Page 47 of The Risk

But Gene was a man who had everything to live for now.

He pulled Chantal even further behind him.

As Detective Wright moved closer.

“I’m not going to let you hurt her, you bastard. You can shoot me, but it’ll bring every cop in the diner running. I saw at least four of Charlie’s teammates in there right now. Lake, MacNamara, Rodriguez, Naylor—they are all in there right now. And they won’t let you get away.”

“You think they would let me get away anyway? Soon as Fields puts it together that those dumbasses who took her are Candy’s brothers, and I am Candy’s brother—I’m going away. I’m not stupid.” He paused for a long moment, actually gave almost a half-sob. “I am a man with nothing to lose, Hiller. Nothing to lose. I am a desperate man.”

Well, Gene did havesomeoneto lose. And he would never let that happen.

Wright got closer. Just as Chantal kicked out and kneed the man right in the crotch.

Gene couldn’t stop him, not with the damned gun pointed right at Chantal. But he could protect her. Gene wrapped himself around her and took her to the ground, yelling for help as loudly as he could. He turned. To face the threat.

Detective Wright was doubled over.

It was all the opening Gene needed. He struck out.

Just as the gun discharged.

And fire sliced right through his arm.

Gene just kept fighting.

47

She was almost hitby the bullet. Chantal would have to deal with that knowledge later. But for now, Gene and Detective Wright were rolling in the gravel. Between Gene’s truck and the one next to it. They couldn’t even be seen from the window.

Chantal pulled herself to her feet. She tried to get closer to the fighting men but there just wasn’t room. She couldn’t help Gene at all.

Detective Wright was too big, and too strong, and all she would do was get in Gene’s way. Causing them both to be hurt, or worse.She saw the blood.

She had heard Gene cry out. She knew… he was hurt. They needed help. Police.

Charlie.Charlie carried a gun. And there were others who could help inside.

She ran. Back inside. Where help waited. She just ran.

Until she met the door. She pulled it open. And then they were there. People who could help her. Help them.

“Help! We need help!” Chantal just yelled it, not even thinking there were children—including her own niece andnephew—inside. “Charlie! Help Gene! Hurry! It’s Detective Wright, he just shot Gene! Hurry!”

Men came from every direction. Women, too. In TSP polos.

She had never been so happy to see so many TSP polos in her life.

Charlotte grabbed her. Wrapped her hands around Chantal’s upper arms—as Charlie and Murdoch and Commander Rodriguez and all the others ran outside to help Gene. Then Ronnie, George’s wife, was there, too. And Rory. And Murdoch’s wife. Charlotte spoke. “Chantal, tell me what happened.”

Chantal pulled in a breath. And the words just spilled out—as she tried to run back outside.

But Murdoch’s wife wouldn’t let her. The taller woman blocked Chantal bodily. “You can’t go back outside. But it’s okay. They’ll help Gene. It’ll be okay. I promise.”

But if he was hurt badly, if something happened to him, Chantal didn’t think it would ever be okay again. “I need to get out there with him.”

Rory wrapped one arm over her lightly. “No. We can’t let you back out there. I don’t want to disturb any evidence, but we’re here. You’re safe now, I promise, but we’re not letting you go back out there, Chan. We’re not.”

She just clung to her sister-in-law and waited.

---