“Yes, we do.” The priest sounds deeply resigned.
Fortunately, the last part goes quick. I’m numb the whole time. I keep looking at the simple wedding band on my finger as I sign my name. “You’re left-handed,” Gabe comments when I mark the final page.
“Something you should’ve known about your wife already,” the priest mutters as he gathers everything into a folder. “Well, that’s done with. I hope you two are happy. Please, Gabriel, if you wouldn’t mind? It’s already been a long night.”
“Of course, Father, and we appreciate your help. Daniel will make sure there’s a very large donation waiting tomorrow morning.”
The priest gives me an uneasy look and says nothing as I’m led away.
Daniel falls in behind us. He’s clutching the rifle against his chest, still wearing that toothy smile. He gives me a little winkwhen he catches me looking. I fix my eyes straight ahead unsteadily. “Who’s that, anyway?” I ask Gabe under my breath.
“Don’t worry. Daniel’s a trusted advisor.” He says it with a big smile and Daniel makes an amused snort behind us.
We walk out into the night. I’m still barefoot. The asphalt parking lot is rough against my toes. The car’s parked up ahead. My clothes are already in the back. “Where are we going now?”
“I have a room not far. We’ll be safe there.”
I want to ask how he’s sure, but I’m too tired to argue. Anywhere sounds good right about now.
We make it halfway to the car when headlights swing into view.
Gabe slows down. His gait goes wonky and uncertain. I look back at Daniel, and the big man’s got his rifle shouldered and aimed ahead. The headlights keep coming, gaining speed, and quickly materialize into two black pickup trucks.
They barrel into the lot, tires shrieking.
“Run!” Gabe yanks me forward, sprinting ahead. How the hell does this keep happening? I scream, looking over my shoulder, as Daniel calmly takes a knee and begins shooting. The rifle bucks and kicks, but he keeps it steady, spraying bullets over our heads.
The tailing truck slams into the bumper of the lead truck. The windshield is pitted with holes. Blood’s splattered against the glass. We'd be dead otherwise as the back windows roll down and muzzle flashes brighten the night like exploding stars. But their aim is off from the accident and instead of ripping me to shreds, their shots smash into Gabe’s car, making horrible thumping noises.
“Get in!”
Gabe rips open the back door and shoves me inside. I gasp, scraping my shins, and roll down onto the floor, curling up against the madness. I might be screaming, but I can’t be sure. There’s more shooting and the car’s moving, lurching forward erratically. There’s a smash of more glass and metal, a wicked screech, and more wild bouncing, until the engine roars and we’re away.
I stay down. I’m too scared to lift my head. I don’t know what happened to Daniel, but he’s clearly not following. It feels like we’re driving forever, and eventually we come to a slow, gentle halt. Gabe kills the engine and silence descends.
“You okay?” He looks back at me, leaning over the console. His scratched face is bleeding again.
“I’m fine.” I touch myself just in case. “Pretty sure you’d see it if I were bleeding.”
“Good point.” He exhales, sinking back against the seat. “How the fuck did they follow us?”
“Shouldn’t you know that?!” I push myself up and get onto the seat, glaring at him. “Who was that? The Turks again?”
"No, I don’t think so. That was probably the Russians.” He gives me a wry smile. “Your cousin, actually.”
I laugh. I can’t help myself. This is so absurd I can barely function. I was almost killed twice and I’m married to a total stranger. A good-looking stranger, but still, the kind of man who survives a gunfight and an explosion with not much more than a deep breath and a smile.
What the hell am I going to do?
A few hours ago, I was worried about my job and mad at my perv boss for groping me like a prick.
Now I’m terrified someone’s going to shoot me in the face.
I follow Gabe into a high end boutique hotel on a quiet block at the edge of West Hollywood. The front desk man takes in the state of me with a wince, but he’s probably seen worse. Probably thinks we’re coming from some kind of weird rave. We take the elevator to the top floor and Gabe leads me into a beautiful suite.
“You’re safe here.” He yanks all the blinds closed, which doesn’t make me feel reassured.
“The drones can’t get us?”
