Page 95 of Chasing Justice
Maya knew she was still yelling, but she almost couldn’t hear herself. Everything became quiet and happened in slow motion.
Dirt flew up and hit her in the leg from Juniper leaping forward and rushing at Carson. This was what the dog was for. She had to let her do her job. And Maya needed to do hers.
She heard the weapon fire again, and she stepped out to fire back, but before she could get the shot off, she realized her grandfather had rushed Carson, knocking him off balance and landing on the ground, fighting for his weapon. Juniper went for the bite but missed as Carson and Pops fell to the ground.
Carson overpowered her grandfather, and Maya sprinted toward them. Josh tried to rush forward, but Sam and Svetlana surprised him by coming around the corner. Maya pushed herself to run faster as Sam aimed his gun at Josh.
Holy shit. Sam’s going to shoot Josh. Where’s Juniper? Can I get there fast enough?
Still in slow motion, Maya fired off two shots at Sam. She missed, but succeeded in distracting him before he could shoot at Josh. Carson pushed her grandfather to the ground, grabbed his gun and aimed it at him. She had just put her finger on the trigger when a rush of brown fur flew in front of her.
Juniper took a flying leap and knocked Carson down. She attached to the back of Carson’s bicep and started shaking as hard as she could. The gun went flying. Carson screamed and tried to get Juniper off him.
Maya rushed toward Carson. She wanted to go to Pops, but the priority would be getting Carson under control and handcuffed. Juniper maintained the bite, hanging on, growling, shaking her head and entire body. Seeing Juniper taking a bite, Svetlana fled toward the compound entrance and out of Maya’s sight.
We’ll find you. I have the best dog—you can’t escape her. But where’s Sam?
Maya noticed he had also retreated around the corner. She didn’t like him leaving, but they had to get one person at a time. Once Carson was under control, she and Juniper would go after Sam and the Russian.
Josh jumped in to help Maya. They gave Carson instructions to cooperate, and Maya would get the dog off. Just as she was ready to give Juniper the instruction to release, she heard another gunshot. Her first instinct was to take cover, but she had to stay with Carson and her dog. Juniper rolled her eyes toward the gunshot as the woodpile behind them shattered from the bullet hitting the logs. Maya glanced back over her shoulder and realized it was Svetlana shooting at them.
Pops stood up, limping on a leg that appeared to be broken. He dragged the leg and took aim at the Russian. Maya ducked down, and together she, Josh, and Juniper pulled Carson back toward the woodpile. Spent cartridges came flying out of her grandfather’s gun as he fired round after round. Maya saw him flinch. His leg had blood running down it, but he didn’t quit firing. Maya remembered him telling her before she left for the military that you had to decide how you were going to survive in war. Would you give up? Or would you fight harder no matter what was happening and how many times you had been hit?
She thought she had chosen to always fight harder, but she realized now that her grandfather was showing her what that meant. She saw his gun rack stay open. He was out of ammo and getting ready to do a tactical reload when Sam came around the corner, gun aimed at her grandfather.
Maya pulled her gun, aimed, and fired several rounds. Sam dropped to the ground.
Her chest constricted. She’d always tried to tell herself that killing someone in war didn’t take a piece of you. They were the enemy. But that was a lie, and seeing Sam lying on the ground, a family friend she had loved and trusted, was only that much harder.
She stared back down at Juniper, who still had ahold of Carson. Carson was yelling and writhing in pain. She gave Juniper the command to release and she did. Josh took Carson’s arms and pulled them behind his back, handcuffing him, and then motioned for a deputy who had come on the scene to take Carson away.
Maya reached down and pushed her hands into Juniper’s fur, giving thanks for the dog. Then she rushed to her grandfather. Juniper followed, ready to protect her. Maya knelt by Pops, taking him in her arms and hugging him as blood spread across his outer thigh. She did her best to reach down and hold pressure to stop the bleeding.
I’m going to get you out of here.Maya checked her watch.Eight minutes.
“I’m so sorry, Pops. I love you. I love you. I need to move you and I know it’s going to hurt, but you have to trust me.”
She felt him grip her with his hand. “I trust you, Maya.”
She smiled and leaned over him to apply more pressure to the wounds. “Thanks, Pops. I love you.” Her necklace from Nana slid out from underneath her shirt and vest, hanging near Pops.
“I love you too,” Pops said. He reached up and gently took the necklace in his fingers. “Nana is looking out for us, isn’t she?”
“Yes, Pops, she is.”
Pops smiled and then his eyes fluttered shut.
Shit, he’s lost too much blood.
“Pops. Stay with me.”
Maya checked her watch.Seven minutes.
Chapter Fifty-One
Maya crossed her grandfather’s arms so she could pull him to safety. They couldn’t be anywhere near this place when it blew.
“Juniper, heel.”
