Page 104 of The Sniper
I glance up, and it's as if I know.A strange feeling fills my chest.A sense of safety.I feel Jayden’s hand on the small of my back, his lips on mine as he leans down.
I’ve got you, princess.
I hear the echo of the pop as my eyes slam closed and warm blood splatters on my face.I’m released, and the man drops to the floor.
Screaming, I tremble, holding myself up as the other man falls down dead and muted shooting begins around me.
I feel like I’m in a fishbowl.
Before I know what’s happening, Noah has me in his arms and pulls me to the ground, covering me.
“Jay?”I whimper.
“He’s on his way,” I hear Ryder say above me.
Jayden is here?
I thought he had resigned?
LAPD charge in, and people are screaming as they leap over the barriers and run.I clasp the diamonds around my neck and rip at them, wanting them off.
“Ms.Stallone, please—” Todd calls, running towards us.
“Get them off, get them off.”
“Easy,” Ryder says, crouching, “I got you.”
I don’t stop, clawing at my neck and the clasp.
“Get a medic, she’s going into a panic attack.”Ryder calls out, and then, as I feel the heavy necklace lifted off me, the world goes into a blur.
When I regain consciousness, Jayden is striding towards us.There’s murder in his eyes.Murder and determination, and they’re directed at me.
I draw in a gasp.
Without hesitation, he drops to his knees and yanks me against his chest.
“Fuck, princess.”His voice is dark and husky.
“Jay,” I sob into his shoulder, clinging to him.
“You’re safe.We got them.”He picks me up bridal style and carries me away.
I don’t care where we are going.
All I want is him.
“She needs medical attention,” Ryder calls out.
“She needs me first,” Jayden grinds out, marching with me in his arms to who knows where.
My heart soars with a feeling so foreign I don’t know what to do with myself.I want to laugh and cry and cling to him forever.
But he doesn’t carry me off into the sunset, and if I thought there was going to be a happy ever after, I was wrong.
Pushing through a door, we are backstage in a private space where he drops me to the floor.Cupping my face, he lets out a primal growl and slams his mouth down on mine.
His kiss is consuming, claiming my very soul.
