I wait.
At a raised voice outside, he lowers his phone and rushes over to the window.
Something is happening out there, but what? Did they find his car? Have they tracked us here? Whatever it is has Derek worried. If he panics, hewilllash out at me.
Go. Now.
With terror fueling me and a pounding head, I scramble to my feet, ignoring his yell as I sprint to the front door.
He shouts again, sprinting after me.
Pop.
I squeal, ducking as plaster rains over my right shoulder from the wall inches beside my head.
The stairs are right there. All I have to do is get to them. Who cares about a broken neck when someone is shooting at you?
The staircase is not empty.
Knox is there. He nudges me to one side and runs right at Derek, uncaring that Derek is pointing a gun right at him.
Pop.
Derek buries another bullet into the wall.
They slam together. Both grunt in pain. The gun flies out of Derek’s hand and skitters across the floor.
I’d see a whole lot more if Wyatt wasn’t wrapping his arm around me and urging me down the stairs to Elias and Hunter.
Seconds later, I’m rushing out onto the street, illuminated by bright streetlights. The two pieces of plywood that had blockedthe door are leaning against the wall beside it. Whoever removed it did it so quietly that Derek didn’t hear a thing.
The sheriff is huffing and puffing as he races down the street. One of the deputies, not Lawrence, this one is older with reddish hair, overtakes him.
A crash rings out.
Everyone—me included—snaps their heads upward in time to watch a body fly through the boarded-up window above the flower shop.
My heart stops.
Knox.
Oh god oh god oh god.
THUD.
My gaze settles on a familiar face.
It isn’t Knox.
Derek.
My eyes slide from the unmoving body on the street and up to Knox, hunched over and breathing hard. Blood streams down the side of his face.
His relieved eyes find mine, and he shouts, “You okay, baby?”
“Fine.” A second later, my knees give out.
Chapter 27
