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Robbie assisted the man to his knees and then released him.

The man obediently put his hands behind his head, staring up at him.

“You should all get somewhere safe, not worry about the police coming for me. There are others searching Venice for you. The deadline for the hit is midnight. Half a mil for a confirmed kill. They’ll be getting desperate to find you.

” He locked eyes with Robbie. “Don’t pass go.

Don’t cuff me. Just take your bodyguards and your girl and run. ”

Robbie didn’t allow nerves to affect him, but those words made his stomach flip over and his palms sweat. The man could simply be trying to escape before the police came, but he felt the truth behind the words.

He looked at River. “There’s a hit out for me on the dark web. The job had to be done today and all they know is I’m in Venice. He has a card naming Big Buddha as the murderer.”

River’s eyes flitted around.

“This threat is legit,” Robbie said in a low voice. “You good staying with him? I’ll take Alice and have Curtis watch my back.”

“Get to the condo,” River agreed. “I’ll get Merrick and Price coming your way. They’ll have Curtis’s location.”

He and River both knew he wasn’t supposed to leave a crime scene, but they could give their statements later or over the phone.

He wouldn’t risk Alice’s safety by staying out in the open.

If the guy was to be trusted, multiple hit men were searching these convoluted streets on their way to take him out.

The only reason he hadn’t been targeted all day was because they’d been an hour and a half away in Sirmione .

He nodded to River, then rushed to Curtis and Alice. Wrapping his arm around her, he said to Curtis, “Give us a few paces and keep watch. There are others.”

“Got it.” Curtis waited for them to precede him.

Robbie ushered Alice forward. She trembled against his side. He understood her fear.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“You were almost killed. Of course I’m not all right.” She glanced back at the man before they turned a corner. A shudder went through her. “Is that Big Buddha?”

“I don’t think so. He claimed he was a hit man hired to kill me.”

“Robbie,” she whimpered, wrapping her arm around him.

Robbie felt the significance of her clinging to him. She didn’t want him to die. He concurred.

All those years in the military, most of them as a Ranger, he’d survived in extreme danger. He’d had his trusted unit as backup and been armed, prepared, and had the proper gear on.

He wanted to survive now more than ever. With Alice close, he could see a future dream opening up that he’d long since buried. It would be difficult with his career and her mother loathing him, but he wanted to fight for Alice and their love.

Right now, though, he had to fight for life. Unfortunately, running was the only option. He was unarmed, had no idea where the next threat would come, and Alice’s safety took priority.

He upped their pace, his gaze darting around as the night deepened around them. Curtis at his back was reassuring, but a sniper could pop out of any of these windows, be hiding under a bridge, or sliding by on the approaching gondola.

He imagined they did night gondola tours, but wouldn’t it be atypical for one man to be alone with the gondolier?

“Curtis,” he warned.

Robbie dodged, shoving Alice into a nearby alley and pinning her against the wall.

Shots rang out. A man yelled in surprise.

Probably the unsuspecting gondolier. More shots.

Robbie prayed Curtis was all right. They seemed to be gunning for him, but a hired hitman wouldn’t hesitate to kill someone shooting at him .

Robbie had been shot at many times in his tours as a Ranger, but it was shocking to be the target of unknown hit men from the dark web, out on these foreign streets with night falling, unarmed, and most importantly, with Alice to protect.

The shots stopped. He didn’t move, keeping Alice pinned in, his eyes searching above, in front, and behind.

Alice’s breath came in fast pants. He wanted to reassure her, to be holding her for something other than a life-threatening situation.

If he lived through this, he would put his heart on the line and beg her to give him a chance to earn her trust and love again.

“It’ll be all right,” was all he could manage right now.

Footsteps. He whirled to face the threat, keeping Alice behind him. He hated being unarmed worse than he hated the fifteen years of pain between him and the woman he loved.

Curtis. With his gun drawn. Robbie let himself breathe again.

“I took out the shooter,” Curtis said. “Sent River a pin of his location to share with police. Let’s move.”

“Can you double time?” he asked Alice, taking her hand.

“If that means run fast, I’ll do my best.”

He gave her a slight smile. She was brave. Her face was pale and her eyes hollow, but she wasn’t quivering and crying.

Curtis glanced out of the alley, took stock, and then nodded to him.

Robbie dodged out of the alley and ran toward their condo.

It was only a few streets over and across one bridge.

Alice kept pace, holding tightly to his hand, her breathing ragged.

There wasn’t time to check for more shooters.

Did the hitmen know their condo location, or had they scouted him out before the assigned hit day?

Maybe these two had simply gotten lucky and there were dozens of shooters searching for him.

Two large shapes with guns drawn appeared around the corner. Robbie swept Alice off her feet and spun, knowing their luck wouldn’t hold a third time. There was nowhere to hide. He dropped down, sheltering her with his larger frame. Could Curtis take out two threats? If only Robbie was armed!

No shots.

“It’s Price and Merrick,” Curtis said .

“Oh.” Robbie didn’t have a great response besides relief. The good guys had arrived. Three guards was much preferable to one.

He stood with Alice in his arms.

She clung to his neck, staring up at him. “You don’t have to carry me.”

“I want to,” he said. He wanted her close. Wanted to know she was safe.

Her breathing didn’t settle, but she cuddled into his neck and chest.

He strode forward. Price and Merrick nodded to him and took up positions surrounding them.

They all rushed down the final street and to the front door of the building the penthouse was located in.

Price typed in the code and Merrick swung the door open.

The relief Robbie felt as they climbed into the old school elevator was immense.

Unless someone knew their building and had gotten inside, they were safe. He cradled Alice close.

“What happened?” Price asked as they rose far too slowly.

“Multiple shooters,” Robbie explained. “A hit out for me on the dark web.”

Price’s eyes widened.

“But only if they got me by midnight.” That didn’t make sense. A hit was usually a hit. What was the significance of today?

“It’s not even a holiday,” Alice murmured.

He glanced down at her. Her face was wet with tears. Fear or relief? Probably both. Even with all his training and battle experience, the past twenty minutes had been intense.

“It is,” Merrick said. “It’s Flag Day back home.”

“Everyone else was killed on a holiday,” Robbie said, remembering the file he’d read on the flight over.

She nodded and clung tighter to him.

They reached the twelfth floor and hurried to their penthouse door. Merrick typed in the code, and they all went inside. They hurried up the stairs and into the closest suite, staying away from the windows and balcony in case a high-tech shooter using thermal imaging knew their location.

He rushed to tell River and Merrick the details, setting Alice on her feet and wishing he could keep holding her .

She paced in front of them. As Robbie finished, she spun on him. Her dark eyes were distraught. “I can’t. I can’t watch you die.”

Robbie’s eyes widened. She cared deeply for him. The horror of tonight had convinced her to resurrect their love, just as it had him. If he could be with Alice again, being targeted and almost killed was more than worth it.

He strode up to her and framed her beautiful face with his palms, savoring the feel of her warm skin against his hands. He wanted to pledge his love and beg her to forgive him for ever walking away, but the guards were watching and he felt it was wise to proceed slowly.

“We’re safe, Alice,” he said, his eyes searching hers. “We’re inside and away from windows. The hit was only for today. It’ll be all right.”

Price, Curtis, and Merrick eased away, taking up defensive positions in case anyone got through the door or patio.

“It’s not about us being safe, Robbie. It’s about you. The killer only wants to take those who are close to me.”

He nodded and tried to smile. “If the pattern holds, we’re safe until the Fourth of July.”

The words fell flat.

“You’re forgetting Juneteenth, and this isn’t a joke,” Alice hurled at him, yanking away from his touch.

“I know that.”

They stared each other down. He wanted to tell her so many things, most of all that he loved her, that he would earn her trust and keep her safe. Was she ready to hear his proclamations? Should he wait until they were alone and she’d calmed down?

Curtis stepped forward. “River just texted. He’s at the police station with the assailant. They want you both to come in, but he’s refusing to give away your location.”

“Tell them we’ll come at midnight,” Robbie said, still holding Alice’s gaze.

“All right.” Price smirked. “Actually, I’ll call Aiden. He’ll get them to hold off until morning.”

“I’d appreciate that.”

“Curtis. Merrick. Sweep their rooms and stand guard.” Price looked to them. “Keep your shades drawn and lights dim. Stay away from the windows.”

“Got it.” Robbie knew all of this, but Price had been a captain in the Navy and was well-respected by all of Aiden’s operatives.

Robbie waited for Curtis and Merrick to declare their rooms clear and then escorted Alice to her door.

Curtis stayed back but was still in the hallway and could hear everything he said.

Robbie didn’t care. He had to talk to her.

His heart beat high in his throat. He was more nervous now than he’d been running from bullets or possible assailants.

Then, it had been all reaction. Alice’s response right now could determine his future.

“Alice.” His voice was gravelly with emotion.

He could’ve died many times over, during his years in the Army and especially as a Ranger, but almost getting taken out by a hitman with Alice by his side was making him reevaluate everything.

He had to take his shot. “It’s obvious you care about me.

Can you … let down your guard and let me in again? ”

Her eyes widened as she stared up at him.

“It’s more obvious to me than ever that I need to keep my distance.

I haven’t even kissed you and the killer has a bullseye painted on your head.

” The fire died and her shoulders sagged.

“I can’t endanger you like this. I should go home and stay far away from you. Then you’ll be safe.”

“No,” Robbie protested. Talk about his plan backfiring. He’d been convinced tonight they should be together, and she seemed to be convinced that being together would endanger him. “Please don’t leave.”

Staying together was the only way he could hope to gain her trust and prove they were right together.

It was all so clear to him, but she saw it differently.

He needed time and lots of help from the angels above.

“Brandon will have Aiden or Sutton Smith send in more bodyguards if we need. We’ll be safe. Please stay. With me.”

She studied him, and he prayed she’d agree.

“I’ll pray about it,” she finally murmured. Then she slipped through the door and closed it behind her.

It slammed into him again that their views of tonight were vastly different. He thought the threat would bring them together, but it had done the opposite for Alice.

The worries of the past hour threatened to overwhelm him. Alice in danger. Almost being killed by two hit men. A hit out for him on the dark web. Alice not admitting she cared or wanted to be together, wanting to go home instead.

Robbie strode toward his room, yanking out his phone. Ollie would get to the bottom of the request on the dark web. If Robbie could convince Alice the danger was over, maybe she would stay with him.

He feared he’d lost his chance with her and irrevocably damaged her trust fifteen years ago when he walked away.

Knowing he could’ve easily died tonight had changed his perspective.

Having Alice in his life was now his top priority.

He’d always teased that he loved a challenge, but this was one he had to win.

Alice was the love of his life. How could he resurrect the love she once had for him and keep her safe at the same time?