Knox's head whipped to the video feed. "That was near the drone."
Another shot sounded.
Knox kept his eyes on the video feed and the drone controls, but he called out to Allie. "Grab the laptop. Get in the car. I see this guy. On the video."
Another shot.
"He's trying to shoot down the drone."
She grabbed the laptop and ran back to the SUV. Knox was jogging over, still working the controls.
"You drive," he said. "I'm getting some good footage."
"You're not going to land it?"
"No, not yet."
She had so many questions. But she trusted his instincts. She tossed the laptop in the backseat, slid behind the wheel and started the engine. "Which way?"
"South."
Toward the rifle shots. Of course.
Allie pulled onto the road. Thankfully, there were no cars in sight.
"How fast do you want me to drive? I don't want to get you too far away from the drone."
Another rifle report sounded. Much closer than before.
Knox smiled. "These guys couldn't hit the side of a barn."
"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself. Where do you want me to go? This road turns away from the Byron land soon. Should I turn around?"
"No," he responded without looking up from the display on the remote control. "Slow down. Just go about another half mile."
"Okay." She slowed to twenty miles per hour. If the shooters were on foot, they were probably close now. "What are you seeing? Are they—"
Another shot cracked. This onemuchlouder than the others. And the sickening sound a half-second later terrified her. Knox let out an anguished howl, and his body slammed against his seat.
"Knox!" She stomped on the brakes. Fear yanked the air from her lungs. "Knox!"
He turned to her, looking frustrated. And a little sheepish. "They hit the drone."
It took a handful of seconds before she convinced herself Knox wasn't bleeding. His frustration—not a bullet—had thrown him against his seat.
He gave a groaning sigh. "I really don't want to tell Rowan his drone was shot down."
That's what he was worried about?She didn't even think; she just slugged him in the shoulder as hard as she could. Well, almost as hard as she could.
"I thought you'd been shot! Don't do that!"
His face flushed. "Sorry. I'm sorry." He motioned toward the road. "Get us out of here. They might look for us. They know that whoever was flying the drone isn't far away. And we don't want to face those guys right now."
She nodded and started driving. But she needed her adrenaline to settle before she said anything more. She kept her eyes on the road, but she could sense Knox staring at her. Maybehersilence was botheringhimthis time. Right now she didn't mind if he was a little bothered. He'd scared her to death.
"Hey, Allie, I really am sorry. I shouldn't have yelled like that."
"And slammed yourself against your seat with your eyes closed."
