Page 84 of Mistletoe and Malice
“Let’s go.” He grabbed her and pulled her to her feet, keeping his body around her as he directed them to the perimeter. They needed to get out of the building. But until they could find the shooter, it was more important to get her out of sight.
People lying on the floor or running toward the exits impeded their progress. Once across the room, he grabbed a table near a wall and toppled it, scattering tableware, gourmet food, cloth napkins, and flowers across the floor. He pushed a shaking Riley behind it, shielding her between the table and the wall.
Her tear-streaked face peered up at him. “What’s happening? Is he still here?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t heard any more shots since the first few.”
“Where are the girls? My family? Are they okay? Is anybody hurt?”
“I don’t know, Riley.”
She closed her eyes and tears squeezed through to fall down her cheeks. “Please, God, let everybody be okay.”
Colton scanned their immediate area. No sign of the girls or her family, but he couldn’t see what was happening in front of the overturned tabletop. His ears strained for any hint of gunfire. Women crying and men shouting, people calling out names to locate others in the dark, but no other shots.
Riley’s brother Alex ducked around the table and kneeled on her other side. At least one other Hudson accounted for. “It’s okay, Riley. We’re all fine.”
“The girls?”
“All good.”
She put her head down on her arms crossed over her bent knees, the skirt of her red dress pooled around her as sobs shook her body. The first time Colton had ever seen her cry, and it almost undid him.
John rushed over, service weapon drawn. “Looks like the shooter’s gone. Somehow got out during all the chaos. Your guy must have seen something, otherwise he’d have never left his post. I’m going to go check on him.”
Riley’s head sprang up. “Check on him? Who? Was someone hit?”
John and Colton exchanged a look.
“No!” Her scream pierced the air as she tried to stand.
Colton pulled her back down.
“Trevor? Is it Trevor?”
“Yes. But we don’t know anything yet.”
“Oh, no. No, no, no.” She put her head back down on her knees, her whole body shaking.
Kevin ran over, and Colton stood. “Kevin, Alex, can you stay with your sister? I need to check on Paxton.”
With a nod, Kevin took Colton’s place beside Riley. “We’ve got her.”
“This is my fault.” Her voice quivered, muffled by her skirt. “My fault.”
Kevin pulled her close. “None of this is your fault.”
Colton winced as he left to check on his fallen colleague. No, this wasn’t Riley’s fault.
This was his.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Police burst into the room as Colton reached Trevor, only minutes after the first shot was fired. Yet it seemed much longer. John barked orders to the uniforms, and Colton dropped to his knees beside his friend, on his back but trying to push himself up.
“Stay down, Pax.”
“Why?” His breath ragged, he pushed himself up with one arm. “Hit … my vest.”
