I move out of the truck, fear blazing in my belly, and I catch Giles’ gaze. His lips curl back and his nostrils flare, but it’s the only indication he gives that he sees me.
Ignoring the fear that strangles me, I move around the truck towards the man with the gun.
Giles’ brows draw down in confusion. “Tia, no,” he shouts, his voice filled with worry. No, not worry. Panic.
The man turns, but not quick enough. I have the gun against his back.
“Drop the gun,” I order, my words shaky.
“You going to shoot me, bitch?”
“If I have to.”
“I don’t believe you-” He moves quickly. So damn quick that I don’t have time to think, all I can do is press the trigger.
It’s life and death. All of this.
There’s no time to consider. Only time to act.
Two shots ring out, one after the other, and I feel something sharp against my chest.
“Tia,” Giles screams, but it sounds so far away.
My heart beats in my ears mixed with the sharp metallic sound of the shots’ reverberation. He falls toward me, and with horror I catch his fall, both of us stumbling in the deep snow.
The man’s gaze is on me, wide, shocked, as a sticky warmth soaks through my jacket, coating my hand that still holds the gun.
“Bitch,” he gurgles, as he falls to his knees, his gun dropping from his hands.
Giles is beside me, grabbing the gun from my trembling fingers, and kicking the other one into the bushes. His hands are on my shoulders, turning me, and his voice is desperate, “Are you okay?”
“I...I...” I don’t know. I glance down at the blood that coats my parka. So much blood.
“Look at me,” Giles barks.
I blink up at him. “I think so.”
The other men are cursing, tearing at their hair, but they stay back.
Giles pulls open my jacket, unzipping it, large hands pulling at my shirt, searching my skin. “You’re not shot.”
“No.” But I can’t breathe, can’t think, and my hands are shaking. Another man’s blood covers me.
The man I shot drops to his side beside us, blood gurgling in his throat and foaming at his mouth. And I see the second the light leaves his eyes.
I stand there, motionless, feet cemented to the icy ground, unable to take my eyes off the man at my feet. A small whimper leaves my lips. And the adrenaline that had been racing through my blood, the only thing holding me up, seems to leave me in a whoosh.
My legs give out, and I collapse to my knees, fingers planted in the crimson snow. A small sob bubbles up in my chest.
I barely hear the words Giles says to the other men, or to me. I’m in shock. I know the symptoms. Confusion. Weakness. Rapid heart rate.
One large arm wraps around me, and I’m lifted against Giles’ solid chest.
I’m shaking, my chest feels like it’s bruised, and one thought rolls over and over in my brain - I killed a man.
Continue the journey in the Wife Protectors, Six Men of Alaska, Book 2
Chantel Seabrook
Swoonworthy romances from the heart!
❤️
Chantel Seabrook writes hot, steamy paranormal and fantasy romances with possessive bad boys, and the passionate, fiery women who love them.
She also writes contemporary romance as C.M. Seabrook.
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Also by Chantel Seabrook
Reverse Harem Fantasy
Cara’s Twelve
Therian Agents Series
Chasing Payne
Turning Payne
Taming Kiera
Under C.M. Seabrook
Men with Wood Series
Second Draft
Second Shot
Fighting Blind Series
Theo
Moody
Wild Irish Series
Wild Irish
Tempting Irish
Taming Irish
Savages & Saints Series
Torment
Standalones
Charlie Hart
“Stories with ❤️ and soul.”
Charlie Hart writes fantasy, paranormal, and science-fiction romance with a high heat level.
"Reading is dreaming with eyes open."
Charlie also writes contemporary romance under the name Frankie Love. "Reading is dreaming with eyes open."
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Also by Charlie Hart
BOOKS BY CHARLIE HART: DAUGHTERS OF OLYMPUS:
Daughters of Olympus:
Their Siren
Their Mate
Their Phoenix
Their Shade
Their Goddess
MOUNTAIN MAN CANDY MOUNTAIN MAN CAKE MOUNTAIN MAN BUN
  
Stand-Alone Romance:
BEAUTY AND THE MOUNTAIN MAN
HIS BILLION DOLLAR SECRET BABY UNTAMED
RUGGED
HIS MAKE BELIVE BRIDE
HIS KINKY VIRGIN
WILD AND TRUE
BIG BAD WOLF
MISTLETOE MOUNTAIN: A MOUNTAIN MAN’S
CHRISTMAS
F*ck Club:
A-List F*ck Club Small Town F*ck Club
Protecting Our Virgin Craving Our Virgin Forever Our Virgin
From the HIS Collection:
HIS Everything
The Mountain Man’s Babies:
TIMBER BUCKED WILDER HONORED CHERISHED
                       
The Modern-Mail Order Brides:
CLAIMED BY THE MOUNTAIN MAN
ORDERED BY THE MOUNTAIN MAN
WIFED BY THE MOUNTAIN MAN
EXPLORED BY THE MOUNTAIN MAN
CROWN ME:
COURTED BY THE MOUNTAIN PRINCE
CHARMED BY THE MOUNTAIN PRINCE
CROWNED BY THE MOUNTAIN PRINCE
CROWN ME, PRINCE: The Complete Collection
Las Vegas Bad Boys:
ACE KING MCQUEEN JACK
Los Angeles Bad Boys:
COLD HARD CASH
HOLLYWOOD HOLDEN
SAINT JUDE
THE COMPLETE COLLECTION
❤ ❤ ❤