Page 67 of Midnight Danger

Precious seconds ticked away. Jordan would never get to me in time and the daggers hid in my shoes were useless right now. I jolted my ass back, my hands grasping his belt to try and push him toward the edge of the balcony. His gun clattered to the floor.

It was out of my reach and his hands were full.

Cassandra’s huge green eyes met mine. Slowly, she bent and picked up the gun, bringing it up in front of her between both her hands.

“Let him go,” she said.

Marco tightened his hold on the wire, and it cut into my neck. I’d killed people like this before. It was quick and left little evidence behind and meant you weren’t carrying a weapon with you. A piece of wire was easily disposed of.

“I said, let him go.” Her hand trembled as Marco laughed.

The world moved into slow motion. Her thumb took the safety off the pistol and her aim changed to the head beside mine since my body shielded his.

“I love you,” she whispered before her index finger tightened on the trigger.

I felt the heat of the bullet as it flew past my cheek and into the man behind me. His blood splattered on my face and neck, his body falling back and taking me with him. My hands grabbed the wire to stop it ripping the throat out of me with the force of his body slumping back.

My eyes never left Cassandra. Her face was pale, her teeth chattering together in shock. Even with a silencer on the weapon, the sound had left me deaf in one ear as Ash screamed in my other.

My first breath burned going down my bruised throat. The door to the balcony flung open and Jordan stood there like an avenging demon from hell. His gaze swept over the scene, including the weapon in Cassandra’s shaking hands. He closed the door and rapidly made his way to us.

He deftly removed the gun, putting the safety on before tucking it into the back of his trousers. He helped me up, rolling the wire around his hands and holding it out to me.

Marco lay on the ground, blood pouring from the hole just above his eye.

“Help me lift him,” Jordan snapped.

I could barely breathe without pain rippling down my throat. Jordan grabbed his arms and I took his feet. We moved him to the edge of the balcony and pushed him over.

“There’s a grassy area down there,” Jordan said. “Hopefully no one heard anything with the noise of the party and the insulation of this security glass.”

He took a bundle wrapped in his balaclava and shoved it into a plant pot.

Cassandra began to shake uncontrollably. I grabbed her arms and stared into her eyes. “You need to breathe, baby,” I rasped. “Right now, we need through this and then you can fall to pieces at home.”

“His b-b-blood is on your f-f-face,” she stuttered.

Grabbing the balaclava from the top pocket of my suit, I then handed it to her. “Please,” I whispered.

She nodded, her hand shaking as she wiped my face and neck. My clothes were black and would hide a multitude of sins tonight. Her fingers straightened my shirt and tie to cover the injury to my throat.

A single tear fell even as she struggled to compose herself.

Jordan stared at Cassandra. “In our world, it’s kill or be killed. He had every intention of murdering Zee, and you did what you had to. Understand?”

Cassandra sucked in a staggered breath and nodded, her fingertips finding my arm. I hauled her against me.

“You did great, baby. We need to get through the auction and get out of this place. You good?” I held her so tightly that I hoped all the pieces falling apart would be pressed together.

“I t-t-thought he was g-g-going to kill you.”

“You saved me, I’m still here.” I kissed her forehead. My throat was starting to swell inside the collar of my shirt, and I was unsure how much longer I would be able to talk.

“Come on,” Jordan said from the door. “It’s starting.”

My weight was heavy on Cassandra because all my muscles felt weak after what had happened. Her arm wrapped around my waist to support me. She’d killed for me, tainted her soul without hesitation because Marco intended to assassinate me. She could have walked away and no one would have judged her for her actions.

The room was too bright against my strained eyes, the sound for the gunshot still reverberating through my head. Jordan took his place beside me with Megan on his arm. His body was tight, his jaw fixed, and his eyes furious.

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