Worst of all, there was a flaming rag attached to the mouth of the bottle.
Which meant the liquid was likely flammable.
Panic filled her, and she had to blink to shove it back.There wasn’t time to panic.Her garage was full of paints and other items that would add to any fire.It might even be enough to explode.
She had to get her and Bibi out.
But she also had to prevent the flame from reaching that liquid and starting an explosion, which she wouldn’t be able to outrun.
Bibi’s barks filled the garage, and Dani looked for something to cover the liquid.Could she contain the explosion?
Although it felt like hours, she was sure it had been only seconds.The flame hadn’t moved much.
Bibi’s teeth clamped down on Dani’s dress, and her dog tugged her toward the door.
She had to move.Had to decide.Run outside to where someone probably waited?Or try to put out the flame?
With a deep breath, she made her decision.
Lawson grabbed his phone when it rang with a call, not a text.Everyone texted, so his feet were already moving when he answered.“Amber.What’s wrong?”
“I heard what sounded like an explosion.Boomer took off for Dani’s at a run.She’s not answering my call.”
Lawson ran to the nearest ATV.
Behind him, he heard voices and didn’t bother to waste time or energy calling.They'd follow.
His entire focus was on getting to Dani’s as quickly as possible.
He raced the machine through the trees.They’d made a faint path with their travels back and forth, but there was no ready-made trail for the ATV.He had to twist through brush, but it was still faster than running.When he reached Beatrice’s field, he passed Amber, who was running to the cottage.He didn’t slow down.Instead, he hollered at his sister to wait for backup.
He didn’t bother checking to see if she listened.
He stopped the ATV at the fence that ran down the middle of Dani’s property, separating her yard from the fields.If it weren’t a sturdy fence, he’d have rammed the machine straight through it.
Instead, he turned it off and jumped the barrier.He’d been wearing his gun in a holster at his ankle, so he pulled it out as he ran.
Without the noise of the ATV, he heard dogs barking as he approached.Boomer and Bibi.They’d cover any noise he made.
He put all his energy into speed and kept his senses wide open.
The dogs were furious, and that wasn’t good news.
Finally, the garage and cottage were in sight.Both were standing, which meant whatever had exploded hadn’t destroyed either building.
Relief coursed through him.He’d been envisioning Dani covered in the garage's debris.
She was alive.She had to be.
Even knowing he needed intel, Lawson couldn’t force his feet to slow.The dogs were pissed, which meant Dani was in danger.
Whoever was there would be focused on the dogs, not Lawson.The element of surprise would help him.
The backup coming behind him would do the same.
All that mattered was Dani’s safety.
His training kicked in enough to have his gun up and steps slowing as he rounded the garage.His aim would be better at a slower pace.
