The door crashed open behind her. “Stop!”
Lindsey plowed into the wall at the end of the hall, pushing off to fling herself to the right toward the wide-open exit where a panel truck had parked close to the building with its ramp lowered, and a stack of boxes sat just outside the doorway.
A bullet hit the wall where her head had just been. The blast reverberated through the small space.
Body amped on adrenaline, she made a final push.
Megan grabbed the back of her dress.
The fabric tore, but ultimately held, jerking Lindsey to an abrupt halt, her shoes slipping on the linoleum.
Something hard jabbed into her ribs. “Don’t move.”
Goddammit. She’d been so close.
Could she twist and knock the gun out of Megan’s hand without getting shot? There had to besomething. Lindsey scanned the hallway for inspiration, a weapon, anything, but it was empty. Warm air carried the scent of stale cigarette smoke, and a yellow glow from outside lit the space.
A figure with broad shoulders peered around the doorway, face in the shadows.
Megan’s head whipped up.
Bang bang bang!
The man stumbled and fell to his back, unmoving.
Light spilled across Todd’s face.
The scream surged out of Lindsey like flame from a dragon.“Nooo!”
She spun and knocked the gun from Megan’s hand. Before the other woman could respond, Lindsey landed a solid punch to her cheekbone.
Megan staggered into the wall. A beat passed, both of them momentarily stunned. Lindsey shook the pain from her hand and dove for the weapon.
Megan reached it first.
Lindsey grabbed her wrist.
The bitch squeezed Lindsey’s injured shoulder.
Fiery-hot pain doubled her over at the waist, stealing her breath. She put a hand on the wall for balance and looked up into the barrel of the gun.
“Fuck the money. I’ll find another way.” Megan’s smile was a thing of nightmares. “Goodbye, Lindsey.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
TODD REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS and sucked in a harsh breath. The tactical vest had protected him, but three shots to the chest still hurt like a motherfucker.
As did the back of his head.
Scuffling and grunting noises pulled him back into the moment.Lindsey!
He pushed to his knees, head spinning, and squinted into the dim hallway. Lindsey was kneeling on the floor in front of Megan, a gun aimed at her forehead.
Nononononono.Why were his hands empty?
He twisted and scanned the asphalt. There!
Todd lunged for his weapon.
