Page 9 of Cross Me

I didn’t ask what the threat was, but if this whole building needed to be evacuated, it wasn’t good. “I don’t care what Alexander’s orders are. My life is not more important than any of theirs.”

Brex looked like he was seriously contemplating picking me up and throwing me over his shoulder. I silently dared him to try. I didn’t care how much I liked him. A move like that would earn him a swift kick in the gentleman’s sausage.

Georgia moved forward and took my other arm. “I’ll get her out of here and you go help them.”

He looked from me to her, a muscle twitching in his jaw before he jerked his head in agreement.

“Stay on comms,” Brex barked, before disappearing back into the wings.

I stared at my newfound ally. Georgia had sided with me. I didn’t know what to think about that. “Thank you.”

“For what? You were being a stubborn ass and someone has to oversee the evacuation. He’s better at leading people.” She was less gentle than Brex as she dragged me out of the backstage area. “I’m less of a people person than Brex.”

My arm hurt from her tight grip, reinforcing the truth of that statement. “You don’t say.”

She guided me to the corridor, checking things out before allowing me to head toward the exit. Part of me—a very surprised part—found myself glad she was with me now.

There really was a first time for everything.

“Where are we going?” I asked when we didn’t head the direction we’d entered through.

“I’m sure your husband would prefer as few photographers catch this as possible,” Georgia said tightly.

I tried to ignore the pit opening in my stomach. Being taken out the back was never a good sign. I dared to glance over my shoulder and saw a line of people streaming out the front. It would be chaos to be with them there now. There was no way my security team could keep track of me in such a large crowd, which would only make Alexander panic more when he found out what was going on. But I couldn’t shake the feeling of being singled out. I had meant what I’d said. I was no more important than these people. At least, to no one but Alexander. Didn’t they all have their own families to go home to? Children or husbands or wives?

We had almost reached the exit when the entire structure shook. I’d been in a few earthquakes when my family lived in California and I stopped, trying to remember what I should do. Georgia handled it for me. Her arms shot around my shoulders and we raced toward the exit until another small blast shook the walls. Debris fell from the ceiling and smoke poured from the center of the building. There were screams. Chaos. I wanted to help—to turn back. I didn’t have an option now, Georgia kept a tight hold on me, shielding my body. Two more small explosions rocked the building. I tried to ignore the first sharp spikes of panic and focus on the glass doors ahead. Only a few more steps…

We were out the doors before I’d begun to process any of what happened. The moment the sunlight hit my face, I whirled around, yanking out of Georgia’s grasp and turning to stare. I was barely aware of the security forces swarming around me, pressing me back and away from the scene. On the outside, it didn’t look like much had happened. Had it all been my imagination? The building answered with a final blast, bigger than the others. The deafening sound split the air and a small scream escaped me as part of the roof caved in.

“Brex!” I yelled, fighting against the guards trying to keep me back. Brex had stayed inside. He’d stayed because I’d asked him. Next to me Georgia stiffened as if she was thinking the same thing.

“He’ll be okay,” she said fiercely.

I wasn’t certain if either of us believed that.

Before I could so much as say a prayer, Brex came out the back door, yelling, “All clear. Building is clear.”

I relaxed immediately, and I noticed Georgia did as well. Brex ran toward us, his suit dirty, smoke smudges on his hands and face, but he didn’t stop when he reached them. Instead, he skidded to a halt a few paces past me, his attention on something slightly beyond us. The crowd of security guards parted and I turned to see the one man who could command any situation. The one man I most wanted to see and the one man who definitely should not be here. Because Alexander’s life did matter more. To the country. To the world.

To me.

He strode past Brex, giving him a cursory nod, but keeping his eyes on me. One step. Two steps. Ten more steps. And then his arms were around me, erasing, if only temporarily, the horror of what had just happened. He held me for a long moment, before the security teams began to move us towards the cars that had been brought around to get us out. He seemed reluctant to let me go, but when he did, I looked up to find his beautiful face as hard as stone. I knew that face all too well. His eyes were cold sapphires—set, determined, deadly. I also knew what came next. There was no escaping it.

CHAPTER FOUR

ALEXANDER

I kept checking her—touching her—as if she might vanish if I looked away. Since we’d married I had always preferred to drive her, but today I let Norris take the wheel. I didn’t trust myself not to stare at her instead of keeping my eyes on the road. She’d faced enough danger today. I wouldn’t risk her again.

Clara kept her face pressed against my shoulder. On another day, she might have done it to avoid the paparazzi. But the Range Rover’s windows were tinted and I suspected the reason Clara kept her face turned away from the glass was to avoid seeing the destruction outside. I’d had an initial briefing and knew the situation wasn’t as bad as it looked. Because it had looked bad—very, very bad. Somehow, now didn’t feel like the time to update her, though. Not while she was still shaking. Not while the memory was still so fresh. She would ask soon enough and then I would. Not a moment before.

“Are we going home?” she asked in a soft voice. Her words were searching, her lost eyes looked into mine.

I shook my head, knowing how she was going to react to this bit of news. She had a stubborn streak that I loved, but right now I didn’t want to deal with it. I wanted to be in control. Of something. Of anything. Later, everyone would tell me this wasn’t my fault, but it wouldn’t matter. I hadn’t put my foot down when others had changed the plans. I should have sent Norris immediately rather than wait. I wasn’t budging on what I wanted now. “I want you checked out by a doctor. Both of you.”

She couldn’t argue with me on that, even as she looked to Norris, who gave no hint of having heard our “secret.” It might be poor form to bring up the baby, but I wouldn’t be able to focus until I knew they were both unharmed. I wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer to my body, wishing I had never let her out of my sight.

Most of the injuries from the explosion had been routed to a small hospital near the school. I wanted to avoid that, knowing the press would descend like vultures. It took us longer to get to St. Mary’s, but we had family doctors there. Right now, I needed to be surrounded by people I trusted. Norris had sent a team ahead of us, enabling us to utilize the south door. Since most of the media had swarmed the other hospital, it was an extra cautious move—one I appreciated.