Page 75 of Her Intense Protector

Samantha fired the gun, but so did Ajax. Both of them missed.

“I’m not going to miss again, Miss Brooks. Put down the gun,” Ajax smiled.

Samantha aimed for his torso and fired, just like Granddad always said. She shot him in the chest. He staggered backwards but didn’t fall down.

Ajax took another shot and this time he hit Sam.

He laughed as fire lanced through her, a pain like no other.

“The wonder of body armor Miss Brooks; it stops a bullet every time.”

Her right arm felt like it was no longer part of her body except for the excruciating pain. She couldn’t move it. She heard a thud as the gun she’d been holding hit the floor.

“Sam!” Kevin yelled.

“Stop right there, or I’ll kill you. You’re nothing but a bargaining chip for her. I need her alive. Go stop her bleeding, you putz.”

Sam felt the room twirling around her, her ankles wobbled, and she dropped to her knees then fell over onto her side. The side with her hurt arm. She shrieked with pain.

“Ah God, Sam, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.” Kevin just kept saying that over and over.

“Hey useless, tear up that sheet and stop her bleeding,” Ajax yelled.

“I’m sorry,” Kevin said.

“Kevin, quit saying you’re sorry,” Samantha gritted out. “Get the sheet.”

She wanted to cry. It hurt so bad. She knew she’d fallen on a petri dish of germs, she was sure to get an infection.

Kevin dragged the entire sheet across the room and started to tear it into strips. He made a pad then turned Sam sideways so he could see the bullet wound.

“Sam, the bullet is still in your arm. This is really going to hurt.” He pressed the makeshift bandage against her arm, then tied the tourniquet around it. She somehow bit back a scream. That was the last thing she remembered before passing out.

* * *

Ezio got off the phone with Toni. “She’s questioned everyone at the office. Apparently, the receptionist saw her last.”

Leo, Asher, Kane, and Ezio were standing around Ezio’s kitchen island where Kane had set up his laptop.

“The receptionist saw her as she was leaving for the day,” Asher guessed.

“Nope, down in the lobby. She and her boyfriend were watching out for Samantha because her ex, Kevin had shown up to work that morning and they wanted to make sure he didn’t try to harass her that night.”

“They saw her get into an Uber. But after the car drove off, they realized it was suspicious because it was being handled by two men. A driver and someone opening the door for Sam. After that, a second Uber came up, parked briefly, and then drove off.”

“Yeah, that sure as hell stinks to high heaven,” Kane agreed.

“Could Kevin have taken her?” Kane asked.

“The receptionist said Kevin wasn’t one of those two men,” Ezio explained. “So, I don’t think so.”

“From everything Eden’s ever said about Kevin, he’s not the type,” Asher said.

“So we’re back to the poker game,” Kane mused.

“Leo, let me talk to your brother. I need to get that Vice cop’s information so I can talk to him.” Ezio knew he sounded desperate—because he was.

Leo looked up from his phone where he’d been texting. “Already on it. I’ve texted Martin and he’s already texted me back. I’m sending the detective’s info to your phone.” Leo assured Ezio.