Page 23 of SEAL's Sunshine
“The incident? You mean your abduction in Afghanistan?”
“Yes. She doesn’t like to say it out loud, so it’s become ‘the incident’ in our house.”
“Got it, good thing you told me in case I decide to bring it up as a topic of conversation at dinner.” Miranda smacked him in the stomach and laughed.
“And that reminds me, where did you learn that trick with your heel? You could have done some serious damage to me.”
“I know, isn’t it great? I’ve been taking self-defense classes. I was hoping it would help me feel better about going back to help finish the school there.”
“Wait. When did you decide about going back? I thought you were still thinking about it.”
“I was. But after talking to Charlie, I felt guilty about not wanting to go. So I started the classes to help.”
“But they didn’t?”
“No, but we can talk about it later. We should get back to the others.”
“Okay, but first, I’ve been dying for one of your kisses.” Before she could answer, he leaned down and took her lips in a gentle kiss, his lips barely moved against hers. But it didn’t matter, it still triggered the same tingle she always got from his touch.
When he pulled back, Miranda sighed with happiness and received a huge bright smile in response.
“Ready?”
She never had a chance to answer. Instead, a hail of bullets rang out all around them. Before she could react she was down on the ground with Cam covering her with his body. The gunfire was so loud, echoing off the buildings and bits of brick flew through the air where the bullets impacted.
Finally, the shots stopped, and a car roared down the street with squealing tires. It didn’t last long, but while she was lying there it seemed like forever. Terror, unlike anything she’d felt since the Middle East had paralyzed her with fear.
“Sunshine, are you okay?” Cam asked as he kneeled next to her on the concrete sidewalk.
“I think so. I don’t understand. Were they shooting at us?”
“Not sure, but we’ll find out. Here let me help you get up.” Her heart was still racing a million miles an hour and she was shaking like a leaf. If he hadn’t helped her she’d be lying on the sidewalk for a long while.
“You’ve got blood on your face, are you sure you’re not hurt?”
“I do?” Miranda reached up to touch her cheek. Feeling the stickiness she looked at her fingers. It was blood.
By then their friends surrounded them on the sidewalk, and Meghan handed her a tissue.
“It looks like it’s from pieces of the brick that splintered off,” Cam said as he took the tissue from her hand. “Let me do it.”
He was so gentle with her like he’d been before, and it brought tears to her eyes. A chill traveled down her spine and she shook. Cam’s eyes were filled with concern as he tended to the little scratches on her face. They didn’t hurt and were nothing much at all, but it was the shock of the shooting that had freaked her out.
* * *
Someone must have heardthe shots and called the police. Sirens could be heard in the distance and the whining sound grew louder as they approached. Miranda shook in Cam’s arms as he tried to soothe her fear.
The entire incident was surreal. So many questions swirled in his head. Who would open fire on them? Who even knew they were there? Was it him or Miranda that was the target? Or was it just a random shooting? Not that it mattered at the moment. All he wanted was to get his woman to a place that was safe and comfort her.
Rafe was on the phone with Jake, who would call the captain. The local police would handle the investigation. They were SEALs, not law enforcement, but it was standard operating procedure to notify their commanding officer when incidents involving law enforcement occurred.
“We should take the women inside. Get them off the street in case the fuckers come back.”
“I agree,” Rafe said after he ended his call. “Jake’s calling Captain Knox and Murph since he’s the only one not here.”
“Murph will show up any minute now.” No sooner had Ryan said the words, a black Harley roared to a stop across the street. “Told you. I guess I should have bet you on this one.”
“Who’s betting now? And what the fuck? Can’t you guys go anywhere without being the center of attention?” Murph said with one of his shit-eating grins on his face. Talk about being the center of attention.
