Page 69 of A Captive Situation

“Fuck!” That was them.

All that happened at the same time.

Just as Jake was through the closet door, he turned, and two more gunshots went off.

Another deep thud was heard.

“Stay there,” Jake growled at me before stalking forward.

Anothergunshot.

I closed my eyes, my whole body shaking.

He walked to the bathroom and there was a last gunshot.

How many shooters were there? Three?

There was a ringing in my ears and the edges of my vision clouded in, giving me tunnel vision. I couldn’t hear so well anymore. A deep, rhythmic pounding was overloading my hearing, but then Jake was in front of me, motioning for me to come to him. He was speaking, but I couldn’t make out what he was saying anymore. I was underwater, and he was trying to talk to me through the water.

I stepped out, my knees shaking.

“Shit,” Jake cursed, still muffled, and bent behind me. His arms swept me up, lifting me against his chest. He was carrying me like I was a baby, but he didn’t turn around so I could see the rest of the room. He kept me tucked against him, lifting me so I was folded down. I could only see him, only feel him, only smell him.

There were other voices.

Dogs were barking.

Jake said, gruffly, still muffled, “She’s in shock.”

My heartbeat pounded.

He moved through the room, stepping into the hallway. Other people were there. Fingers brushed at my forehead. Jake ignored them,taking me downstairs until he got to the main level. More footsteps joined us. More people.

He was speaking to someone else, asking a question. I couldn’t make it out anymore.

“—this way.”

Jake was following someone down a small hallway. A door opened. The room was dark, blissfully dark. He started to let me down, but I reached for him. “No!”

I heard the voice. A part of me knew it was from me, but that didn’t sound like me. That sounded animalistic.

Another part of my brain switched on so I was watching everything from a safe distance. I was outside of my body, witnessing as Jake soothed me, calming me down enough so he could place me on a couch. Graham was there, but he moved out when Oliver took his place. Aunt Bess was also beside me. They were talking to me. Bess was smoothing my hair from my forehead.

Jake was grim, his face like concrete with blood splattered over his neck and jawline. He was conversing with Graham. Aunt Clara was in the background, overhearing. All of them looked shaken, pale.

The dogs were barking in the background.

Graham was saying, “—no, you will not!”

I came back to my body abruptly, jerking upright. Oliver’s hand was on my shoulder. Aunt Bess was touching my foot, as if they were both trying to keep me grounded. Their eyes widened at my sudden change. I blinked once, reality slamming down on me, unwelcome, but it was what it was.

Jake was standing sideways, his face and body so tense, but he kept a firm hold on his gun, pressed to his side. “More could be coming here. I need to take her away so none of you are in danger. Sawyer would want that.”

Graham leaned in, hissing, “Maybe, but I’ve a feeling you’re the reason she had me driving north of the city to get her and why she was so terrified we were being followed—”

Aunt Clara barked, joining in, “Followed?”

Bess said, “Followed by who?”

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