Page 115 of Tail, Dark and Handsome: Celestial Mates
He liked it.
“Stay back,” Tomas warned.
Winter twisted his wrists to loosen the cord. They fell away with minimum effort. He wanted to make a biting remark about amateur abductors, but decided to search for his glasses. Blindly, he held out his hands, sweeping over the pavement before his fingers bumped into a familiar shape.
He placed them on his face quickly, blinking with relief. One lens was cracked, but the shades served their purpose.
Now to protect his mate.
Marigold
Winter freed himself from the cords like Tomas forgot to tie a knot.
First-time abductor. Totally showed.
“I can’t figure out why,” Marigold said, keeping Tomas’ attention focused on her. She did her best to keep her eyes on his face, not the handgun he pointed at her.
“I told you why. Get in the vehicle. Don’t make a fuss.” Tomas waved the gun at her.
Marigold ignored the gun. “I mean, you said you needed money for a new life. Fair. But you obviously can’t stand me, so why bother? Why pretend to be someone you’re not? That makes no sense.”
“Look, I’ve got a job to do. Stop yammering and let’s get this over with.”
“Right, right. Chase hired you to mess with my head. But if he could find you that easily, can’t Nox? Do you still owe him money?”
Tomas sighed. “Let it go. You’re always talking. Look, I owed Nox money. I ran a few routes moving product for him, but I had too many encounters with the law. He needed a new pilot.”
“Me.”
“You’re not that special. Anyone who needed money or drugs or had something to lose would have done.”
“Anyone vulnerable.” Marigold nodded. That aligned with what Joseph said. She wanted roots, a steady relationship, and had been willing to convince herself that this disaster of a man had been the one for her.
“Get in the vehicle. Now.” Tomas grabbed her by the wrist.
Moving on muscle memory, she slapped her hand over his and held tight. She turned her arm, twisting his and forcing him to his knees with a cry. Tomas shouted and tried to turn away. She released his hand but did not back away fast enough.
The gun fired.
Blood pounded in her ears, drowning out the world. Tomas scrambled away. Winter grabbed him, claws sinking into the man’s back. His mouth opened, contorted in pain, but only a muffled scream came out.
Her foot felt wet. Mari looked down, finding herself standing in a spreading red puddle.
Blood. Red meant blood.
Her thigh burned. The pain felt distant, like it existed on the far side of a cushion of adrenaline. The pain would come crashing down any second now.
She needed to get to the vehicle, now, while she could still stand.
Her first step was unsteady, but she lunged to the vehicle. Her hand slapped against the handle, unlocking the door and waking the computer. Half falling onto the driver’s seat, the computer chirped an alarm. “Blood detected. Do you require medical assistance?”
“Winter!” She ignored the computer and threw the vehicle into reverse. Monotone warnings about not fastening the safety harness filled the cabin. She jabbed at the control panel.
The passenger door flew open, and Winter tossed himself into the seat. Blood flowed like a river from the gash on his forehead. Trying to keep panic at bay, because head wounds bleed a lot, she floored the accelerator.
The vehicle thumped twice as it ran over something.
Someone.
