Lincoln jogged backward while firing his weapon toward the muzzle flashes. He couldn’t see the enemy, but every so often. one would pop out long enough for him to put a hole or two in them. Once they passed the tree line, they would have no other choice but to step into the light.
“Fuck!” Lincoln cursed when a bullet whizzed past his ear.
Because it had come from his right, he whipped around and pointed his weapon in that direction. His target was in sight. He squeezed the trigger, but before he could get a round off. The man’s head exploded. The bullet had come from behind. Lincoln turned, but no one was there. Another round was fired. That time, the flash of light came from an upstairs bedroom. Lincoln exhaled and took comfort in the fact that he had backup.
“Fall back!” he ordered. “We got cover above!”
Lincoln turned and sprinted toward the house. At least in the light, they’d be able to take up a better position.
“They’re coming up the side!” Pam shouted. “They’re trying to flank us!”
Lincoln was aware. But also, he knew that the enemy would have to deal with much more than them if they made it to the house. And sure enough, once they broke through the trees, and into the light, Lincoln heard the familiar snap, crackle, and pop of an AR-15. The rounds were coming from the house. Yet, there was no time for any sighs of relief. The enemy was on theirasses. With nothing to rely on but the shooter in the window, he and his team pushed forward.
They were almost there, less than fifty feet away, when Pam took one in the back. She let out a yelp before she was shot a second time. Her body hit the ground like a ton of bricks.
Lincoln slid to a stop. He turned and ran back for her. Her eyes were open, but her breathing was labored. While picking her up, shots rang out over his head, taking him back to the war that often resurfaced in his nightmares.
Lincoln lifted Pam in her arms and ran the remaining fifty feet to the house.
Before he could reach the doorway, Lucas raced from the doorway, firing a bolt-action rifle. “Go! Go!” he shouted while providing cover.
As he ran by, Lincoln could hear rapid gunfire overhead. If he were a betting man, he’d wager that it was the twins providing the cover from above. Once inside the safety of the house, Lincoln lowered Pam to the floor. Her eyes were closed, and she was no longer breathing. He snatched the Velcro and pulled the Kevlar vest from her body. A brief search for injuries revealed a bullet wound in her neck.
“Pam!” Lincoln shouted. “Fuck!” He snatched her shirt open and started chest compressions. “Huck!” he yelled. “Come here. Put pressure on her neck.”
Huck, one of Linc’s guys, did as he’d instructed and pressed his fingers against the wound.
Lucas backed into the front door and kicked it closed.
“Where is Mom?” Lincoln asked while continuing compressions.
“She’s still in the theater. She’s safer there.”
Lincoln stopped compressions and slid his arm under Pam’s body. He was prepared to carry her to the theater where his mom could work on his friend. Huck and the rest of his teamstood back and looked at him like he was fighting a lost cause. The pity and regret in their eyes were pissing him off. “Anybody plan on helping me?”
With Pam cradled in his arms, Lincoln stood to his feet. He was about to carry her to the theater when Donna blocked his path. She stepped up and looked down at Pam. She pushed her hair out of her face and noted the wound in her neck. “Baby,” she whispered. She ran her hand up his arm and squeezed his shoulder. “Put her down.”
Lincoln frowned. “No.”
“Baby, she’s gone. And they’re still coming. Now, I need you to take her to the couch, put her down, and pick up your gun because we are not done here.”
Lincoln dropped his head and carried Pam into the parlor. He lowered her to the sofa and kissed her forehead. Then, he did as his woman had instructed. He pulled his weapon from his belt and went to defend his family.
NIYAH
Xander grabbed Niyah’s wrist and pulled her to the side. “Do you know how to use a gun?”
Niyah shook her head. “No.”
He raised a small handgun and pulled back the slide. “It’s ready to fire. All you have to do is point and shoot.”
Niyah frowned and pushed the gun away. “l-I don’t know what to do with this.”
Xander raised a chastising brow and shoved the gun in her hand. “I just told you what to do with this. Point and shoot. I need you to protect yourself.”
“Okay,” Niyah muttered. “I will.”
Xander kissed her forehead just as Bella burst into the room. “We’re taking hits from every front!” She ran over to the bag of guns. “They’ve surrounded us!”
