Page 61 of Out of the Shadows

Holding a bottle of water out to him, Edward sighed. “How did this get so fucked up?”

Gavin cracked the cap and took a drink. “We’ll figure this out. We just need to keep your family safe until?—”

He saw the red dot on Edward’s chest at the exact moment Wilson called out, “Sniper!”

Without thinking, he tackled Edward to the ground and gritted his teeth as fire tore through his right shoulder. More shots rang out as he scanned the room. Xander, with his weapon at the ready, was crouched over Rita, who was lying face down on the floor in front of the couch with her hands covering her head. Wilson was at the opposite end of the couch, his weapon aimed at the bullet-ridden window.

“Status!” Bean shouted in his earpiece.

“I have a visual on the shooter,” Rizzo replied, the strain in the Team Three leader’s voice indicating he was on the run.

A single shot rang out, and Hanniger muttered, “Motherfucker.”

“Report,” Gavin barked. He needed to know what the fuck was going on.

“Team Three is on scene,” Rizzo said. “Shooter down. Stand by.”

A few tense seconds of silence later, Rizzo was back on comms. “Area secure. Shooter down confirmed. Looks like a self-inflicted GSW to the head.”

Well, fuck.

With the threat contained, the tension in Gavin’s body eased. Standing, he winced at the throbbing ache in his arm. “Hanniger and Schreiber, stay with the shooter. Rizzo, coordinate with Polanski—make sure he’s the one who has to deal with the cops—and don’t let anyone touch shit.” Cognizant of the McClintocks staring at him, Gavin moved to the opposite end of the room and lowered his voice. “B, pull all video and get cyber on it. Hanniger, get a photo of the shooter’s face—all angles—and get it to cyber. Find me a connection, B.”

An array of “copy” sounded in Gavin’s ear. “Team Two, do you copy?”

“Go ahead, Frazier,” Carmichael said.

“Did you hear what just went down?”

“Affirmative. Tash is with us at the hospital, and Anson is secure.”

Gavin let out a breath. At least one thing wasn’t fucked up. “Good. Check in every fifteen minutes.”

“Copy that.”

Gavin turned toward Edward, who was now seated on the ground beside Rita. Both wore dazed looks. “Anson’s team confirmed that he’s secure. We’ve added an additional security officer to his detail as a precaution. Are you two okay?”

They both nodded, and Edward’s pale face turned a slight shade of green. Pointing a trembling finger at Gavin, his mouth gaped. “Y-you’ve been shot!”

Grimacing, Gavin glanced at his right shoulder. His white dress shirt was crimson, and the fire running along his shoulder was irritating as fuck.

“What?” Bean’s screech had him wincing. “Did he just say you gotshot?”

“It’s fine,” Gavin muttered. “Barely a scratch.”

“I need someoneotherthan Gavin to give me an injury status update,” Bean demanded. “Now!”

Xander moved toward him and slapped a folded bar towel against his shoulder.

He hissed. “Fuck you, Xan.”

His friend lifted the towel away and shoved it at him to hold, then he ripped the damaged sleeve wider and frowned. “It’s a bit more than a scratch, B, but it’s still just a graze. He’ll live.”

“EMTs are on their way,” Bean said. “Let me know which hospital they admit you to and?—”

“No hospital,” Gavin said, glancing down at his shoulder and wincing. The bullet had indeed grazed him, but it was deep and burned like a motherfucker, and he was bleedinglike a stuck pig. “A few stitches and it’ll be fine. I’ll be back on the island tonight.”

“You’re so freaking stubborn,” Bean muttered before clearing her throat. “Hanniger sent over photos of the shooter, so we’ll get to it on this end. I’ll keep the line open. Let us know if you guys need anything.”

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