my unconscious body out by my hair.

I focused on the steps, trying not to pitch forward as tears blurred my vision.

A cold silence had settled throughout the house, and I wondered where my mother was. If she was safe or…

Now wasn’t the time to think about that.

The front door was open in front of us, and Evan quickened his strides. It was too much. I stumbled as I reached the landing, my ankle rolling and my legs giving out.

“Fucking hell,” Evan growled, turning to pick me up.

I scrambled back to get away, but there was nowhere to go. The stairs were behind me, and Evan was in front of me. I pushed uselessly at his hands as he reached for me.

“Let her go,” a cold voice ordered from the other side of the stairs. Relief made my knees go weak because I knew that grumpy ass, gravelly voice.

Evan whipped around, angling his gun at the person who dared to interrupt him kidnapping me.

Through the gaps in the railing, I spotted Royal. He looked completely emotionless as he leveled his own gun at Evan. His stance was relaxed, like he was watching a tennis match instead of about to shoot someone.

“Maddie,” Royal said, his tone flat and even, “can you get up and come to me?”

Evan’s gaze flickered to me, and I could see the moment he realized he’d lost. Screeching tires and more gunfire echoed in the foyer, and I spied taillights flying down the drive.

“Your boss is gone,” Royal went on. “Game over. Put the gun down.”

“Fuck you,” Evan spat, and licked his lips nervously.

I used the stairs to push myself up, my vision swimming unsteadily. “He got away?”

Royal didn’t look at me. “For now.” There was a hint of apology in his voice.

Evan stiffened when I took a step forward, and I realized I couldn’t walk around him without being in range for him to grab me and use me as a shield. I stepped back, my heel bumping the bottom step, and then lifted myself onto it.

Evan grimaced and shook his head slightly. “Smart girl,” he murmured, his gaze lingering on me. “Maybe you’ll survive him yet. Good luck with that.” He turned to Royal, determination on his face as his finger touched the trigger.

“No!” I shouted, the sound cut off by a single shot. My heart pounded and my ears rang as Evan fell back against the wall, blood dribbling from his forehead. The wall behind him was sprayed with blood and—

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