Alex stopped short as he stepped through the hotel door. The chaos from outside had spilled into the lobby, but the crowd stopped jostling and talking the moment he and Beth came into view.
Alex hesitated. Anyone could be waiting in the crowd with gun in hand to finish the job.
He took a right instead and headed toward the lounge, kicking the glass doors closed behind him.
It wasn't much protection, but he'd take what he could get. He carried Beth to a loveseat against the far wall and laid her down on it. It was early enough in the day that the only other person in there was one very confused bartender prepping for the reception.
He’d known something like this was likely to happen, and he was still shaken all the way to his core.
Mrs. Bradley came running into the room. “I need you to do me a favor,” he told her. “I need you to go out there and find a man named John Ryman. I need you to tell him where we are.”
He gave her John’s description, and she nodded. But he saw all his own fears reflected in her wide eyes. “I don’t want to leave her,” she whispered.
“I understand.” And, dear God, he did. “But we need to get her to a hospital, and John is the only one I trust to make that happen.”
Alex knew that this woman had no reason to trust him. She had no idea who he really was, or what role he played in her daughter’s life. But she didn’t yell, or demand answers. She just looked over his shoulder at Beth.
“It’s okay, Mom. Do what Alex says. He’s here to help,” Beth said in a small voice.
“Alex? I thought his name was Charlie,” Mrs. Bradley said.
“I’ll explain everything later, Mom. I promise.”
Mrs. Bradley nodded and gave Beth one long last look before turning for the door. Alex slid a table in front of the doors as they closed behind her, blocking the way. It wasn’t much protection, but it was the best he could do.
Beth struggled to sit up as he brought her a glass of water. Her hands were shaking so badly she couldn’t take the cup. He got down on one knee by her side and held it for her.
Her breath was coming easier now, and her face regaining its color, but not enough to calm him completely. She tried to smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
“I guess you won the bet,” she said, her voice little more than a hoarse whisper. She cleared her throat and tried again. “Looks like I’m not going to die today.”
She drew in a deep breath and winced. The impact from the bullet had been enough to bruise the hell out of her ribs. They might even be broken. And there was no telling what other injuries she might have. He had to get her to the hospital as soon as possible.
But first he was going to have to wait for John's team to clear out the area. He wouldn’t be taking any more chances with her life.
Never again.
Alex pushed back her hair and laid a gentle kiss on her forehead. At least he meant it to be gentle, but there were too many emotions warring inside his chest—fear, relief, guilt—and he might have pressed a little harder than he intended.
“That's not funny,” he whispered against her ear.
“Come on,” she said again. With every breath he could see her getting stronger. “It was a little funny.”
He smiled despite himself. She was starting to sound like herself again. It was a good sign. It meant that the worst of the shock was starting to fade.
She tried to sit up, but he placed a hand on her shoulder.
“You need to lie down.”
“But I'm feeling better, I swear.”
“It's just the adrenaline. You're going to be twice as shaky when it fades.”
She gave him a glare before slumping back down against the cushions. “Okay.”
“Anyway, there's nowhere to go. Not until John gets here.”
He knelt at her side, stroked her hair back, and stared into her eyes.
“Is something wrong?” Beth asked after a minute of silence.
“Not anymore.”
“But your hand is shaking,” Beth said. She’d never sounded so surprised.
He laughed a little. “Of course, it is. For a minute there I thought that I'd lost the woman I love.”
Beth's eyes widened. “Love? You love me?”
“Madly,” he said.
Now she was the one that was shaking.
“So you're not leaving after all of this is over with?” she asked.
“I can't promise that,” he said. “But if I have to go, I'd like you to come with me.”
“I'd like that too.” Her voice wasn't so little anymore. He pressed his lips to hers, but had to break the kiss a moment later when there was a hard rap on the glass door.
John was standing on the other side. He didn’t look too happy. A small crowd of onlookers peeked around him.
Alex slid the table away and let him in.
“We lost him,” John wasted no time saying. “There's no trace of the shooter.”
“How could that happen?” Alex demanded. “You said you had every inch of these grounds covered.”
“I thought we did. Your guy found the only place that we didn't.”
Alex cursed and hit the table in front of him. He didn’t want to tell Beth that they'd failed. That she'd taken a shot to the chest for nothing. That she was still in danger.
“The only good news is there's no sign of anyone leaving. If he's still here, we'll catch him,” John insisted.
Alex didn't want to hear it. He was done with promises. He would catch this son-of-a-bitch on his own if he had to. Then he would gut him. Simple as that.
Alex had only taken a single step when the sound of an opening door caught his attention. The side door that led to the service hallway swung open. He hadn't secured it. He'd forgotten all about it. Salvatore Munoz leaned out from the hallway.
Alex had barely curled his fingers around the gun at his waist when the shot was fired. Munoz ducked back behind the door. Alex pulled his weapon and wasted no time returning fire. John was right behind him. They dove behind a table.
Beth shrieked at the sounds of the shots. The crowd outside the glass doors scattered. Pandemonium exploded in the hallway as people tumbled over themselves to get to safety.
Alex looked over his shoulder at Beth. “You have to get out of here,” he shouted. “Go to the room. Get my gun out of the closet and shoot anyone who comes to the door who isn't me. John and I will cover you.”
Beth struggled to stand. Her legs were still wobbly, but she managed. Alex and John both unloaded their clips as she ran for the door. She fumbled with the lock, but made it out.
He prayed to God that he’d made the right decision.
***