What Judson wasn’t hearing was any gunfire, but he wasn’t exactly thankful for that at the moment. Of course, he didn’t want any bullets going into the house, but if the SOB fired just one more single shot, that would help Judson pinpoint the location. Then he could return fire. Apparently, though, like the wind, the shooter wasn’t going to cooperate.
Finally, after what seemed like a couple of lifetimes, Judson caught some movement from the corner of his eye. Not exactly in the area that Rory and he were watching. But rather to the right. At first he thought it could be the shrubs shaking from another gust of wind.
But no.
He spotted the shadowy figure as it darted out of sight. Judson got just a glimpse, and he couldn’t tell if it was a man or woman. So, he continued to watch, taking aim in that direction. Readying himself in case he got the chance to put a stop to this.
More seconds passed, dragging by, and finally Judson caught another burst of movement. Someone wearing all black. Someone threading their way through the underbrush.
And toward the house.
He cursed himself for not having already hurried back downstairs so he could be waiting for this clown when he made it to the door.
But the person didn’t run toward the door.
Judson shifted his gun, trying to lock his aim on the person, but he or she wasn’t staying still. Nor were they moving in a straight line. They were weaving through the trees and bushes, using them as cover.
He pivoted again when he caught another glimpse. But the person darted behind one of the vehicles parked out front.
Judson moved, too, scrambling to edge of the widow’s walk so he’d be in a better position to shoot. He was still taking aim when there was more movement. The shadowy figure raced to a tree.
Then another.
Judson fired. And missed. The bullet slammed into the tree just as the SOB raced out from the other side. Straight toward the side of the house.
His heart went straight to his knees when Judson heard the glass shattering. And he knew exactly what that meant. The killer had broken the window and was getting inside.
Hell.
Judson had to get to Addie and the babiesnow.
“OH,GOD,” ADDIE MUTTERED.
She had no trouble hearing the sound of shattering glass and thought it’d come from a window on the side of the house. What she hadn’t heard was a gunshot, which meant the glass hadn’t broken from gunfire.
But rather from someone using different means to gain access to the house.
The killer, no doubt.
He or she was breaking into the house and would be coming for her. That gave Addie a slam of emotions, with fear being right there at the top of the heap. The babies were right here, and abullet aimed at her—or anyone else, for that matter—could miss and hurt them.
She had to stop that from happening.
The jolt of adrenaline would help with that. So would Mellie’s gun. She wasn’t a markswoman by any stretch of the imagination, but she could use the gun and go after the killer before he or she made it to this part of the house.
“Wait here,” Addie told Etta Jean. “Stay as low in the tub as you can with the twins. That’s your best protection.”
And Addie had to pray that it would be enough. Thankfully, it was an old-fashioned cast-iron one that might stop any gunfire from getting to them.
Etta Jean had plenty of fear on her face, and she was shaking her head before Addie even finished. “You should wait in here, too. You should stay with us where you’ll be safe.”
Maybe. But she couldn’t. Addie had to put a barrier between the twins and the killer, and if necessary, she’d do that with her own body.
“Bennie’s in the bedroom,” Addie reminded the woman. “And Judson will be here soon.”
She had no doubts about that. Well, he would be arriving soon if he’d heard the window shattering. Or if he’d realized the killer was breaking into the house. If not, well…she didn’t want to consider that right now. Addie only wanted to focus on stopping the monster who had put her babies in harm’s way.
Addie brushed a quick kiss on the twins’ cheeks. “I’ll lock the door behind me,” she added to Etta Jean.
