“How do you suggest we do that without getting shot?” I bark. My nerves are fraying, and the idea of Lilac anywhere near this shit show makes my skin crawl. “We shouldn’t have brought the girls.”
Winter speaks up sharply. “And if you left us home, you’d be worried the entire time that someone had gotten to us. This was the only way.”
She’s right, and we all know it, but it doesn’t mean I like it.
Hayden nods. “Tristan stays with Ramsey’s car and the girls. If shit goes sideways, you leave with them and we’re on our own.” I think Hayden can see my apprehension because he says, “You know he’ll do right by them if it came to it.” I know what he’s talking about. I heard about what he did when they were attacked at the bonfire. They were up against the wall with no options and one of the men were demanding that he hand Winter over to him. Hayden told me that Tristan grabbed her by the neck and said he’d snap it before he’d let them take her. Hayden also said he thought he’d really do it. Not that it’s a great option, but being tortured by men she didn’t know was worse.
I don’t like any of this. Not one bit. But I shut my mouth and listen.
“Ramsey and Callum toss the gas and lighter fluid. Quick, controlled, then backtrack.”
Madison doesn’t speak up, but the way she’s clinging to Hayden’s arm says plenty. Her eyes are locked on his face like she’s memorizing him, just in case. And I know that look. Because Lilac’s doing the same thing to me.
She wraps her arms around me and I pull her into me, holding her tight as I lift her chin.
“It’s going to be fine,” I say softly. “You believe me, right?”
She nods, tears swimming in her eyes. “I believe you.”
I kiss her once, quick and firm, before stepping back.
But we don’t even get a chance to move on with the plan because we hear tires screaming against the road.
A black Bentley barrels down the lane toward us, and I react without thinking. My arm shoots out, dragging Lilac out of the way just before I fire through the windshield.
“That’s Professor Whittaker! I recognize him from photos I saw when we were researching the place. He just looks older,” Lilac exclaims just as the shot hits him. The car jerks violently, veering off-course and slams head-on into the side of Hayden’s SUV.
Metal crunches. Glass explodes. I get Lilac clear, but the fender clips my shoulder, sending me flying.
I slam into the side panel with a sickening crack. That’s going to fucking hurt tomorrow.
I hear Lilac scream and she falls, rolling down the slight embankment and off the road.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
I blink through the fog, pain ricocheting through my shoulder, but all I see is her.
Lilac.
In the goddamn dirt.
And Hayden is reaching for her.
“Don’t fucking touch my wife,” I snap, louder than I mean to, dragging myself upright and stumbling toward her.
She’s not my wife. Our engagement was fake.
For her,maybe.
But the word rolls off my tongue like it belongs there. Like it’s never not been true. Because shewillbe my wife. Not one day. Not eventually.
Soon.
I scoop her up into my arms, cradling her against my chest. No one else gets to hold her. I’d have to be dead before I let someone else carry her.
Her arms curl around my neck, fingers twisting into my shirt like she needs to make sure I’m still here.
Her cheek is already red and swelling, and the sight makes something inside me snap. I shove the rage down, try to focus,try to stay steady. The danger isn’t gone yet. We don’t know who else might show up. We don’t knowanything.
