Exposure - Kelly Moran Page 0,74

He had his hand on her forehead as a buffer between it and the bamboo floor. His weight was crushing.

Hot, shaky breath fanned her cheek. "Stay down, Miss Crowne," he grated. "I've got you."

"Oh God. Max?"

He groaned as if in pain. Drew in a harsh breath. "Yes, ma'am." His body shifted slightly, as if looking over his shoulder. "Just a minute more. The feds are chasing him on the street."

Chasing who?

"What's happening?" A sob rose in her chest.

Oh God. Was Noah okay? Where was Nicole?

"It's okay, Miss Crowne. I've got you."

A violent shudder ripped through her body. Max held her tighter, pinning her to the floor.

"We're clear!" Someone shouted from behind them, making her flinch.

Max eased up enough for her to roll over. His pained gaze swept over her before his arms gave out and he momentarily collapsed on top of her. With a groan, he raised himself again and muttered, "You're okay, you're okay," as if needing to assure himself. He rolled to his back next to her, panting heavily.

"Raven!"

Oh, Noah! Thank God.

She sat up, trembling from head to toe. Disoriented, she pressed her hand to her forehead as the room spun. Where was he?

The men who'd charged the front door were walking around, issuing patrons out of the gallery. The cops? Feds? Was the hell had happened?

Why couldn't she stop shaking?

"Raven!" Noah rushed across the room, dropping to his knees beside her. He looked like he didn't know whether to kiss her or kill someone. Anger and concern shone his eyes, in the twist of his mouth. Then, he stopped breathing.

"You're hit." He craned around. "Get me an ambulance!" When he turned back, his breaths were soughing and his hands frantically ran over her body. Tears welled in his wide, blue eyes. "Where, baby? Where are you hit?" His hands pressed, searched.

She looked down to find blood on the front of her mint green dress. Panic clawed at her throat. But??/p>

No holes. No pain. The cold numbness of shock began to recede. "Not mine," she whispered. "Not mine."

She shoved Noah aside and crawled to Max, still laying on his back. Her trembling hands, red with blood, cupped his cheeks. "Max?"

"I'm fine??iss Crowne," he grit through clenched teeth. "A through and through. Don't think the bullet hit anything vital."

She looked down where his large hand covered his side. Blood seeped out from under his fingers. "Oh God, no. You got shot."

"Raven." Noah touched her shoulder, but she shrugged him off. Max was hurt and it was her fault. He had protected her, shoving her to the ground and covering her body. Just like??/p>

Just like her father had done all those years ago in that bunker.

Guilt slammed into her, churning her stomach. "Let me see, Max." She eased his hand away. Blood oozed from a small hole. So much blood. His white dress shirt clung to his skin, soaked. Anger and panic rose up to choke her. She pressed her palm to the wound. "You idiot! You got shot. For me?"

Max slid his gaze to hers, his hand covering hers on his wound. "Worth it. Just doing my job. Will be??ood as new tomorrow."

The past few minutes caught up with her and she broke. Tears blurred her eyes.

Two of their guards knelt beside Max. One gently took her wrist and removed her hand from Max's side. He pressed a towel to the area with enough pressure for Max to grunt. "Medic's on the way."

"Raven, baby. Let me look at you. Are you hurt?"

She whirled and wrapped her arms around Noah's neck, burying her face in his shoulder. "No. I'm??ot hurt." Terrified and sick with guilt and confused, but not hurt. Absorbing his warmth, his safe embrace, she breathed him in and clung.

He cradled her to his hard body, standing and backing them away from his team. Pulling her from him, he cupped her cheeks. His gaze dropped as if to verify she was okay.

"Are you sure?" Frenetic worry rounded his eyes, wrinkled his brows. He looked on the verge of homicidal and more than a little lost when his jaw clenched. His hands shook against her cheeks. Tension radiated off him in thready pulses.

She swiftly nodded, wanting to assure him and concerned about his mindset. He was the steady one, the rock. If he crumbled, there was no hope for them tonight. More tears spilled, trekking down her cheeks. She looked around, seeing Nicole with a group of people standing outside talking to an officer. Relief flooded her.

"Ah, fuck." Noah