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Did she really just dare Marshal to pull the trigger?
“Dammit, Gen,” Brendan whispered, wrapping an arm around her waist and molding her upper back against his chest. Maybe he could flip her around to protect her. “Stop goading him. If you die, it kills me anyway. He’s right about that.”
“He won’t shoot me,” Genevieve returned. “It’s trash talk. Ignore it and stay directly behind me. Marshal’s a good shot.”
“You’re right, dove.” Marshal picked up the diamond ring and slid it on his pinky finger. He sneered at her while blood leaked forebodingly out of his crooked nose. “I won’t shoot you. That does feel like losing. It’s too easy of an out for you. Not to mention, I just don’t seem to be able to pull the trigger on you. I still like the ending where lover boy dies, and you become mine.” He curled his fingers and flashed the ring, darkening his voice. “You will wear this again and pay dearly for not obeying me.”
Some of the guards began to close in, and Brendan’s pulse surged. Whatever they did next, they needed to do quickly, or it was all over for them.
“Move back,” Genevieve hollered. “I promise I’ll shoot. Do you really want to die for Marshal?”
Brendan slowly shuffled them toward the arched room exit. What happened in the next room, he had no clue, but it had to be better than standing in one place with multiple guns trained on them.
“Scared, office freak?” Marshal fired a shot, and the wall splintered above his head.
Brendan ducked, sucking in a sharp breath.
“So much for protecting your woman.” Marshal chuckled menacingly. “Seems to me like she’s protecting you.” He took a few steps toward them.
“Stay there, Marshal,” Genevieve warned. “I’ll gladly shoot.”
A solid hand gripped Brendan’s forearm. He startled and whirled his head around, a wave of terror crashing over him. The muscular guard covered in fantasy tattoos flashed him a triumphant smile, tightening his grip. Shit, he was dead for sure.
“Finally,” Marshal called out. “Good job, Killian. About time one of my men used his brain.” He nodded him over. “Bring lover boy out in the open so we can end this. I’d like to make this brutally painful for him.” In a sinister tone, he added, “He’s earned it.”
“Killian?” Genevieve pleaded. “Please.”
Please what? Did she know this guy?
Killian returned Marshal’s nod. “You got it, boss.” He dropped his voice to a barely audible whisper, “When I say run, Ms. Gen, we run like hell, or should I call you boss now?”
“I’m ready,” Genevieve whispered back, “and no, I don’t want you to call me boss. Just Gen, please.”
“You got it, Ms. Gen.”
Brendan blinked, trying to process their exchange. This muscular guy was somehow Genevieve’s ally? He’d take it, arms wide open, and ask questions later.
“Run,” Killian shouted, firing his pistol.
They bolted, leaping around the corner, under the arched room exit, and behind a blue lounge chair in the center of what appeared to be a library. Gunfire sprayed behind them, tearing apart the exposed shelves full of books.
Killian met Brendan’s eyes while he fired shots over the chair, keeping Marshal’s men at bay. “Follow close behind me and Ms. Gen. We’re going to make a break for it.”
Brendan nodded, and Killian grabbed Genevieve’s hand. He dashed off, guiding her into a sunroom before bursting through a side patio door. Hot, dry air blasted into Brendan’s face, and he tried to draw in even breaths while he followed close behind. They raced through lava beds with scrubby bushes that tore at his slacks until they finally rounded an outer nook of the house, hiding behind the solid stucco siding.
Killian pushed them deep into a protected corner and stood peering around the siding, firing shots to ward off Marshal’s men. Genevieve’s new ally clearly knew what he was doing.
Brendan wrapped his arms around Genevieve, taking a brief moment to savor the contentment flowing through him now that they were sheltered. “Thank god you’re safe. I love you so much.”
“I love you too.” Genevieve peppered kisses along his jaw to his lips before tightening her radiant caramel eyes at him. “Thank god I’m safe? What about you? I told you not to risk your life again. Don’t ever do anything that stupid again.” She fisted his white business shirt, planted another passionate kiss on his lips, and sighed. “Nevertheless, thanks for coming after me.”
His lips twitched, and he couldn’t help but let a cocky grin slip. “Always, Gen, no matter how stupid it is. I’m not living my life without you.” With a weary sigh, he refocused his attention on the action. “Ready to get out of here?”
She nodded, amusement dancing in her smile. “Got the gooey stuff out of the way, huh, bad boy, and now it’s comprehensive plan time?”
Brendan laughed at her playful ribbing of him at such an intense time. “You bet.” He winked at her before asking, “Got a phone, Killian?”
Killian darted a look over his shoulder. “Yeah, boss.” He slid a new magazine into his semi-automatic pistol and fired a few more rounds. “Why?”
