“Have they found anything?” I glared at Luna, who stared back with wide, curious eyes. I didn’t want her to be afraid, but I had to warn her to sit tight.
“Nothing, but it’s still down. It’s usually back up by now.” His tone didn’t sound hopeful.
I remembered Luna’s father planned to show up at some point. “Don’t let anyone in. If Mr. Spencer shows up, bring him into the guard shack until we’re secure.” Luna’s eyes widened as she clenched my hand. “I’ll be right down.” I ended the call and met her eyes directly as she gazed at me with worried, hopeful eyes.
“Gabriel? What’s happening?”
“The system went down earlier and it’s down again now. I’m going to go down and do a walk-t
hrough with the men to make sure the place stays secure while it’s down.”
“Who’s trying to get in?” She clutched her collar and gripped the fabric tight in her fist. “It’s the killer?”
“We’re not sure, but it could be. You sit tight up here. Go ahead and get yourself moved back into our room and wait for me to get back.” I lowered my voice to a whisper. “I want us to spend the night together.” I claimed her mouth, kissing her hard hoping it would give her something pleasant to look forward to until I got back.
“Promise you’ll hurry?” She smiled before pressing her lips against my neck.
“You don’t have to worry about that. I’ll be back before you know it.” I kissed her three more times before I broke away and ran down the stairs to find Joe.
When I didn’t find him downstairs, I went out into the yard. Crossing the patio, he ran from the front guard shack and changed directions when he saw me. He stopped caught his breath. “I have the guys watching the perimeter, and so far it’s all clear.”
“Good. Are we back up yet?”
“Not yet. I have Jones in the shack waiting on it.” He followed me back up to the house and stopped outside the patio door. “I’ll let you know as soon as I find out.”
I pulled my phone from my pocket and noticed the low battery signal. “Dammit, I have to plug in my phone. I’ll be in the office if you need me.” I walked into the office and went around my desk to where I kept my charger. As I plugged in my phone, my computer screen lit up. I glanced up and realized we were back online.
Thank God. I glanced to the small camera shots and saw Luna in our room. She stood at the bed where she’d laid her suitcase to unpack it. As I looked away, something caught my attention.
I hurried to enlarge the screen and when I did, fear gripped me and a wave of nausea hit knowing I was not going to reach her in time. As I processed what I’d seen, I pressed the alert for the guards, then I grabbed my gun from my desk and prayed I wouldn’t be too late.
Kyle Johnson stood behind her, waiting to strike.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Luna
Alarms sounded in the distance, and I wondered if my father had set them off on his way in. It seemed everyone had been on high alert.
I spun around and stopped as I came face to face with a man I’d never seen, and before I could react, he charged, pushing me face-down to the ground. His knee jammed hard against my back as something went around my neck. I’m going to die. This is the killer.
I gripped at the thin cord closing tight and fought as best as I could, twisting around, clawing and scratching at his face, my feet kicking at his chest until my limbs grew weak and finally, I resigned myself to the blackness that splotched my vision.
This was how it would all end for me. Not with a happily ever after, not with Gabriel and me staying married until we grew old. With one last swipe of my hand, trying desperately to hold onto life, I heard a gunshot. Darkness fell upon me with a warm, wet thud.
I woke some minutes later, rousing to my body being shifted and the tight cord being pulled free of my neck. Intense pain burned in my throat. I dared not to make a sound or breathe too deeply.
Joe stood close, looking down with a grim expression as he met my eyes. “She’s awake,” he said to someone behind me.
Gabriel, whose arms I was gathered in, shifted me against one side, cradling me like a baby. “It’s okay, Luna. He can’t hurt you. He can’t hurt you.”
His eyes were mad and feral and as I leaned against him, I realized what sounded like choking sobs weren’t coming from him or Joe. Suddenly the world had color and things became clearer around me. Blood. It was everywhere. Red, slick, and wet, it soaked my clothes and as it cooled, my temperature dropped, giving me chills.
“Is he dead yet?” Gabriel mumbled to Joe, who shook his head and stopped when he realized I was looking.
All of a sudden, there were others coming in. They pushed Joe aside to get to the killer. He’s breathing. Pulse is weak. Let’s get him out of here. Okay on three. One. Two. I blacked out before the next number was spoken, and when I woke again, I was being loaded into an ambulance. Gabriel’s voice shouted above all the other noises around me.
“I want to ride – she’s my wife!” Moments later a warm hand rested on mine, and we were moving. I’m his wife, I told them. I’m his wife. But I wasn’t sure I’d actually spoken at all.