Page 68 of Steal My Breath Away

“Where’s Paige?” Haley asked, looking around.

“Restroom,” Skye called over her shoulder. “She left about five minutes ago.”

“I’ll go and get her.” Haley dashed away before I could stop her.

“Damnit, Haley.” I followed her through the bar and had almost caught up when I heard a shout, the scrape of a chair, the shatter of glass on the hard wooden floor.

“Haley.” I pushed my way through the crowd, trying to catch up. Behind me, I heard a scream, and then someone yelled, “He’s got a gun.”

A gunshot ripped through the bar with a sickening crack.Chaos ensued. People dropped to the floor. Others panicked and stampeded toward the front door. I pulled out my gun and dropped to a crouch, looking for Haley. She was only five feet away crouched under a table.

“Ace?” She looked up, and her panicked expression twisted my heart.

“Stay down.” I lifted my head and took a quick look around. I couldn’t see the shooter, but the overturned tables and chairs and the broken glass on the floor near the front door gave me a good idea where he might be. Keeping low, I made my way over to Haley and threw my arm over her, shielding her with my body. I’d never felt such relief.

She grabbed my arm, fingers digging into my skin. “What’s happening?”

“I don’t know. Could be a drug deal gone bad.” I gave her a quick once-over. “Are you hurt?”

“No. But Paige and the others…”

“Dante and Skye are getting everyone out,” I said. “I’ll take you out the back entrance and we’ll meet them outside.”

“Paige must still be in the restroom. We can’t leave without her.”

Fuck. The restroom was on the other side of the bar. All I wanted to do was get Haley out safely, but I knew there was no way she would leave without Paige.

Another gunshot echoed through the bar. Sirens wailed in the distance. The police were on their way and the last thing I needed was for Haley to be trapped in the bar with the shooter.

“You know she’d want you to be safe,” I pleaded. “I’ll take you out and then come back for her. I promise I’ll bring her out safely.”

I promise I’ll bring Matt home.I’d broken that promise. I wouldn’t break another.

She hesitated for a few long moments, and then she nodded. “Okay. I’ll go. But Ace…” Her voice cracked, broke. “Please. I can’t lose anyone else.”

It took everything I had to fight the instinct to just pick Haley up and carry her to safety, but I knew she’d never forgive me a second time. Keeping low and covering her with my body, I moved with her down the back hallway until she was safely at the door.

“Text Paige as soon as you’re outside and tell her to get behind the restroom door. She needs to stay low and only move when I knock. As soon as we’re clear, I’ll bring her outside.”

I watched her walk out into the alley, waiting for the door to close behind her before making my way to the restroom. The bar was eerily still. Except for the odd stifled sob and rasped breath there was no sound. I knocked and pushed the restroom door open just enough for Paige to crawl out.

“Is Haley safe?” Paige mouthed, looking around as I covered her for the short journey to the safety of the bar.

“Yes. She’s waiting outside.”

Paige gave me a thumbs-up and I took her down the back hallway, checking the rooms on either side as I followed behind her, making sure we hadn’t left anyone behind.

We joined Haley’s friends outside, along with most of the bar staff and a few other patrons. The police had cordoned off the alley on both sides with yellow tape to make sure nobody left until it was safe. Paige looked around and her forehead creased. “Where’s Haley?”

“She should be here somewhere. I brought her right to the door.” We split up to look for her and Paige caught up to me a few minutes later with Chad in tow.

“Chad saw her about ten minutes ago. She was with the record executive she’d told us about—the one who said he might come out to hear her tonight.”

“She introduced us,” Chad said. “His name is Mark and he’s from EMI Records. They were going to a coffee shop to talk signing. She asked me to tell you not to worry. The cops at the end of the alley let them through. I guess because he’s a big deal or something. No one else has been allowed out.” His smile faded when I frowned. “Is something wrong?”

Yes, something was wrong. Haley would never have left without making sure Paige got out safely, not even when they were fighting, not for the chance of a lifetime. And she would never tell me not to worry when worrying about her was my job.

“Did she look okay?”

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