Page 116 of Ice Cold Liar

I’m okay.I’m safe.We’re all okay.

Gripping that wrench like the lifeline it was, Naomi surged toward the Impala.Eb was already out.Already shouting?—

“Get down!”He had a gun aimed at her.

She dropped without hesitating.Because this was Eb.She trusted him.

She believed in him.

She loved him.

That certainty pierced through every cell of her body.

So she just fell.

Eb fired his gun, and she knew he’d hit his target when she heard the thud and grunt behind her.Pushing to her knees and pressing up on the palms of her hands, Naomi glanced back.

Madeline was on her feet.She’d gotten the gun from beneath the car.Or—no, maybe that was a secondary weapon?Didn’t super spies always have second weapons?Madeline had a gun in her hand, but blood was on her body.Near her shoulder even as she tried to aim the gun and shoot at Naomi.

Eb fired again.

The second bullet had Madeline staggering back.But still holding the gun.That woman just would not stop.

But she didn’t get to fire because Henry leapt at her.He slammed his paws into her chest and took Madeline down.

“Naomi!”Eb grabbed her.Pulled her to her feet.His hands bit hard into her shoulders.“Baby, baby, please, tell me you’re okay.”

She still had her wrench.“I heard you coming.”

“I fucking love you.”

She smiled.“Good, I love you?—”

He shoved her behind him.

“Too,” she finished.Naomi peeked over his shoulder.

Henry had his paws on Madeline’s chest.Her blood stained his paws.Blood from the gunshots.But Madeline wasn’t dead.Her eyes were open, and her hands pushed weakly at the Golden Retriever.

Eb stalked toward her.Scooped up the gun from the ground and tucked it in his waistband.

“Help…” Madeline whispered.

“Henry, back,” Eb ordered.

Henry whined, but he moved back.Not to Eb’s side.To Naomi’s.That beautiful, fierce dog barreled right to her.He bumped into her legs.Sat on her feet.Hunched back and stared up at her with adoration on his face.

“I love you,” she told him, and she dropped to her knees to hug him.“Who is the best boy ever?”The best, apparently blood-thirsty and vengeful boy.

That’s what happens when you threaten to shoot my dog.

“Why the hell did you do this?”Eb asked Madeline.“Why?”

“Because she loved Hudson,” Naomi replied.

His head turned toward her.Disbelief was clear to see in his expression.

“Because she loved him since she was sixteen years old.”She held her dog tighter.In the distance, she could hear sirens.More cars approaching.Eb had apparently come charging in with a whole cavalry behind him.“And I think she loved you, too.”Madeline had loved him.Hated him.Maybe both?Maybe love and hate all twisted together?Maybe that was the way Madeline felt about both Hudson and Eb.

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