The Girl Next Door (Shadow Agents 6)

Deuce’s smile chilled Cooper’s blood. “What is she, then? Why don’t you tell us both?”

“You already know.” That was why the bastard was there. Why he planned to hurt Gabrielle. “That’s the way your game works, right? You take the ones that the agents love, so we feel your pain.” He lifted his hands, acting as if he were no threat. “Don’t do it, man. Don’t. I can’t imagine what you went through when Vivian died—”

“No, you can’t!” Deuce yelled at him. “But you will. Now why don’t you tell her that you love her before she dies?”

“Cooper?” Her voice was a soft rasp.

Finally, he looked at her. Because this was it. The last moment. And he wanted her to know how he felt, no matter what else happened.

“I love you.” He wasn’t sure when it had happened. When she’d first started to slip into his fantasies? When she’d come smiling, to his doorstep, offering him her chocolate chip cookies?

Or when he’d seen her choke back her fear—and work to get justice for those lost?

Hell, the when didn’t matter.

He just knew he loved her.

He also knew that he’d die for her.

And he’d kill before he let anyone hurt her.

Her lips trembled. “Don’t...don’t—”

Her warning came too late because he was already moving as Deuce started turning the gun back toward Gabrielle. That gun was not getting to her temple again. He lunged forward. His body slammed into Deuce’s even as his hands fought for the gun.

They tumbled to the floor. Deuce still had a grip on Gabrielle, even though she was fighting him. Cooper grabbed for the weapon—and the gun exploded.

Chapter Twelve

The gunshot echoed like thunder in her ears.

It reminded her of another time, another blood-soaked night.

A night when she’d lost another man that she loved.

Cooper groaned, and his body sagged back.

“You weren’t supposed to be first,” Deuce snarled as he lifted the gun and took aim at Cooper’s prone form. “But if that’s the way you want it, old buddy...”

“No!” Gabrielle threw her body forward and wrapped her arms around Cooper. There was so much blood. The scent filled her nose and had her stomach turning. Cooper’s body was slack. And...cold. His usual warmth seemed to be fading, and that chill terrified her.

“Get away from him!” Deuce rose to his feet. “Now!”

If she moved, he’d shoot Cooper again.

She hunched her body over Cooper’s. His eyes were closed. She wanted them open. She needed to look into his gaze once more. He’d said that he loved her.

“I love you, too,” she whispered, and tears had the words choking out of her. “I didn’t... I didn’t mean to love you, but it just happened.” He’d gotten past her defenses. Gotten right to the heart that she’d tried to guard so carefully. “Don’t do this, please, don’t leave me.”

“Don’t worry.” The gun pressed to her temple once more. “You’ll be joining him soon enough.”

Her head lifted, but she didn’t move her body. She was half sprawled over Cooper, trying to shield him as much as she could. She gazed up at Deuce and saw a monster staring back at her. “Killing us won’t give your Vivian any justice.”

His lips tightened. “Revenge is better than justice any day of the week.”

No, it wasn’t. “I’ve done nothing to you! I didn’t even know you until a few days ago.”

“You’ve done nothing,” he said, giving a little nod, “and you are nothing, to me.” Then his gaze slid to Cooper. “But to him, you’re everything.”