The reference to Anthony and his deception that had resulted in this entire mess pushed Paige to the brink of hysteria. Carranza wasn’t a stupid man-had he figured out that he’d been set up?
His gaze transferred to the thug behind her. “Get rid of her and Bennett,” he ordered ruthlessly. “And make it look like an accident.”
Surely her wireless microphone had transmitted that she thought deliriously. She prayed help came, and soon, before there was no one left to save!
The man behind her grabbed her upper arm, and she struggled to free herself of his punishing grip. With little effort, he twisted her arm behind her back, and she cried out as white-hot pain electrified the nerve endings along her arm and shoulders, momentarily paralyzing her. She arched to accommodate the pressure, but he seemed to take great pleasure in tormenting her. With the threat of her limb snapping, she was forced to comply when he shoved her forward, toward the study’s entrance.
The man opened the door, only to be greeted by Josh, who stood two feet away with his revolver aimed at the thug’s head.
Worry and relief flashed across Josh’s features, then were replaced by grim determination. “Let her go,” he ordered, his tone low and fierce.
Ignoring his command, the man tightened his hold md slowly backed into the study, keeping Paige positioned in front of him as a shield. Josh moved forward, following him, the barrel of his gun sighted and steady.
“How convenient of you to join us,” Carranza said insolently, capturing Josh’s attention and forcing him to choose between the lesser of two evils.
His gun automatically swung toward Carranza, who stood behind his desk, unflinching, and without a weapon to defend himself. “The party’s over, Carranza,” Josh said, positioning himself with his back to the wall. “Tell your man to let her go.”
Carranza lifted a brow and smiled. “I don’t think so.”
In that instant, the thug drew a pistol from his waistband, banded an arm around Paige’s waist and pointed the barrel at her temple.
A fearful whimper escaped her dry throat.
Josh whirled and trained his gun on the thug, his expression furious, though Paige could detect his frustration, too. The man behind her laughed menacingly, knowing full well he had Josh in a stalemate. Josh knew it, too.
Very calmly, Carranza said, “I suggest you put the gun down, or watch your lover die.”
“Josh, no,” she countered in a shaky whisper. If he surrendered his weapon, he would die, she knew. They were going to die regardless, according to Carranza’ plan.
He wavered, his jaw clenching. She suspected he was stalling for time, praying as she was for their backup to arrive.
“Do it now,” Carranza ordered impatiently.
Reluctantly, Josh slowly lowered his gun to the floor. Tears burned the back of Paige’s eyes when she realized that he was sacrificing his own life for hers.
If she didn’t do something, and fast, once he let go to his weapon, they were both going to end up dead. Hating what she was about to do, but knowing her option were limited, she deliberately stumbled to the side catching the thug behind her off guard. He swore and fought to support both of them so they didn’t completely lose their balance. Taking advantage of the distraction, she reached inside the slit in her dress grabbed the derringer from its holster and planted the barrel against the thug’s belly. Squeezing her eyes shut she pulled the trigger, moaning as the room exploded with sound. The man behind her automatically released her, sucking in a wheezing breath as he crumpled to the floor. The gun in his hand skittered across the carpet out of reach.
Josh recovered his gun, but Carranza had retrieved his own weapon from his desk drawer, and their barrels sighted each other at the exact same moment. Nei ther hesitated to squeeze the trigger.
Two gunshots reverberated in the study, the blast echoing like cannons. In horrible slow motion, Paige watched as Josh stumbled back, his eyes wide as has clutched his chest, a harsh moan of pain escaping him before he finally collapsed to the floor.
“Nooooo!” she screamed, dropping her own weapon to rush to his side as all hell seemed to break loose around her. Armed men flooded the room, barking orders and swarming the area. They could have been Carranza’s cohorts for all she cared-her only concern was with Josh and his injury.
On her hands and knees on the carpet, she pushed back his tuxedo jacket, moaning pitifully when she saw the dark, spreading stain of blood on his white shirt. His eyes were closed, his body limp, his expression lax-she feared the absolute worst.
She touched his cheek, willing him to live. “Damn you, Josh, don’t you dare leave me,” she said in a choked whisper as hot tears streamed down her face. “After everything we’ve been through, I won’t let you leave me!”
12
HE WAS HAVING the most wonderful dream. He was being cared for by an angel with a sweet, husky voice, and soft, cool hands that caressed his brow, making him momentarily forget the searing heat in his shoulder. Gentle lips brushed his cheek. That same tempting voice whispered encouraging words in his ear.
I love you, Josh Marchiano.
Ahh, maybe he was in Heaven. Yeah, that had to be it.
He tried to move toward that cajoling voice, that delectable feminine scent that overrode more antiseptic smells, and moaned as a shaft of pain ripped along his chest and arm. He wouldn’t have thought he’d feel such burning discomfort in Heaven. Soothing fingers fluttered along his good shoulder-an angel, maybe?-distracting him from the gnawing ache on his left side.
“Come on, Marchiano, I expect you to pull through this like the tough guy you are.”
No, definitely not an angel, unless they were extremely bossy.
He forced his eyes to open, his gaze falling on the woman sitting next to him on the edge of the narrow hospital bed.
Paige.
He’d thought he’d never see her again. When he’d felt Carranza’s bullet rip through his flesh, before darkness had obliterated his mind, he’d had the fleeting thought that he’d failed her, just as Anthony had. That Carranza or one of his men would kill her, and he’d been the one to put her in such a dangerous situation. And he’d hated himself for that. Hated that he’d risked her life, and ultimately proved that he was no better than her husband had been.
But she was very much alive, and he was grateful enough for that huge blessing to know that he had to let her go, set her free.
She wore no makeup, and she’d clipped her rich auburn hair back from her pale face, which emphasized the dark crescents beneath her eyes. The depths of those striking green eyes were filled with tenderness, exhaustion and a determination that seemed soul-deep. Despite appearing fatigued and worried, she looked absolutely beautiful-as close to an angel as he would have ever wanted.
But she wasn’t his to keep confined, no matter how much he loved her. He realized that, accepted it, no matter how painful losing her would be.
“Hi,” he rasped, his throat dry and scratchy.
She smiled, a multitude of emotions shimmering in her eyes. “Hi, yourself, tough guy,” she said, her voice sounding as tight as his own had. “We’ve been waiting for you to wake up.”
His gaze scanned the small hospital room, finding it empty except for them. “We?”
“Me. Your parents. Your brothers and sisters. The entire gang.” Picking up the cup of water on a nearby tray, she slipped the straw between his lips so he could take a drink. “They’re in the lounge, but if you don’t mind, I want you for myself for a few minutes before the cavalry arrives.”
Josh knew once his family swooped in, he and Paige wouldn’t have any time alone. Selfish as it might be, he wanted every moment alone with Paige that he could get. Too soon, she’d be gone, and he’d only have memories to remember her by.