Page 39 of Untamed Billionaire
Besides, the agent wasn’t finished with his explanation.
“The size of the bullet tells us that it came from a rifle, not a pistol,” he continued, looking at each of the individuals in the room. “The timing of the shot was pretty tight. The shooter needed time to get into position, take the shot, clean up the bullet cartridges, pack up their rifle and walk out of the building. They were then able to blend in with the other tourists walking along the street.” He paused then and looked around again. “Someone knew what was going on and fed the shooter that timing. That means that they were either a guest at the wedding, or knew the schedule of the ceremony.” He sighed, resting his hands on his hips. “The perpetrator knew the moment the two of you,” he looked over at Chloe and Marco, “were walking out of the church.”
Chloe turned, her stomach tightening at that news. Someone inside the church had warned the shooter that they were walking out? That meant…!
The FBI guy continued but Chloe was more focused on Marco. Vaguely, she heard someone say that they were getting security camera footage from one of the bank cameras, blah blah blah. All Chloe could think about was the fact that Marco didn’t know she loved him!
“I need to talk to you,” she whispered, lifting up her head but not releasing her hold around his waist. She might look like a clingy woman to the rest of the group, but Chloe didn’t care. She needed to touch Marco. Besides, he wasn’t loosening his arms from around her either.
Marco looked down into her soft, blue eyes. He loved her. He loved this woman to distraction. He was trying to concentrate on what the agent was saying, knowing that he needed that information in order to keep Chloe safe. But all his mind could focus on was that she was safe in his arms. As long as he kept holding her, she was safe. He could protect her with his body like this.
But now she was looking up at him, needing to talk to him about…he had no idea. He didn’t want to take her out of this room. Someone was trying to kill…probably him, but they might be trying to kill Chloe. Even if they were trying to kill him, they didn’t care if she was in the way. That bullet…it had been so close to her! If he hadn’t bent down at that exact moment to whisper something into her ear, he might be dead! If he had lifted her into his arms as he’d intended, then she could have been hit!
He tightened his arms around her and looked over at the agent. “What if it wasn’t me they were aiming for?” he asked.
There was a stunned look in everyone’s eyes. Obviously, no one had considered that.
“But you’re the one that was hit,” Angela pointed out.
Marco moved one hand to cover the back of Chloe’s neck. “I’d shifted at the last moment. We were walking down the stairs and I moved. Chloe very well could have been the target.”
The agent processed that possibility, as did several others. Even Angela turned her narrowed eyes up to him, thinking through the idea.
“If that is the case,” Rick replied slowly, tapping a pen against his outer thigh. He looked at Marco’s arm where the bullet had grazed him. In her heels, the wound was exactly heart height for Chloe.
Everyone seemed to realize that at the same moment. Even Chloe pulled her head away from his shoulder and looked at the wound, then slowly lifted her eyes to look at Marco.
Rick cleared his throat, bringing everyone’s attention back to him. “I know this isn’t going to be a popular idea, but I’m going to toss it out there anyway.”
“No!” Marco growled.
Rick smiled grimly, nodding. “I understand your resistance. However…”
“NO!” Marco snapped with more force.
“What?” Chloe asked. “What are you saying no to?”
Callum sighed. “Someone is trying to kill one of you. Ranger Rick here,” he ignored Rick’s chuckle, “wants both of you to go out into the reception and act like nothing is wrong so the person will try again.”
“No!”
Chloe rested a hand against Marco’s chest, but she knew that he wasn’t soothed. “Marco, we’re surrounded by a team of FBI agents, and I suspect that the police have been alerted as well. There is your security and Kasim’s guards and…”
“His Highness must leave the area!” one of Kasim’s guards announced.
Kasim lifted his hand, silencing the man. “My guards will help as well.” He turned to glare at the man. “I am not the target. But a friend is. You will assist with the investigation as well as the security.”
The man’s jaw clenched, but he bowed, then backed away. Immediately, he moved to the group of Kasim’s bodyguards, appearing to brain storm how to keep the man safe from harm.
“Kasim, this isn’t your battle,” Marco told him. “You are more important to-”
Kasim put a hand on Marco’s shoulder. “Prince Street.” That’s all he said. Two words. Whatever they meant, Chloe watched as Marco fought an internal battle. In the end, he sighed and nodded. “Fine. But if anything happens, you have to remember that your people are more important than whatever is happening here. They need you.”
Kasim didn’t grin, but there was amusement in his dark eyes.
“What are we going to do to keep Chloe safe while trying to trap this bastard?” Marco finally conceded.
Chapter 12
