Page 78 of Exposed

I’m in place. Go.

Two heartbeats later, a flurry of movement on the other side of the room from the staircase caught his eye. “FBI! Drop your weapons!” Ashley’s scream sent goosebumps over his skin.

His stomach twisted into a tight knot. Carlos’s hands raised in the air, as did the other man’s. Hector backed up.

“Let her go!” Dylan came up beside Ashley, his gun trained on Hector. Nate’s lungs burned with the need to breathe, but he couldn’t for the life of him suck in a breath. Hector’s hand slid around his back. Nate stiffened and stepped around the corner. Before he could form a course of action, Hector pressed the muzzle of the gun to Maddie’s temple.

Ashley and Dylan yelled simultaneously, but their words didn’t register. All sound fell away from him, their screams miles away, as if he were in a wind tunnel. A white mist clouded his vision, blocking everything out except Hector’s form. Hector already knew he was going to prison. He’d shoot her without a second thought.

He had to take a chance.

Only milliseconds slipped by, but they seemed like minutes. He closed one eye, steadied his automatic, and hovered over the trigger. Sweat rolled over his brow and dropped into his eyes, but he didn’t blink. He couldn’t move, couldn’t be off by a millimeter.

He wet his lips and pulled the trigger. Maddie’s scream tore through him and he broke into a dead run. His fists pumped through the air as he watched the bullet rip through the back of Hector’s pants, hitting him in the hamstring. He collapsed like a house of cards.

Nate’s knees connected with the floor as he slid to Hector’s side, tearing the gun from his fingers. Dylan charged at them, tackling Hector, while Ashley cuffed Carlos and the other man. Maddie sat on the floor, her blue eyes wide. A trickle of blood ran down her temple. Nate dropped beside her. He ached to pull her into his arms, but he needed to see for himself that she was okay… that she hadn’t been shot.

His hands closed over her shoulders and he brought his face an inch from hers. “Maddie, are you all right? Are you hurt?”

She shook her head wildly, but her chin trembled, belying her tough front. He pulled her against him, crushing her into his chest. Her arms circled around his waist and she breathed into his throat.

“How did you find me?” Her voice shook.

He ran his hands in a slow, constant stroke down her back. She was so slim, yet so fit and strong. Pride expanded in hischest. She hadn’t broken under the pressure, hadn’t wavered when she’d been seconds from death. Instead, she’d fought. She’d kept them talking and stayed strong.

His fingers found the silky strands at her scalp, reveling in the scent of her coconut shampoo. “We found a small lead with the club’s name at Carlos’s yacht company.”

She pulled away and tilted her chin. “When Ashley and Dylan came in… I thought…”

His jaw hardened. “You thought I didn’t come?”

She shook her head. “No. I knew you were here.” Tears misted her eyes and she pressed her lips together. “All I could think about is that if I died, you would think I had slept with Carlos.”

Nate snorted a laugh. Somehow, all that seemed so damn insignificant now. Despite that, hope soared through him. Later, he’d get more answers. For now, it didn’t matter. He was barely aware of Ashley and Dylan leading Carlos, Hector, and the other man out of the building.

He moved his palm to cup her cheek. A thick black ring circled under her eyes, her makeup smudged across her cheekbones, and her hair tangled. Her left cheek bore a hint of purple, and her bottom lip swelled.

Rage shot through him. He’d heard the smack, but seeing the damage sent a fire blazing in his guts. He slid his thumb over her bottom lip.

“I’ll fucking kill them for that,” he breathed.

Maddie’s eyes lit with amusement and the corner of her mouth split into a grin, revealing her white teeth. “Don’t sweat it. They hit like girls.”

A deep laugh rumbled in his throat. God, she was amazing. “Maddie, I love you.” His voice pitched with emotion, but he didn’t give a shit.

Tears shone in her eyes. “I love you, too. I knew it at Dana’s wedding.”

His smile wilted. “Me, too.”

Her eyes widened. He swept a tendril of hair out of her face and closed his mouth over hers. Her warm lips moved against his and relief washed through him. Nate pulled away, pressed one last kiss to her full mouth, and helped her to her feet. She tucked her shoulder under his and he led her toward the stairs. It was over. She was here, in his arms, and he’d be damned if she ever left.

He’d never let anything get in the way of his love for her.

CHAPTER 26

“Yeah, I’ll besure to call when I get in. We’re flying out tomorrow morning.” The gentle cadence of Nate’s voice floated through the hotel room. Maddie stretched her arms over her head and glanced at the clock. Six a.m. Of course Nate would be working at the crack of dawn.

A squeak split the air as Nate turned in the leather chair at the small office desk near the window. His eyes landed on her and he smiled. Two cups of coffee sat on the desk beside him and she stretched her hand out and wriggled her fingers. The events of last night came tumbling back at warp speed, and she needed caffeine to bring her senses in sync.

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