is

glasses and the hushed murmurs of the departing guests. Ashton, his arm

his tone brisk. "Yo

. She tugged at Ashton's arm. "Darlin

e's essential. Besides," he added, a cold edge to his voice, "w

few paces behind, the dutiful shadow. The door to the limousine swung open, and Ashton ushered Elodie inside, sea

n. But he stopped me. "Iris, you can ride upfront with my dri

him, was now denied. I was relegated to the front, exposed. Elodie, nestled safely i

urly man with eyes that saw everything, gave me a brief, sympathetic glance in the re

five blocks when

crunch of metal and shattering glass. The limousine lurched violently.

ce strained. He swerved, tires

closer this t

, sharp and commanding, barked

rate vehicle, jumped out, weapons drawn, returning fire. The

her further onto the floorboard. He pressed

ted, was closing in fast. The sniper was on the rooftop of

d to Anton, my voice cutting thro

on my side. "Iris! Get out! Create a diversion!" he y

was throwing me out, deliberately exposing me to the

ed, my voice raw

e. His sole focus was Elodie

nced closer, aiming for

m. A bullet. It grazed me, tearing through muscle and skin. I cried out, my bod

round, blood blooming on my sleeve. The gunfire inten

echoed behind me. He had stopped t

its escape, Ashton and Elodie safe

h the night, closer this time.

zeroed in on me again. I dove behind a parked car

ad been in the trailing car, the one meant to secure the con

utching my arm. "Ashto

y so calm, blazed with fury. "Get in!" He shoved me tow

rotest, but the pain in my heart was far worse. He had chose

the city. Colonel Hall, a former military medic, cleaned and banda

n," he reported, his voice low

Because I had b

voice barely a whisper. A fooli

softening with pity. "He was... p

er laugh escaping me. "The

n my shoulder. "Yo

wolves." The memory of his cold eyes, his calculated

e, Elodie looking shaken but radiant, Ashton looking stoic and protective. He had given an interview, prais

, but from the gaping wound in my soul. I was a ghost, i