Page 77 of The Last Dance You Saved
“Stay down!”
I had to get us the hell out of here! I had to get her to safety.
Rage and fierce resolve filled in over the shock. She would not be hurt because of me!
My phone buzzed as a fourth bullet landed to our left. Jesus Christ.
I scanned the yard, mind racing as I tried to calculate the distance to the house. Standing would make us even easier targets, but there was no other option. If we could get to the corner of the house, we’d be out of his line of sight.
“On three, we’re going to get up, stay as low as we can, and zigzag our way to the house.”
“Zigzag!” Sadie’s voice held the terror I felt zipping through my veins. “This isn’t the movies!”
My lungs were screaming, heart slamming into my rib cage as I counted off. I’d barely shouted three before I grabbed her by her elbows, lifted her off the ground, and propelled her forward.
Another shot had me lunging over the top of her. We were too slow. She was too exposed. Pure terror clawed through me at the thought of her being hit, and I wrapped my arm around her waist, pulled her up into my arms, and ran full-out for the corner of the house.
Two more shots sent dirt and grass flying at our feet. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t get any air, but I wouldnotdrop her. As I careened around the corner, another bullet sent stucco splintering off the house, pelting my face.
As we plunged into the shadows, I shoved Sadie up against the wall to keep her out of sight. Shouts came from the hillside as another shot pierced the side of the house.
Steele was bellowing orders, and a new wave of panic almost swallowed me whole. Fallon! They couldn’t leave Fallon and Lauren unprotected!
Steele, Barry, and Noah crested the hill, leaving them all exposed. Sweat poured down my back, and I pulled in a pained gasp of air in order to yell, “Stay down! Shooter to the east in the trees!”
The men split off, Steele and Barry heading in the direction of the goddamn gunfire! Risking themselves. Risking Fallon all alone. Shit.
The two men stayed low, using the bushes at the edge of the field as cover. Noah headed around the west side, heading for the stables where he’d be able to approach the house from a protected angle.
The shots had stopped. Fury mixed with the adrenaline pumping through my veins.
I couldn’t get to my daughter from here without stepping out into the field and risking the shooting starting again. I had to trust Steele would find him, would protect me and mine like he’d been doing since saving me in that damn alley.
I clamped my hand on Sadie’s arm and moved her along the side of the house, deeper into the shadows, farther away from the gunfire.
All the blind anger and violence I’d felt this morning toward Adam came flooding back. Was this him? Was this why we hadn’t been able to find him all day?
I’d kill him. I’d kill whomever they were.
A sob from Sadie drew my gaze. Her eyes were wild, hair tangled in all directions, and dirt was scattered along her face, neck, and arms.
“Are you hurt?” I demanded just as I caught sight of scrapes on her hands. “You are. Goddamn it, I hurt you shoving you to the ground. I was trying to keep you safe, but I hurt you.”
She was shaking her head, even as I brought her palms up to examine them. “I’m fine. God. I’m fine.” Tears poured down dirty cheeks. She yanked her hand away from mine to reach for my face. “You’re bleeding!”
I pulled her fingers away. “It’s nothing,” I insisted just as we both saw the blood trailing down over my elbow.
“Oh my God. You’re hit!” Her face blanched, and her body convulsed. “We have to call 911.”
Shit! I pulled up the shirt sleeve, but there was no hole, just a long, thin slice of cut skin. “It’s nothing. Just a scrape. I’m okay.”
“You were shot! Don’t tell me you’re okay!”
I pulled her into me, resting my chin on her head, and I felt every single tremble as if they were my own. My vision turned hazy as white rage stormed inside me. “I’m okay, Tennessee.”
“That sound! That horrible sound!” She sobbed, putting her hands to her ears. “I’ve never been able to forget that sound.”
The tortured pain in her words hit me like a hammer to an anvil, ricocheting through every molecule. They scoured and burned through me, causing more agony than the wound in my arm. She’d been shot while protecting her niece, and now she’d had to relive it. Because of me. Because of whatever bullshit had arrived at my door.
