Crap. What do I do now?
I can’t shoot them from here, even if I had the courage to.
I don’t have a way to contact Caleb, so I can’t tell him where the person is.
But I can’t let them get away. Can’t let them get the jump on Caleb.
Glad that I’m wearing all gray instead of my bright red coat, I start across the snowy lawn, hoping I’ll blend into the shadows. I dart to one small cluster of trees, then another, using them for cover. I don’t take my eyes off the person moving in front of me as I hurry to close the distance between us.
I’m maybe halfway across the lawn when another dark figure emerges. This one is taller. Broader. My heart leaps at the hope that it’s Caleb.
But he’s in front of the other person. He doesn’t know they’re behind him.
As I’m watching, the smaller figure raises an arm. Something shiny in their hand glints.
My lungs seize.
No. No. No.
“Behind you!” I shout. Maybe it’s stupid, revealing myself. But I can’t stay silent. “Caleb! Behind you!”
The smaller figure spins in my direction.
My life flashes before my eyes.
“Get down!” Caleb yells. “Down. Now!”
I fling myself to the ground.
A shot fires.
Then another.
Someone screeches; a high-pitched, feminine sound.
Caleb barks, “Don’t move! I don’t give a shit that you’re a woman.”
What? A woman?
I lift my head hoping to get a better look at what’s going on. Ahead of me, Caleb is standing over someone laying in the snow and aiming his gun at them.
“Vienna!” Caleb shouts. “Are you hurt?” Panic laces his voice. “Did she hit you?”
“No,” I call back. “I’m okay. But are you?—”
A pair of headlights comes flying up the driveway, flashing across the snow.
As I turn my attention to it, the SUV comes to a rocking stop, and two men leap out. They both carry the same sort of posture as Caleb, which makes me think it might be Enzo and one of his friends.
The two men split up, one of them running in my direction, the other to Caleb. The man headed to me arrives first, and he drops into a crouch beside me. Then he flicks on a tiny flashlight and shines it at my body. “Vienna,” he says. “I’m Enzo. Are you hurt anywhere?”
“No.” I start to get up. “But Caleb?—”
Enzo puts his hand on my shoulder, holding me still. “Ronan is with him. My teammate. And a trained medic,ifCaleb needs it.”
I push Enzo’s hand aside. “I need to know if he’s okay. I heard shots. At least three of them.”
“I know,” he replies gently. “I know you do. But let’s make sure it’s clear, first.” He raises his voice. “Ronan. Sitrep?”
