Glitter and Gunfire. Cynthia Eden

men in masks inched closer as everyone else in the room started to rush for the doors.

      So much for everyone freezing. I’m the one they want.

      And if tall, dark and handsome hadn’t just tried to be a white knight, the gunmen would have gotten her.

      The EOD agent had just ruined her plans.

      * * *

      “FOUR MEN, ALL ARMED,” Logan Quinn murmured into his mouthpiece as he kept his eyes on the scene unfolding before him. His fingers tightened around the binoculars. He sure hadn’t been expecting the attack to be so public.

      There were at least a hundred civilians in that ballroom. Some very well-connected civilians with pull in too many countries to count. If the gunmen started firing...

      We can’t let that happen.

      “It’s time for us to go in,” Logan said, knowing that the man listening to his comm feed would be ready to attack. Gunner Ortez was always ready.

      Now, if Cale Lane would just get the pretty blonde out of harm’s way, then the Shadow Agents could attack.

      * * *

      “THERE ARE FOUR of us,” the gunman growled, “and only one of you. It’s a bad night to play hero.”

      Cale kept his weapon up and ready. Chaos surrounded him, and while most of the people were running for any exit they could find, Cassidy hadn’t so much as budged an inch behind him. The woman should have fled for safety.

      She also shouldn’t have offered herself up as a willing sacrifice. They’d deal with that part later.

      After he got rid of the gunmen.

      “What makes you so sure I’m alone?” Cale asked. The ballroom, with all of its windows that looked out over the city—well, it sure allowed plenty of people the opportunity to look back in. “Drop your weapons,” Cale ordered. “All of you—drop them while you still have the chance.”

      Laughter. He’d expected that. They’d foolishly think that he was bluffing. They’d find out, too late, that he wasn’t.

      The laughter died away. The guy’s finger began to tighten around the trigger as he took aim at Cale. “Mister, you’re dead.”

      No, he wasn’t.

      Cale shot his own weapon, firing right at the man in black. The two shots blasted almost simultaneously.

      More screams. More shouts.

      More chaos.

      Cale grabbed Cassidy and rushed toward the exit—the back door that she’d tried to get him to take earlier. The gunman’s bullet had grazed his side, barely scraping him, while his own had sunk into the man’s right shoulder.

      Aiming wouldn’t be so easy for the guy now.

      “No!” Cassidy yelled as she dug in her heels. “Stop! I can’t leave!”

      Yes, she could. Staying wasn’t an option for her. His mission—his assigned duty—was to protect her.

      When she tried to break free of his grip and run back toward the gunman, Cale just held her tighter. Then he lifted her over his shoulder.

      “What are you doing?” She kicked him, hard, her heels coming close to his new wound. “Let me go!”

      Why? Hell, the woman must have a death wish.

      Figured.

      Gunfire exploded. Rat-a-tat. Ah, the sound he was so familiar with...only they weren’t in a jungle, and the civilians weren’t safe.

      I need cover, here...come on...come on...

      His team was out there, lurking in the shadows. An EOD agent didn’t head into a mission without support, even a strange mission like this one.

      Logan Quinn and Gunner Ortez were out there. They would have his back, they would—

      Logan burst into the ballroom. He didn’t fire his weapon. Logan just launched right at one of the masked men.

      As he hesitated at the staff exit, Cale’s gaze swept the room. Another masked man was aiming his gun at the redhead, the woman who’d been talking with Cassidy earlier. The man looked like he was about to kill her—

      But a bullet hit him instead. A bullet that hadn’t come from inside the ballroom.

      Instead, it had burst through the window on the far left, shattering the glass. Cale knew exactly who’d fired the shot.

      Gunner. The ex-SEAL sniper never missed a target.

      His cover was there.

      Now, time to get the lady out.

      Cale kicked out with his foot, throwing open the exit. Others had already started down the narrow staircase. Cassidy was screaming. Yeah, what a way to show her appreciation.

      Hell was breaking loose behind them. He just needed to get her to safety, then he could go back and help Gunner and Logan contain the scene.

      He made it down to the first floor, easily holding his struggling captive.

      As soon as he stepped out of the stairwell, Cale saw security guards rushing forward. Better late than never, huh? At least they’d finally decided to join the party.

      He thrust Cassidy at one of them. “Take care of her!”

      Cassidy yanked free. “I don’t need taking care of!” Her hair had come loose. It tumbled around her shoulders. With her flushed cheeks, glittering eyes and that wild mane of hair, she didn’t look so ice-princess perfect anymore.

      It grated but...she was even more beautiful that way.

      The guard who’d held Cassidy for all of three seconds started stuttering. Cale ignored him and leaned in close to Cassidy. “If you want to keep living, you’ll stay down here. Stay with the guards, and I’ll take care of the men upstairs.”

      Only...was that smoke coming from upstairs? Hell, it was. And when he strained, he could hear the crackle of flames.

      The stampede for the main door became even wilder as everyone caught the scent in the air. The security guards didn’t stay to help Cassidy. They fled.

      Everyone fled.

      Everyone but Cale.

      And Cassidy.

      Actually, that crazy woman tried to go back up the stairs. He caught her arm and yanked her against him. Death wish. He pulled out the small transmitter that would connect him to the other agents. “What the hell is going on up there?” Cale demanded.

      “Leave the scene,” Logan’s voice immediately blasted back. “Two attackers are dead. The others retreated but left a fire in their wake.”

      Not the news he wanted to hear.

      Cassidy kept trying to run for the stairs. The woman was trying to drive him insane.

      “Come on!” He locked his arm around her stomach and pulled her back against him.

      “No! My friend is up there! Genevieve! Gen—”

      Other people were rushing down the service stairs. They were about to be crushed.

      He could hear sirens blasting. More help, coming as quickly as they could.

      “Ballroom is clear,” Logan barked. “Get the target out.”

      When the team leader gave an order, you didn’t question him. Cale picked Cassidy up into his arms and carried her out.

      “No!” Cassidy yelled. “Genevieve, I need—”

      “She’s clear!” They were outside. Fresh air hit him. He glanced back. Saw the flash of flames in the upstairs windows. And...saw the shadow of a man dropping down the side of the building.

      Logan.