Page 73 of See You There
The door opened a bit, and James squeezed through the narrow opening. “Are you all right?” he asked, looking down atthem, his chest heaving, pupils wide. It was the most emotion Dahlia had seen in James.
“Yeah.” Luke’s hand had returned to stroke her back. “But looks like my building isn’t as safe as I’d hoped.”
James took a step toward the living room.
“Don’t!” Luke barked.
“The shooter fled. I was just leaving the building when the police cars started arriving next door. As soon as I heard that a man with a rifle was shooting at this building from the roof next door, I figured odds were…” James’s voice was thick. “The police are all over the area now.”
“Did you talk to them yet?”
James shook his head. “Came here first.”
Luke’s chuckle rumbled against her cheek.
“Worried about me?”
“Of course not. How’s she doing?”
Embarrassed at how she had curled her body around Luke’s Dahlia pushed against the hard muscles of his chest to create a little distance.
Luke’s arms tightened fractionally, but then he relaxed his arms to his side. “She was incredibly brave.”
“Hardly,” Dahlia said, taking the hand James offered as he helped her to her feet.
She took a step back, and her legs buckled. James pulled her toward him, but Luke was faster. Springing to his feet, he wrapped a powerful arm around her waist, removing her from James’s reach.
“I’m sorry, I…”
“It’s the adrenaline. Let’s get you in a chair.” Luke took a step toward the living room, and she recoiled.
“I don’t want to go back in there.” Dahlia saw the brothers exchange a look. A wave of nausea swamped her. Was shegoing to embarrass herself even more by being sick? “I need the restroom.”
Luke helped her to the bathroom in the guest bedroom. “It’s just your body’s way of coping with the mess the rush of adrenaline left behind. Are you all right if I leave you for a few minutes?” He brushed the hair back off her forehead, and that made her want to cry again. Dahlia settled for nodding.
When Luke was gone, Dahlia shut the door and let herself sink to the floor. The cold tile felt good. Solid.
Her mind felt like it was in free fall.
What am I going to do?
CHAPTER TWENTY
“We needto find someplace else to go,” Luke said, joining his brother in the main room of the condo. James had moved closer to the windows and examined the damage. Red and blue flashing lights created a kaleidoscope on the buildings around them.
“The police will be here soon. I’m sure they are going to check all the units on this side of the building. Make sure no one was injured.”
Luke’s mind flashed to how Dahlia had looked lying face down on the floor, hands over her head, her gorgeous eyes filled with terror. His chest tightened, and he forced himself to breathe evenly. He was going to destroy whoever was behind this. But first he had to find some place for her to hide.
“Even if they were in the car that followed us, how did they know which unit is mine? My address is unlisted.”
“I don’t know.” James’s voice was grim. “But we need to get her somewhere not associated with any of us. Whoever it is, they aren’t giving up.” He looked again at the glass.
“I don’t think it’s the same shooter.” Fury raced through Luke’s veins, but he kept his voice even. James was already convinced he was too emotionally involved in this case. Luke didn’t want to give his brother any more ammunition.
Because he was right.
“The guy earlier today was a terrible shot. Even with us out in the open, he couldn’t hit us. Whoever this was…” Luke gestured at the closely grouped shots and scanned the rooftop below them, now filled with police officers. “This shooter was much more skilled. Not to mention brazen enough to attempt it next to a restaurant full of people and still get away.”
