“That’s embarrassing.” Aurora almost giggles. She has so much faith in Diego that she isn’t the least bit scared.

I give Bells one hard kiss before urging her into our room. “It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt.” I smack Bells’ ass, and she squeals. “And I can guarantee you someone is about to get hurt. No one comes for us. No one puts you in danger. You’re mine, Bells. Forever. I promise you.”

“I believe you.” She steals one quick kiss before ducking into my room.

Diego grabs Aurora and mauls her with a kiss of his own. “You’ll be safe in here.” He guides her inside with Bells, then slams the door. “Lock it, songbird.”

I hear the lock click, and then we return to the main living area. Charles is armed to the teeth, and Tiernan has already stalked out the door and into the snow, Leonard on his heels.

“Things sure have gotten interesting around here.” I scan the treeline as Diego and I head out.

“In a good way.” He grins, his bloodlust already high.

I point through the trees. “Muzzle flare was up that way, but he was making a circuit around to the right.”

“I’ll flank him.” Diego takes off, stealthy as fuck despite how huge he is.

I head straight for the shooter’s nest. He’s not there anymore. I can feel his absence, but if I can find where he was, I can track him, then take him out.

When I get there, Tiernan’s already on it. “Something weird about it.” He kneels and looks at the discarded shell casings. “This guy’s not a—”

“Professional,” we say at the same time. No trained assassin leaves this much evidence behind.

“I’ll keep circling.” He stands and takes off through the trees.

Something itches on the inside of my skull. If this guy isn’t a professional, he’s not going to be smart enough to form a plan of attack. He just got lucky with those shots through the door. In fact, they were high as fuck. He’s a bad shot. Amateur. But that makes him more dangerous. Unpredictable. Stupid.

“Fuck.” I follow his tracks until they meld with Tiernan’s usual perimeter check.

I turn back, certain Tiernan is on the same trail. When I reach the patio area, I find the glass door still shut tight, and I have to use the code to unlock it. That itch grows, and I hurry down the hall.

“Bells?” I call.

She doesn’t answer.

My panic rises.

I start running, and when I get to my door, it’s still locked.

“Bells!” I yell.

A small sound from inside is all I hear. I try the door. Locked. And then I stand back, lower my shoulder, and break it down.

Bells is inside. She’s looking at me with wide eyes as some asshole has his arm around her throat.

“Please, let her go.” Aurora stands by the closet, both of her hands out.

“Get back!” The man has a handgun, and he’s pointing it at Bells. The window behind him is wide open.

“Mark, I take it?” I drop my knife and hold my hands up.

“No.” Aurora glares. “I don’t know who this asshole is.”

“What? You know me. We’re intimate!” He looks at her. “I run your fan group. I’m in charge of the Facebook group Aurora’s Angels. I even made a Tiktok dedicated to you.”

I can take this guy in my sleep, but he’s pointing a gun at the woman who owns my heart. I can’t take the risk of rushing him. Not when Bells’ life is on the line.

“That’s sweet, but you’re hurting my friend Bells. Let her go.” Aurora keeps her voice calm, to her credit.

“I’ll trade her.” He’s got that crazy look in his dark eyes. “You come here, and I’ll let her go.”

“Don’t.” Bells forces the word out. He’s pressing on her windpipe.

Rage boils through me, and I know in that instant I’m going to snap this fucker’s neck.

“I’ll come to you if you promise to let her go.” Aurora steps toward them.

“I will. I didn’t come for her. I came for you. Hacking Mark’s information was easy, and then it led me right to you. My angel.” His eyes brighten as she takes another step toward him.

With his focus on Aurora, I’ve been easing ever closer, slow as a fucking cobra.

“What’s your name?” Aurora asks.

“Don.” He smiles, his gun hand faltering as his hope rises and his ability to hold up the sturdy metal wanes.

“Okay, Don. Just let her go.” Aurora purrs the words. “I’ll go with you.”

Bells holds my gaze. I want to say so much. That I’ll save her. That she never has to worry that I’d ever let her down. But I can’t. I can only focus on the idiot with the gun.

When he finally drops it far enough, I strike, and I’m not the only one.

The thick plunk of a knife embedding in a target is followed by the crack of a sniper and the pop-pop of a semi-automatic.

I pull Bells away as Don falls to the ground. Following him down, I grip his head and twist it hard until I hear that satisfying pop.

“Hey!” Tiernan calls as he comes crashing through the window. “That was my kill.”

“Mine!” Charles calls from somewhere outside.

“Mine!” Diego shouts from somewhere in the trees.

For the first time in a long time, I don’t give a shit about body counts. All I care about is Bells. Pulling her into my arms, I hold her tight as the others pile into the room. Aurora rushes to Diego, and Charles grabs Clover in the hallway. Daphne and Tiernan eye each other but keep their distance.

I can’t focus on anything except the woman in my arms. “You scared me.” I kiss her hard.

She wraps herself around me. Warm, alive, and mine.

“You saved us.” She cups my cheeks. “You saved me.”

“I told you, beautiful. We’re forever.”

She smiles, tears in her eyes. “You’re right. We are.”

My heart thumps, trips, and rights itself, then takes off at record speed. “Really?”

“Really.” She nods and kisses me again. “I’m staying right here with you. I love you, Barrow.”

I hold her so tight as I kiss her, reveling in her taste, her trust, and her love.

Something clinks behind me, and I put her down and whirl.

Leonard has jumped in the window and pulled Don’s body halfway out already.

“What is it?” Bells tries to peek around me, but I turn back to her, scoop her up, and carry her into my walk-in closet so she can’t see Leonard’s efforts, and also so I can make love to the woman who I’d happily die for.

When we’re both soaked in sweat and lying in a heap on the floor, I kiss her forehead and tell her my hopes for our future.

“Did you just say you want five kids?”

I shrug. “I’ll take as many as you’ll give me.”

She kisses me long and sultry. “Then I guess we’d best get back to it.” Climbing on top of me, she slides down on my cock and rides me with a beautiful abandon, showing me all of her. Her curves, her heart, and her soul.

I’ll protect all of her. Forever.