Page 65 of Promised to the Cowboy

“We always knew Vance wasn’t calling the shots,” Tom says.

“He wasn’t,” Jenna confirms. “He answered to one man.” She draws a slow breath. “The FBI now has enough evidence to tie every major decision back to Alexander Voss.”

The world stops. It simply… falls away.

Everything else falls away, leaving only the name echoing inside my head.

Alexander Voss.

No.

No.

No.

Gabriel’s fingers tighten around mine. “Evie?”

I can’t hear him properly through the roaring in my ears.

Another voice is speaking—Daniel? Ethan?

I can’t make out the words.

Every face turns toward me as I surge to my feet.

“I…”

The words won’t come.

I can’t?—

I can’t breathe.

I stand and run.

Someone calls after me. I don’t know who.

The hallway blurs. I catch a glimpse of my face in a mirror. White. Terrified.

I barely make it to the downstairs bathroom before I’m on my knees. Everything I’ve eaten comes back up. My whole body shakes.

The door opens behind me.

“Evie.” Gabriel’s boots cross the tile in three quick strides. “Easy, sweetheart.”

He’s beside me before I can protest, gathering my hair away from my face with one hand while the other rubs slow circles between my shoulders. “I’ve got you.”

Another wave hits.

He doesn’t let go.

When it’s over, he reaches for a towel, wets it beneath the tap, and gently presses it into my hand. “There you go.”

I wipe my mouth. “I’m sorry.”

“What for?”

“I…” The words dissolve into another shuddering breath.