Page 37 of Out of the Shadows

Instead of complying, she swatted him away, her focus never wavering from her laptop even when two more pings rang out. For a moment, he could only stare at her dumbfounded.

“Bean. Get the fuck down,” he seethed.

Again, she waved him off. Literally. Her left hand stopped typing long enough to shoo him away. Like he was a damn fly.

A growl left his chest before he could stop it.

“Stop growling, boss. This is an armored freaking vehicle. Unless they’re shooting an RPG at us, we have nothing to worry about.”

There was no way she could be for real right now. “And how the hell do you know they aren’t?”

Gavin could have sworn she rolled her eyes, but he couldn’t be a hundred percent certain since she was still typing away.

“Because Carmichael saidgun.” She glanced at him, and he caught that familiar gleam in her blue eyes. She had an idea, had come up with a plan of some sort.

Yes, they were being shot at and chased through the streets of downtown Seattle but seeing that sparkle back in Bean’s eyes made him feel a little better. He hadn’t realized how much he’d appreciated it until it had been snuffed out both times she’d seen her mother tonight.

Before he could ask what she’d figured out, she turned to Carmichael, who was zigging and zagging them between cars. “I’ve overridden the lights. Take the next right and then make a left on Alaskan Way. Traffic’s lighter that way. I’ll make it all green for you and figure out a way to lose this asshole.”

“Hang on,” Carmichael said as he turned, the screech of tires insanely loud in the vehicle.

As they rounded the corner, Gavin lowered his window halfway. When the other car came into view, he fired two rounds into the open passenger window, aiming at the shadow shooting at them. When the person’s gun retreated, he quickly rolled his window back up.

“Did you get ’em?” Carmichael asked.

“Not sure,” Gavin muttered, keeping his eye on the car behind them.

“Turning onto Alaska,” Carmichael said. “Work your damn magic, B, and I’ll get this fucker off our ass.”

For the next few minutes, Carmichael flew through the streets of Seattle as Bean hijacked the traffic lights, turning them red immediately after their car passed through. It got hairy as they approached the ferry terminal. A wall of red taillights was in front of them since there was a line of cars disembarking.

“Where am I going, Bean?” Carmichael asked.

“Get into the far right lane.” She glanced over her shoulder, furiously typing. “When I say go, hop into the bike lane.” Three long seconds ticked by. “Go!”

Gavin grabbed the back of the driver’s seat and braced as the SUV jumped the dividing curb into the bike lane. Swerving past the line of stopped cars, they followed the narrow pathway, which was lit green for them.

“All the lights will be red at the ferry terminal, but keep going,” Bean said. “When you pass the terminal, get back onto Alaskan Way. Immediately.”

Carmichael followed her instructions, and the second he passed the terminal, she turned all the traffic lights green. Horns blared, and cars blocked the intersection. The black Audi was nowhere in sight.

“Fuck yeah!” Carmichael whooped as he sped down the street. “That was fucking awesome!”

Gavin let out a breath and looked at the woman next to him.Holy shit. He was probably going to hell for finding that insanely hot. “Good job, you guys.”

Ten minutes later, and after more instructions from Bean, Carmichael pulled to a stop at a nondescript hangar at Boeing Field. Roughly seventy yards away was their Bell 505 with Owen at the helm. Bean must have let her know the urgency was gone since Owen didn’t have the main rotor going.

By the time Gavin had rounded the SUV, Bean stood next to her open door clutching her skirt with both hands—the tarmac was surprisingly windy—and Carmichael had her briefcase and purse. They hurried toward the helo.

Once Bean was situated, Gavin got in next to her and turned back to Carmichael. “Stay alert. Check in when you get back to the hospital—let me know how Anson’s doing—and keep your tracker on.”

“Got it. And thanks for those evasive driving lessons, man. That was kinda fun. And B was right, you know. If they’d had more than a gun, I’d have yelled RPG, missile, or some other shit.” He lifted his chin at Bean. “Thanks for all the green lights, lady.”

“Any time.” Bean frowned while putting her headset on. “Well, maybe not when I’m actually in the car with you.”

“Damn straight,” Gavin muttered.

“Later, guys,” Carmichael said with a salute before he slid the door shut.

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