Mine To Protect (Mine #6)(65)

And this time, I beg her to forgive me.

“I’ve got this joker,” Russell said, his voice sympathetic. “Do what you need to do, Vic.”

But, once more, Victor’s gaze jerked toward Tom. There was still sadness on his face, but something else was there, too.

Triumph?

Why would the guy be all triumphant now? Michelle was alive. He was cuffed. What the hell did Tom have to be celebrating? Not a single thing unless…

How will he react when you take her away? Jasmine’s words played in his mind again. Frowning, he said, “You put all of those hits on Zoe.”

Tom just kept staring after her.

“She could have died at any time. If I hadn’t been there, she would be dead.”

Tom’s gaze finally slid toward him. “Too bad you aren’t there now, huh, Special Agent?”

What?

Triumph blazed like insanity in Tom’s eyes.

Then Victor understood. This isn’t over. Victor ran for the door, bellowing Zoe’s name.

She was standing in front of the elevator, her head bowed. At his shout, she jerked and looked up at him. “I don’t have the stupid keycard. I can’t get it to open.”

Fuck the keycard. “Tom has a hit on you!”

Her lips twisted. “He only wanted to get me to the hotel. It’s over.”

It’s not. Victor pushed faster, determined to get to her. And he yanked at his holster, pulling out his gun. “Zoe!”

“It’s. Over.”

The elevator doors dinged.

Someone had just come up to the penthouse.

“Zoe!”

The doors opened and gunfire thundered. Her body flew back and Victor saw the blood—Zoe’s blood. The guard came out of the elevator. Samuel. The jerk he’d fought earlier. The guy came out, with his gun still raised because Zoe was still alive.

“Boss said…you don’t leave,” the guard growled. “You never leave him. Extra pay for that…”

And Victor knew that Tom had never intended to let Zoe escape that hotel. When she’d walked inside…

Either she’d be Tom’s or she’d be dead.

“No!” Victor fired, again and again and the guard was the one to jerk back as the bullets hit him. They flew into his chest, sank into his heart and the bastard fell, slamming back into the elevator.

Victor rushed to Zoe. She had her hands on her stomach and the blood was pumping out, soaking her fingers. She stared up at him, her face slack with shock even as her eyes filled with fear. “Vic…tor?”

“You’re okay.” There wasn’t any other option. “Do you hear me? You’re okay.” He put his hands on her wound.

Russell rushed out, hauling Tom with him. “Victor!”

“It hurts,” Zoe whispered. “More than when Luther shot me…”

More than when…Fuck. “Look at me, Zoe!” Because her eyes had sagged shut. Her body had slumped against the wall. “Look at me!”

Her eyelids flickered as she looked up at him.

“You should have stayed with me,” Tom called, voice so cold. “Then you would have been safe. I told you, Zoe, the special agent wasn’t really the good guy. If he had been, you wouldn’t be dying right now.”

Victor ignored him. He stared at Zoe. Gorgeous, strong, perfect Zoe. “You’re okay.”

Her lips trembled. “I’m…not…”

Russell was on his phone, calling for help. Demanding that paramedics get to the penthouse right away.

“You just…you have to get stitched up.” Her blood soaked his hands now. Zoe’s blood is on me. I should have kept her safe. Should have seen this threat coming. “Then you’ll be as good as—”

“Love…you…”

“What?”

“Now…l-lie…to me…”

“Zoe—”

“Lie to me…” Tears leaked from her eyes. “Say…you care. Say—”

“Zoe, I love you!” The words ripped from him. “Do you hear me? I love you. I’ve been in love with you for so long—hell, even before the first time you ditched your guards and escaped. I love you.”

Her eyes were closing again. “Good…liar…”

“No!” He couldn’t just watch her die. He picked her up in his arms, held her tight and raced into the elevator. He kicked the guard’s body out of his way so that the damn doors would shut. “I’m not lying.” He pressed the button for the lobby. “I love you. Love you so much that I’ve been a blind idiot. You are my world, Zoe.” The doors closed. The elevator shot down to the lobby. “You are everything that matters to me, and you are okay.”

Her face had bleached of all color. “Such…liar…”

“Baby…” It wasn’t a lie. The love he felt for her was ripping him apart. Tearing, destroying, killing…

As surely as the bullet was killing her.

No! I can’t lose her! I won’t. “Fight, Zoe. Stay alive. Stay strong. Stay with me.”

The elevator doors opened. He ran into the lobby and saw—

The assistant director. Lauren Ward. Cain. Jasmine. Drake. Other agents. Uniformed cops. They all stared at him in shock. “An ambulance!” Victor yelled at them. “Get me an ambulance!” Because…