To Have A Heart (A New Adventure Begins - Star Elite 7)

The gunfire stopped almost instantly as the hired thugs absorbed the news.

“Melrose is dead,” Sir Hugo reiterated.

“I think most of them are dead,” Callum growled.

He hoped that was the case because he broke cover and scurried over to Mallory. Once beside her, he hauled her upright and yanked her toward a thicket. Together, they waited.

Silence fell over them.

For several long minutes nobody stirred.

“Stay here,” Callum whispered.

His gaze met Mallory’s. Apart from scared, he knew she was fine.

“Wait.”

“I need to check the area,” he interrupted.

Within seconds, Mallory found herself alone again. She didn’t mind this time, though, because she knew it was only temporary.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“Clear.”

“Clear.

“Clear.”

Echoes rang around the area as each Star Elite operative checked his surroundings. Eventually, everyone confirmed there was no lingering threat from Melrose’s men.

Sir Hugo eased painfully to his feet. He was pale and sweating and knew the battle had taken its toll. Pain thrummed through him now with such ferocity that there wasn’t an inch of him that didn’t hurt, but he didn’t have any regrets. He hobbled back to the place in the bridge where a stone was missing and looked down at the man who had nearly killed him.

“I would say that we have to leave him there, not least because I don’t see why any of us should get wet trying to get the bastard out,” Sir Hugo growled when Oliver came to join him.

“We cannot leave the locals to find him,” Oliver replied.

“Are any of Melrose’s men still alive?” Sir Hugo asked.

He looked up in time to see Phillip and Niall lead several rumpled men out of the undergrowth.

“Get them to do it. They were employed by the bastard. They can fetch him out,” Sir Hugo growled.

“Where are you going?” Oliver called when Sir Hugo ambled off but didn’t stop at the end of the bridge.

“To the damned carriage,” Sir Hugo grumbled. “I need to lie down.”

With that, he promptly disappeared.

Callum checked the last man for signs of life before he stepped over the corpse and headed back to Mallory. Without saying a word, he hauled her out of the thorn bush and into his arms. The strength of the relief that slammed into him stole his breath. Words failed him. Instead, his emotions were conveyed by his actions.

The second that Mallory stood up, Callum grabbed her shoulders and covered her mouth with his. Mallory couldn’t think, only feel. In that second, she gave herself over to him and clawed at his shoulders with equal fervour.

Nothing could separate them.

Their passion was driven by a panicked need to make sure the other half of them was all right. Together, they were complete, two halves of a whole. Their union was as essential as the air they breathed, and it was revealed in the questing hands and the ferocity of their kiss.

Eventually, Callum lifted his head, but only so he could rest his forehead against hers.