Page 97 of Don’t Go Stealing My Heart

“When I envisioned meeting you, Lucien,” Jack said with his Elvis voice, deep and confident, “I never expected it to be like this.”

His eyes darted to Clementine, intensity in their depths, like he was trying to communicate with her. She wasn’t sure how he knew she’d be here or what he was doing, but she knew an opening when she saw one. Lucien was distracted.

She lunged and punched Lucien where it counted, but he didn’t hunch as expected, didn’t so much as wince. He always winced when hit in the kidneys.

The man who had used and corrupted her laughed. “I knew insinuating a weakness would help me one day.”

He backhanded her, his ring cutting into her cheek. She stumbled, too shocked by his latest revelation to keep her footing, and he raised the gun. Not at her. He pointed it at Jack and smiled. “Never fall for a con-woman.”

No, no, no.

Clementine launched herself as Lucien squeezed the trigger. Save Jack. He can’t hurt Jack. The prayer looped as pain shot through her chest. The floor rushed to meet her.

* * *

Jack roared. One second Clementine had the upper hand, the next she was on the floor, her blood seeping into the carpet, exactly as he’d imagined but worse. Agony ripped through his chest, like the bullet had hit him.

“Elvis!” he shouted and charged, no thought to guns or bullets or consequences.

Fury had never clouded his sense before. Nothing in life had been worth inciting violence, or so he’d thought. Clementine was hurt. His girl was bleeding out and moaning, and his self-preservation flew out the window. All that remained was vengeance.

The second Jack yelled Elvis, Lucien frowned. Then his eyes widened as men in jeweled jumpsuits flooded the stairs and lower level. Lucien aimed his gun and shot. The air by Jack’s face whizzed, the bullet just missing him. Jack was too close and enraged to slow his assault.

He pulled back his arm as he reached Lucien and put his whole body into the punch. His fist connected with Lucien’s face, a sickening crunch sounding. Lucien reared back, but didn’t go down. He was a tough son of a bitch, and Jack couldn’t quite re-fist his hand, wasn’t sure why it wouldn’t obey. Instead of exploiting Jack’s weakness, Lucien cut his losses and ran, bolting toward the guest room at the end of the hall. Five Elvi rushed after him.

Jack spun and crumpled next to Clementine, scared to touch or move her. Her eyes kept fluttering closed. Her breathing wasn’t right. He wasn’t right. He’d never be right again if she died.

He lay beside her and stroked her hair. His hand throbbed. The pain didn’t compare to the ache overtaking his heart. “Stay with me, baby.”

“Jack?”

God, she was pale. Why was she so pale? “I’m here,” he said, his voice breaking. “Not going anywhere.”

“My life is a lie,” she mumbled. “All for nothing.” A tear slipped down her cheek.

“Oh my darling, Clementine.” Jack didn’t know the turn of events that had led to Lucien shooting the girl he’d raised, but Jack wanted to punch the man again. Over and over until Jack’s already-mangled hand was a bloody pulp. So much for not believing in violence.

The Elvi who’d given chase jogged from the guest room.

“He escaped through a window,” one of them said. “Couldn’t shove myself through if I rolled in Crisco. We’ll notify them out front.”

All the men were on the hefty side of husky, and that window was damn small. Jack wasn’t even sure how Lucien had managed the feat, but it wasn’t his priority.

A distant ringing registered, tough to decipher from the basement, but it sounded like a siren.

“Cops are on their way,” someone called.

Jack exhaled heavily, but sirens came with implications. Clementine couldn’t fly under the radar after this. Her past would come to light. She could be arrested.

Her eyes drifted closed.

“Clem, honey—stay with me. Help is here. You fucking stay and fight.”

She roused slightly and licked her lips. “I lied,” she said, each word seeming to pain her. “I do love you. Always did.”

His throat closed. “Not as much as I love you, so you don’t get to leave me, Clementine. You don’t get to give up.”

“But I lost your necklace. I lost ev…everything.”