SWAT teams came from every hallway. A couple of the Bodini men fired and were quickly taken down. Mario Bodini came around the corner, already firing wildly.
Mal shoved Junior out of the way and took a bullet to the thigh. Pain exploded inside him, and he bellowed. Three more impacted his upper back, and he fell to one knee. Then he turned just as one of the SWAT guys took the elder Bodini out with a kill shot between the eyes. The portly mob boss flew back onto the dining room table, sending food sliding in every direction.
The other three dropped their weapons.
“Dad!” Junior yelled. He stumbled to his feet, halfway into the dining room. Then he yanked up a cowering maid, pressing his gun to her head. “Everyone get back. Get fucking back.” His voice was a high shriek.
Barely standing, Mal managed to whip out his gun, pointing it at Junior. “Let her go, J. You have to. Now.”
The maid was around twenty and petite. Her huge blue eyes tracked Mal, but she didn’t make a sound.
Junior held her close, his gun to her temple. His eyes widened. Betrayal flashed hot and bright across his face. “Malcolm.” The sound was pained.
Mal nodded as dizziness threatened to take him. “Yeah. NYPD. Let me help you, Junior. Get you out of here. Maybe get you that chance to study the brain.” His heart was thundering, but he kept his voice level. “Please. Let her go.”
Junior’s gaze moved from his dead father to all the SWAT members with guns trained on him and then back to Malcolm. “Fuck you.” His body tensed.
Mal fired.
* * *
Months later, he sat bolt upright on the floral sofa, gasping as his heart tried to stop. God. He set the bottle down. Heat flashed down his arms. His lungs stuttered.
He’d killed Junior. One shot between the eyes.
Hot. It was too fucking hot. He stumbled through the archway to the kitchen and ripped open the back door, running out into the dark night and the rain. He lifted his head. God. This hurt so bad. His head spun and his body ached.
For about ten minutes, he gulped in rain and air, trying to control the panic.
“Malcolm?”
He spun to see Pippa just behind him, her hair wet against her face. Even through the darkness, her blue eyes caught him. Warmed him. He put out a hand. “Go away, Pippa. Not now.”
She moved to him, running her hands down his chilled arms. “It’s okay.” She turned him. “I wondered about the gunfire today. If it would hurt you. Take you back to a bad time and place.” Her voice was a low hum as she walked him toward his back door. “I have panic attacks, too. It’s okay. Take a deep breath.”
He didn’t want a deep breath. He paused on the patio, looking down at her. “You were waiting for me?” The entire world was fuzzy.
She nodded and reached up to smooth rain off his face. “You saved me, Malcolm. Let me save you now.”
Her T-shirt and yoga pants had molded to her curves. That quickly, he went from fuzzy to ravenous. This was too good to be true. Was he still dreaming?
His body sprang to life and his brain went to one place. Maybe to avoid every other place. His hand trembled with the need to touch her. “Go back to your house, Pippa.” His voice was strained.
Her face softened. “No.” Then she leaned up on her toes and pressed her lips to his.
With that one soft touch, he broke.
Chapter Twelve
Pippa didn’t stop to think. She’d been scared, and he’d been there for her. And now, he needed her. Right or wrong, she could take the demons away for the night.
And she wanted him. With everything she had and most things she’d never admit, she wanted Malcolm West in a way that she couldn’t explain. He was like a furious, wounded animal, and while she wanted to soothe him, she was also drawn to that primitive side of him.
Why fight it? She’d be running again soon. Why not have this night? It was time to at least live a little bit. There was nothing to lose. So she kissed him.
His anger vibrated around them, pushing her on.
He held back for a heartbeat, and then his control snapped. He was so close to her, she could feel the change in him. He grasped her hips and lifted her off the ground, putting her back to the sliding glass door.
