Page 50 of Forbidden Noble
He showed his wife the tracker and explained, “He’s here… in your house.”
She shook her head but her face was white. “Rossie and I are alone. We haven’t seen anyone except your staff.”
He placed his hand on her back to help her along, and a spark raced through him that he realized would never go away. “Go with Primal to the truck. Just give me five minutes.”
“Rossie, you go,” Clara told her friend, but then she looped her arm in his and said, “I’m coming with you. It’s my house.”
“Absolutely not.” He widened his stance.
Clara crossed her arms. “I’m free to make my own decisions, here.”
This was pointless. She had no skills to protect herself. “I don’t have time to argue.”
She pointed behind her. “So let’s go.”
Rossie stared at both of them with wide eyes.
Primal directed the other soldier to let the others in. They must have finished checking the perimeter which meant Max was already inside. Without another word, Primal took Rossie to the trucks.
For a moment he didn’t move. Part of him wanted to throw Clara over his shoulder and force her to leave too. But he met her intense stare and decided if she was in danger, he’d send her out fast. For now she was right. This was her house so he said, “Just stay back. I’ll kill him if he intends to hurt you.”
He glanced at the wedding picture of her parents that now hung near the door and then back at Clara.
She was even prettier than her mother. Why didn't she see that? Primal returned to the foray after seeing Rossie safe in the SUV and flanked them from behind.
Astorre guided them further into the house.
Clara’s face was white. “Or we’ll be rational and find out why he’s here first. What if it’s just to escape the rain…”
This wasn’t time for her to rationalize. Now that everyone was in place Clara stared out the door at the beams of light coming from their armored vehicles where her friend was now. “How did you get here?”
He clicked the key to have the locks beep. “My Terradyne Gurkha is parked outside.”
Primal led them down the hall with guns out as he followed. Clara was glued to his side as the men behind them shut the door. “What is that?”
They headed toward a basement area. “Tactical armored vehicle.” Primal showed his tracker data and Astorre nodded his confirmation.
Max was trapped in the basement. He told Clara, “Now stay here.”
Primal threw open the door and all they could see from the top step down was black. Astorre turned on the lights as they descended and he stood between three men ready to shoot.
Clara stayed on the top stair, out of sight.
A moment later, Max came out from behind a dark shadow, the heater, with his hands up. Astorre tipped his head at Primal in a silent well done, and said, “Max.”
Max, surrounded, sputtered, “Astorre. What are you doing here?”
He stood close to the stairs to block them. Clara wasn’t stupid to come down here, but he wouldn't let Max near her. “This is my wife’s house and you weren’t invited in.”
His men inched closer as Max said, “A wife you don’t deserve.”
Max pulled out a gun and pointed it at him.
For a second Astorre didn’t move. If he died, and Clara lived, that was good enough. Clara called out, “Seriously? Are you seriously pulling a gun on my husband right now?” Her voice was high-pitched. His men set their sights on Max as Clara turned the lights on and continued to call down the stairs, “You already signed the papers and took the check. Why do you want Astorre to kill you?”
Astorre’s vision turned red.
Part of him wanted to just shoot and ask no questions, but he stilled.
