My body moved before my mind caught up.
I was running, covering the distance between us in seconds that felt like hours.
I reached them just as the gun leveled at Isabella’s chest.
Just as his finger squeezed the trigger.
I threw myself between them and my daughter, my Mate, and the man who wanted them dead.
And then the gun went off.
Chapter Eighteen
Isabella’s POV
I heard nothing but the ringing in my ears. My hands were clamped tightly over Adele’s ears, my entire body covering hers as I tried to process what was happening. One moment, I was laughing at something Adele said about the sparkly dress we’d just bought her. And the next… the world exploded into chaos.
A body had slammed into us from behind, sending us sprawling onto the pavement. I didn’t see his face, but his scent was familiar, though I almost didn’t register it amidst the chaos that ensued and the terror that engulfed me. My only thought was Adele—protecting her, shielding her from whatever was happening.
When the ringing in my ears stopped, I was finally able to hear it: the sharp cracks that split the air, screams from nearby pedestrians, the screech of tires on asphalt. But Adele’s terrified whimper cut through everything else.
“I’ve got you, baby. I’ve got you.” I pressed her face into my chest, one hand cradling her head.
Almost immediately, strong hands gripped my shoulders, hauling me to my feet. They were gentle yet urgent. And then I registered the familiar scent. The familiar presence.
Dimitri.
His face was a mask of controlled fury as he physically lifted both of us, half-carrying, half-dragging us toward his black Mercedes that was parked at the curb. He yanked open the backseat door, and we climbed in.
Dimitri practically slammed the door, ran around the car, got in, and zoomed off.
Adele was sobbing now, her small body trembling violently against mine. She looked up at me with wide eyes filled with terror, and my heart broke at the sight.
“Mommy,” her small voice sounded shaken. “Wh—what was that sound? Did someone want to hurt us? Why was everyone screaming?”
I pulled her to me again, wiping the tears from her eyes and holding her tightly. I felt as though, if I let go, she’d disappear. “I don’t know, baby, but we’re safe now.” I pressed a kiss to her head, even as my own heart hammered loudly against my chest and my brain tried to catch up.
What the hell had just happened?
I looked at the rearview mirror to see Dimitri watching us. His jaw was clenched so tight I could see the muscle jumping. His eyes were wild, almost feral, darting to the side mirror, scanning the streets around us as he drove.
My gaze dropped to his shoulder. There was blood seeping through his crisp white shirt.
“You’re hurt,” I said, my voice coming out strangled.
“I’m fine.” His attention shifted from the side mirror to the rearview mirror.
“Dimitri…” I started again but stopped when he turned briefly to look at me, then at Adele. His gaze softened fractionally. And without saying the words, I knew exactly what he meant. We—I—needed to stay calm for our daughter. I could demand explanations later. And I sure would.
The rest of the drive to God-knows-where was silent, but my thoughts kept circling back to the man who had pointed the gun at us—to what? Shoot us? Kill us?
The thought made bile rise in my throat.
Dimitri took every side street and back alley in the city, doubling back multiple times. He’d made a call for a few seconds, demanding doctors at “the house”. By the time we finally pulled up to a nondescript building in a part of town I didn’t recognize, my nerves were completely shot.
“Where are we?” I asked as Dimitri opened the door.
“Somewhere safe.” He stepped out, then opened the back seat to help us. “Come on.”