Adam by Teresa Gabelman, Hot Tree Editing Page A

straight up, almost hitting Sloan and Slade in the face with her head. “Lana!” Her eyes shot to Sid.
    “Do you know what he meant?” Sid had been pacing with his phone , but stopped, looking hopeful at Caroline.
    “No, but she ’s with Adam and wherever Angelina is. She’s in trouble.” Caroline attempted to get up, but stopped when her head started to spin.
    “I know where it ’s at.” Jared headed for the door. “Come on.”
    “Go with them ,” Sloan instructed Duncan as Sid and Jared rushed out the door. “We’ll get this other shit straightened out later.”
    “You go too.” Caroline pulled her arm out of Slade’s grasp. “She might need you. I’m fine.”
    Slade looked to Sloan who nodded. “Go.” Sloan ordered.
    Caroline stood with Sloan ’s help. “Thank you.”
    “Are you sure you ’re okay?” Sloan frowned, watching her closely.
    “I ’m fine, but just so you know, I’m a history major and teach history.” Caroline leaned against his desk, still trying to get her bearings.
    Sloan shifted uncomfortably, but didn ’t break eye contact with her. “And?”
    “And…you owe me.” Caroline smiled . Even shaken by her ordeal, she had questions, lots of questions. “I want to know…everything.”
    “What did you hear while he was… ?” Sloan stopped, not really understanding what just happened.
    “Oh, I heard it all, but I still have questions.” Caroline sighed before sitting down in the nearest chair. She hated feeling weak and her insides felt like jelly.
    “Then you heard it all, Ms. Fitzpatrick ,” Sloan replied, still not breaking eye contact. “And I owe you nothing.”
    “I think not , Mr. Murphy.” Caroline’s eyes challenged him. “He made me grab my own breasts, and that alone says you owe me some easy answers.”
    “Do you browbeat your students like this?” Sloan frowned down at her.
    “All the time,” Caroline’s reply was serious.
    “And does it work?” Sloan ’s lips curved into a half-grin.
    “All the time.” Caroline ’s own grin spread across her face; she knew she had won.

Chapter 9
    It took Adam seconds to make a decision. Get shot by the woman he loved or move the fuck out of the way. His choice was move the fuck out of the way. Just as he dove for the ground , he turned to realize that she hadn’t been aiming at him, but at her husband, who stood in the doorway holding a shotgun. The bullet he thought had been meant for him splintered the wood above Robert’s head. Another round went off this time, hitting the floor in front of him.
    “You bitch!” he screamed, dodging wood and bullets. “I’m your husband. Shoot him!” He stabbed a finger at Adam.
    “You are not my husband , you bastard!” Angelina screamed, still aiming her gun at Robert, but missing him every single time.
    “How can you say that, Angel?” Robert glared at her , but his eyes shifted to Adam.
    Anger hit Adam hard , hearing the fucker call her Angel. No one called her Angel, but him. Slow to stand, Adam kept his eyes on the shotgun, knowing he would survive a blast, but Angelina would not, and this man seemed to be on the edge of losing it.
    “He is not my husband.” Angelina ’s voice quivered as much as the hand holding the gun.
    Adam took a chance to look her way , and he knew the truth in that moment; it blazed from her eyes. She was still his and had not betrayed him. At that moment, that was all that mattered.
    “I am your husband , you lying bitch!” The scream that came out of the man was like a deranged child. “Put the gun down or I’ll shoot him. I swear to God, I’ll shoot him.”
    Adam made it to his full height slowly , wanting to get between Angelina and the shotgun. Taking a step, he felt a bullet skim past his head to slam into the wall next to Robert, who had raised his shotgun toward him. Knowing he had to get the situation under control and now, he grabbed the metal folding chair to his right, and with a speed untraceable to the human