Page 38 of Fated with my Ex's Brother

"Two minutes tops," he says.

I hope I don't run out of ammo before then.

"And the hostages? Are they safe?" I ask. "Is anyone hurt?"

"No! Should I come back in?" he Fuestions.

"Negative! Stay with them till backup arrives. I will keep them busy here," I say.

The shootout continues, but I've not been able to make any hits on them. 8y location behind this table doesn't give me a good vantage. I take a bullet graKe to my left shoulder, and it burns. This is the third time I’ve been graKed, and I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the pain of a bullet. 8y eyes are getting watery. I wipe them and swiftly shift my position to the back of a pole, giving me direct access to one of the criminals. I shoot at his arm without hesitation. I change my location again Fuickly, holding onto my bleeding hand.

I see another clean spot to take another of them out. Dust as I point my gun in that direction, I feel the double metal barrel of a shotgun on my head.

"Wrop it!" the loud, deep voice of one of the mob members thunR ders.

qithout hesitation, I drop the gun and put my hands up.

Shit!

I close my eyes, anticipating him taking the shot to blow my brains out. 8y body suddenly calms as I see an image of Isabel smiling at me. Then it dawned on me I never got to tell her how I felt. At this moment, that's my only regret.

I hear the cocking of the gun, and I take a deep breath in as a tear falls from my eye. A loud bang follows, but it isn't in my direction. I open my eyes to see the man who aimed at me on the Joor. Glood splattered all over me. A sniper took him out from outside.

"BGI! You have been surrounded. Wrop your weapons!" A megaR phone voice from outside.

I move Fuickly and see members of my team and the chief with the BGI agents. I let out a deep breath of relief.

"Nick, are you hurt?" the chief asks with a deeply concerned look.

"Dust a graKe, sir. You showed up just in time. Ten seconds later, and my brain would have been scattered all over the Joor," I reply.

"Thank goodness that didn't happen. Nick, I'm sorry for dismissR ing your opinion earlier," he says.

"It's Xne, boss. You were just following protocol," I say.

The rest of the criminals are escorted out of the buildings with handcu;s. Two were injured, one dead, and three under arrest.

A medic comes to check my vitals and wrap my shoulder. He clears me and conXrms that it’s just a Jesh wound and I’ll heal up Fuickly. As soon as he is done, I do not wait for anyone4 I load up in the van, taking the criminals back to the station for processing.

qhen we arrive at the station, I dash into Isabel's oOce. I see her pacing back and forth. She stops in her tracks.

She has been crying. Her face looks swollen.

"2h, my Lod!" She says under her breath. Clenching her hands to her chest, she said, "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I’m Xne. 8ore Xne now that I see you, though," I walk up to her with a smile on my face.

She wraps her arms around me. "Thank Lod!" She places her head on my chest, and I stroke her hair. After moments, I pull away from our embrace and stare into her eyes.

"Isabel, I almost died today." I search her face, and I see the terror in her eyes. I bring my right hand to her cheek and caress it, wiping the tears away from her eyes.

"qhen the gun was pointed at my head, I closed my eyes, preparing for my death. I had one regret." Still staring at her, she looks at me, puKKled. "I regretted not telling you how I felt about you. qhat I want with you and want to be with you." I step back, bringing down my hands and locking them into hers.

"Isabel, since I set my eyes on you at that mall, you have mesmeriKed me. I knew you were special, and I wanted you. I want you now more than ever. I want us to be more than just friends. I guess what I'm trying to say is" I swallow, hesitant to speak. "qhat I'm trying to say is would you like to go out with me?" I look at her, and she is staring back without blinking. "I.. I... I would like to take you out, Isabel, if you’ll let me." I search her face, looking for a reaction, any reaction, but her face is blank. I can't get a read on it. She removes her hands from mine. "I understand...I understand if you don't feel the same way," I say, lowering my head and bracing myself for her negative response.

She leans forward and wraps her arms around my neck. She Jashes me a smile before staring at me. 8y heartbeat triples as her eyes fall to my lips. Slowly, she plants her lips on mine. Consumed with passion, I reciprocate, deepening the kiss without hesitation and establishing my love for her.

Chapter Ten Isabel

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