He felt the change and his heart thudded with it. He had imagined her lost in the dark, alone and in need of comfort and physical contact. So thinking, he had buried his own needs and had kissed her as a friend might, with affection and understanding. Her response was thunder and lightning. His fingers tightened on her face as he murmured her name.

The lights came on in a flash.

It happened very quickly then, but Bennett would remember, for a lifetime, each movement, each sound. There was no time for fear, only for surprise, then disillusionment.

When the lights went on, he stiffened. She knew in that moment that Deboque’s man had not made his escape as she had hoped, but was waiting to take advantage of the opportunity that had presented itself. Without hesitation she whirled out of Bennett’s arms and half shoved him through the door. The man’s gun was drawn, but so was hers. And she was very fast.

Bennett had seen the man, and his weapon. He had pushed himself off the door to shield her even as she’d fired. For a moment, he simply stared, stunned at seeing the man fall and lay still. Then he saw the pistol in Hannah’s hand. Surprise came and went. His face became very impassive. When he spoke, his voice was neutral.

“What game are you playing, and for whom?”

She’d never killed before. She’d been trained to, of course, but had never actually ended a life by her own hand. As she stood looking down, the gun felt foreign and slimy in her hand. Her face was very pale, her eyes very dark when she turned to Bennett. “I’ll have to explain, but there isn’t time.” She heard the sound of running feet and struggled to pull herself together. “Please trust me.”

“That’s an interesting request at this point.” He started to brush by her to go to the man below.

“Bennett, please.” Grabbing his arm, she drew up beside him. “I’ll tell you whatever I can later. You can verify it all with Reeve or your father.”

She felt his muscles tense. “My father?”

“Please, for his sake, the sake of your family, play this out with me.” She pushed the gun into his hand just as Reeve arrived with five guards on his heels. Now she let reaction set it. Again, truth was often the best cover.

“He tried to shoot the prince.” Hannah let her voice shake and leaned heavily against Bennett. “He was going to kill him. If Bennett hadn’t . . .” Trailing off, she buried her face against Bennett’s shoulder.