The One Who Got Away (Wilde Ways #12) - Cynthia Eden Page 0,67

make sure the blood wasn’t his. “I figured it out.”

The two perps had been taken away in separate ambulances. Cal appeared to be in critical condition. He’d been shot several times, but the worst damage appeared to be from a bullet that had lodged near his spine. As for the other guy—no ID had been on him. He had a broken nose, a fractured cheekbone, and he’d been missing a tooth.

“Heard you beat the hell out of—”

Antony turned toward Eric. “He tried to shoot Ella.”

“Don’t think he’ll be making that mistake again.”

He’d better not. “He’s also the bastard who shot Cal. And I’m thinking his gun—the one that the cops retrieved from the scene—will turn out to be the weapon used to kill Axel Walker.”

“That is a possibility.”

He looked away. Went back to searching the scene. Ella stood near the detective. Their heads were together as they talked softly. “I’m breaking my contract with Wilde.”

“Are you now?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll pay the full fee.”

“I had no doubt about that.”

Ella tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. Gestured toward the building.

“The perps are in custody.” Technically in custody in an ambulance. “The case is over. I don’t need protection any longer.” His voice was too rough. Low and gravelly. He felt off. Distant and separated from everything that was happening. “Ella is no longer my bodyguard.”

“Did you tell her that?”

“Yes.”

“I see.”

He didn’t really care what the other man saw. “I’ve answered dozens of questions for the cops. If they have more, they know where to find me.” He turned away. “I have work to do.”

But Eric stepped into his path. “What kind of work is that?”

Ella was almost shot. “I’ll ID the bastard who tried to shoot Ella.” The current mystery man. “Call me crazy, but I’d like to know everything I can discover about the jerk who decided to screw with my life and who tried to take hers.” Why had he targeted Antony? And was anyone else involved?

Antony wanted the mess over. Case closed but…

He believed in being thorough. Of checking every single detail. In order to do his research, he had to get away from the swarm of cops and get back to his computers.

Antony rolled his shoulders. “Take care of Ella, would you? Make sure she gets home safely.” He stepped around Eric and advanced toward the waiting SUV.

“Can’t do that.”

His steps slowed. Antony glanced over his shoulder. “Excuse me?”

“You’re just gonna leave her without a word? Walk away now?”

“It’s not…not a good idea for me to be around Ella right now.” He couldn’t be around her. Eric didn’t get what was happening. No one did. Something had happened to Antony in that factory. He could still feel the thud of his fists as he pounded at the perp. The blood that had slid between his fingers.

His control had shattered. For a moment, he’d almost become someone else. Someone who had been close to killing with his bare hands.

Hands that touched Ella…

“I’ll talk to her tomorrow.” He would be back to normal by tomorrow. Would have all of his walls in place by tomorrow. He would be the man Ella thought he was tomorrow.

Not tonight. It wasn’t safe to be around Ella tonight. His control hadn’t returned. He was faking it. Standing apart from everyone else. Being disconnected because if he got too close…

They will all see through the lie.

Eric was already too close. He had to get away from Eric. Had to get away from everyone before he screwed things up.

Ella had said she loved him. The best words he’d ever heard in his whole life. But…she loved the man she thought he was. He couldn’t let her see him with the walls breaking down. If she did, he feared she would run again. Then there would be no other chances for him.

He had to stay away from her that night. “Make sure she gets home okay,” he said again. He couldn’t leave until he made sure she was safe. “Put guards at her place. I’ll pay any price.”

“You always say that.”

“Just get your best damn guards around her!”

Eric walked closer to him. “Why does Ella need guards?”

Antony whirled to fully face him. “Because I need her safe! Because I don’t know if anyone else is involved. Because if someone wanted to hurt me…” His words stopped.

She’s the way to do it.

“You don’t think we got all the players in this mess?”

“I need to be sure.” When it came to Ella and any threats to her,