Aspen peeked from behind Declan’s back and took in the thugs. Her heart raced, seeing that they were completely outnumbered and no one was around to help them. She slowly reached into her purse and pulled out her cellphone. She kept her body hidden behind Declan so the men couldn’t see her actions.

She’d have to alert the marshals now.

She didn’t have a choice.

“I think you all need to move along here,” Declan drawled.

His body was coiled tight, and she knew he was preparing to defend her.

“I think we are good where we are,” the leader replied.

The men spread out in front of them.

Aspen quickly slid her finger across the screen of her phone and hit the last text she’d received from US Marshall Ball.

Help, she typed out. She sent the text and focused on the men surrounding them.

“Aspen, get in the car,” Declan ordered, his voice cold and hard.

“No, Aspen. Don’t,” the leader sneered.

A chill slid down her spine at the way he’d pronounced her name. She knew without a doubt they were here for her.

Her cover was blown.

She sent up a prayer that the marshals would get her message before it was too late. She wouldn’t be able live with herself if something happened to Declan because of her.

“Get in the car, Aspen,” Declan repeated, sliding to the right to allow her to slip inside.

She eyed the men and shifted toward the door.

“Get her!” the leader ordered.

Declan pushed her inside the car. “Glovebox!” he shouted.

Without hesitation, she dove for it. She gripped the handle and pulled it open. The driver’s-side door opened, and a thug slid in. She cried out from his grip on her arm. Declan quickly reached inside the car, but he was dragged away from her.

“Let me go!” she screamed.

The sounds of a fight ensued outside the vehicle. She grew frantic seeing the men converge on Declan. He was hanging in there, swinging his fists, but the four of them were proving to be too much for him. The man’s grip tightened on her arm, tugging her across the console between the driver and passenger seats, and she lost sight of Declan. Her gaze landed on Declan’s gun.

“Come on, bitch!” the man growled.

She stretched herself and brushed the weapon with her fingers while fighting against her attacker. She surged forward and grabbed it. She’d only ever held a gun a couple of times in her life. Her father had wanted her to know how to protect herself when she moved out on her own.

She cried out as she was dragged from the car. She had to protect herself. If they took her, there was no telling what would happen to herself.

Take the safety off.

She remembered that and flipped it. Wrapped both hands firmly around the handle. Her body hit the ground once he’d hauled her completely from the car. She turned and aimed at his chest and pulled the trigger. Her arms jolted from the force of the weapon.

His body jerked, and he took a step back. His eyes were filled with shock. His mouth flopped open a few times before he crumpled to the ground. With the sound of the gunshot and the echo of sirens making their way to them, curses lined the air.

She stood and aimed the weapon at the frozen men who’d attacked Declan, who was out of her sight.

“Get away from him!” she shouted. Her heart raced, and her hands shook. She didn’t think she had it in her to shoot someone else and hit them. Her aim was faltering, but the men apparently didn’t want to take a chance with her.

“Let’s get out of here. Cops are coming!” one of the men snapped.

“Grab Diesel!”

They began to scramble, and she made her way around the car with the gun still aimed at the men. She caught sight of Declan lying on the ground, and her heart seemed to jump into her throat. The sounds of the sirens grew closer.

“Leave him! We have to go!” the leader spat.

“Declan!” she cried out, flying to his side.

He sat up, his eyes wide and frantic. His face was bruised, and blood trickled from a cut on his forehead and the corner of his mouth. He relaxed when his eyes connected with hers.

“Aspen.” He grimaced.

She knelt by him, her lip trembling from trying to hold back her tears. She couldn’t let loose now.

A mixture of unmarked cars and police blue-and-white cruisers flew up and parked near them, surrounding the area.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered. Her heart pounded away at the sight of his injuries.

Shouting filled the air as law enforcement swarmed the parking lot.

“There’s nothing for you to be sorry for.” He pushed himself up to a standing position. He swayed on his feet, and she stood to help him. “I’ll take that.” He reached for his gun.

She gladly handed it over, unable to believe she’d shot someone. Just the thought that she may have taken a life nauseated her. She couldn’t bring herself to look to where the man had fallen. Declan wiped the gun with his top then pulled her near him while he reached in his back pocket.

Uniformed officers approached them, guns pointed at them. Aspen gasped, pressing closer to Declan. His grip tightened on her while he held up his badge.

“Sergeant Declan Owen. SWAT,” he announced.

Two officers stood near them, lowering their weapons.

Aspen took in the scene surrounding them. Police and investigators converged on the area. It was like a scene from a movie playing out in front of her. A few uniforms were over on the other side of the car where the man she shot lay. They called out for the EMTs to come to them.

“I’m Officer Cruz.” He was tall and of muscular build. His hair was kept clipped short. His eyes moved back and forth between Declan and Aspen.

She noted that he still kept his weapon in his hands but now it was trained on the ground.

“I’m Officer Reeves,” the shorter one said. He, too, kept his weapon in his hands.

Aspen, not feeling too keen on them, stayed by Declan’s side.

“We received reports of an attack on one white male and one black female here in the parking lot along with gunshots fired.”

“That would be correct,” Declan snapped. He looked around as if seeing the chaos for the first time. “We’re the victims. Now are you going to take our statements or are you going to stand there with your gun in your hands?”

They both jumped at his tone and put away their weapons. Cruz, appearing to be new, struggled to get his notepad and pen out while Reeves shot him an impatient look.

“May we get the female’s name, please?” Officer Reeves asked Declan.

“Aspen. Aspen Hale,” Aspen replied, clearing her throat. Her hands grew sweaty as her nerves rose.

Where were the US Marshals?

“And may I ask why you were at the zoo?” Cruz asked, scribbling in his notepad.

“Are you fucking kidding me? What the fuck you think we were doing here?” Declan growled.

The two officer’s eyes widened at his snarl. Aspen held back a smirk at their reactions.

Well, duh. They were just leaving the zoo. What did he think people did at the zoo?

“Sorry. So were you leaving or coming to the zoo?” Cruz asked.

“Leaving,” Declan replied. He was not even trying to hide his irritation.

Aspen began to feel sorry for the young cop with the way Declan was glaring at him.

“Please describe what happened?” Officer Reeves cut in.

Declan blew out a deep breath and began to recount the story of them leaving the zoo. She leaned her head against his arm as he told their story. When it came to the part about shooting the man, Aspen’s heart lodged in her throat. Did Declan just say he shot him?

“So you shot the man?” Reeves asked, asking for clarification.

“No, you didn’t. I did.” Aspen shook her head. She didn’t want him to get in any trouble for this. If anyone was to pay for shooting the thug, it would be her.

Aspen’s gaze landed on the EMTs lifting a stretcher with the body of the man she’d shot. She swallowed hard, tearing her eyes from the sight of them pulling a white sheet over his face. The other thugs were handcuffed and led to a black van.

This madness needed to end soon, but even after she testified against Ray, her life would still not be what it used to be.

She turned back and caught the two officers glancing at her.

Declan gently turned her to him. His eyes searched hers.

“I think you may be having some memory deficit from the attack. I think you hit your head when he dragged you from the car. I shot the man,” Declan said slowly.

“We’re going to need both of you to come down to the station,” Officer Reeves announced.

“Is this really necessary?” Declan said.

“Sergeant, you know the routine. This involved a shooting with an off-duty officer. Both of you will need to come to the precinct for official statements and questioning.” Officer Reeves snapped his notebook shut and returned Declan’s stare. “And Sergeant, we will need to confiscate your weapon. Standard protocol.”

“Fine. But we go together,” Declan agreed. He released the clip before handing the weapon to the officer. Declan dropped both into the evidence bag for them to secure it.

Reeves nodded and motioned for them to accompany them to a squad car. Declan entwined his fingers with hers and walked alongside her. Aspen was relieved that she wasn’t going to be put in handcuffs. She glanced over at Declan’s face and knew he wouldn’t have taken her being put in the restraints well. A little tick in his jaw jumped.

There were so many people in the parking lot. People taking pictures of the scene, people putting number signs down by evidence. Even Declan’s car was being processed. A growl vibrated from his chest when he got a look at his car.

“Hold on. Where do you think you’re going?” a familiar voice spoke up from behind them.

They paused, turning to look at the newcomer.

The feds had arrived.

“I’m US Marshal Elliot Ball. What in the hell happened here?” Ball barked, flashing his credentials.

A couple of men in suits joined him. Aspen jumped at the tone of his voice but was still relieved he’d got her message. He’d have tracked her via her cell. His gaze landed on Aspen and dropped to her and Declan’s entwined hands.

He stopped next to Aspen, his attention focused on Declan. “Who the hell are you?”

“Sergeant Declan Owen. Since when does an assault in the zoo’s parking lot require the US Marshals?” Declan demanded, tightening his grip on her hand.

“Declan, I can explain.” Aspen sighed, turning to Declan, trying to push down the bile that was threatening to force its way up.

“You’ll do no such thing, Ms. Hale,” US Marshal Ball cut her off, motioning for her to come to him.

He glanced down at his watch, and dread filled her. She knew what that meant.

Her time in Columbia was over.

“It’s time to go, Ms. Hale.” Ball’s voice broke through her thoughts.

She glanced back to Declan, who stood with a confused expression on his face. She turned to him, tears blurring her vision. She reached up to grip his face and made him look at her. His eyes softened once they met hers.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her heart slowly breaking. She’d known that eventually this day would come. She’d have plenty of memories of him to take with her. Once again, Ray Acosta had taken everything from her, and this time, he was locked away in a jail cell doing it. “For everything. I’ll never forget you.”

“Forget me? Aspen, what the hell is going on?” His hand gripped her hip, pulling her close. His gaze shot over her shoulder to the US Marshals standing by to take her away.

“We don’t have time, Aspen. We need to go now.”

“She’s not going anywhere except down to the precinct,” Officer Reeves announced, apparently having found his balls. “Either she comes willingly or it’ll be in handcuffs.”

“You wouldn’t dare.” Declan moved to stand before her.

Cruz took a step back, but Reeves stood firm where he was.

“On what charges?” Ball demanded.

“Well, if you didn’t notice, we have a dead man and we have reason to believe it was Ms. Hale who shot him.”