"Yes, I was blindsided, too." I sucked in a breath. "Let's get confirmation of Carson's death, okay?"
"Good idea."
I knew I should be in shock, or breaking down, or simply upset. The fact I wasn't any of those things disturbed me, but only mildly.
Burke briskly rubbed my arms. "Tonight, we'll sleep. Tomorrow, we'll spend the day with Finn."
"And Brenda and Danny."
"Maddie and Caden can come home."
"Normalcy," I said.
"What's that like?"
Noah came back with bags of clothing, and Burke stripped. I tugged a hoodie over my dress, thinking about what the future held. We needed to solidify our alliance with Jonah Carmichael. We would plan a trip to Ireland and a vow renewal ceremony. Hopefully soon, we would have more children. School was back in session in a week, and I would be busier than ever. It was more than I'd expected to have in my life.
"Let's get out of here."
I accepted Burke's outstretched hand, following him to the Mercedes. Then I climbed on his lap, my favorite place to be, and rested my head in the crook of his neck.
Turns out I was a cold-blooded killer, but more than that, I wasn't bothered by it.
The radio in Mike's hand crackled to life. "Tell the boss we have a situation."
"What sort of situation?" Mike asked.
Burke tightened his hold on me as we waited for the response.
It came through distorted. "Un—fire!"
"Fuck," Burke shouted. "See if you can get in touch with someone else. Was that Billy?"
Before Mike could comply, gunfire erupted around us, rocking the car. Burke shoved me on the floor, fumbling to open the door on the opposite side of the ambush. I looked up as a bullet shattered the driver's window and plowed into the side of Mike's head.
I screamed, clambering out the door Burke opened. Remaining low to the ground, we crawled to the nearest building and huddled in the doorway.
"Need backup at Algonquin," Burke growled into his cell phone. "Mike's down; I've got a few bullets left."
I tore my dress, pulling it up quickly and yanking my gun from its holster before peering around the edge of the recessed doorway. The car was riddled with bullet holes. "What pierces a bulletproof vehicle?"
"Something bigger than we can fight with handguns."
My heart had taken a beating lately, and our immediate situation didn't help. It thumped so hard and fast in my ears I almost couldn't hear Burke's next directive.
"They've slowed down. Stay put."
Gripping his forearm, I held him in place. "You too."
Footsteps sounded close by. Burke and I both checked our guns, holding them in a ready position.
"On my count." Burke paused. "One," he whispered.
I tugged off my heels and shifted into a crouch. The steps were heavier, closer.
"Two," he breathed.
We held steady, hearing the approach pause before starting up again.
