Kate pursed her lips in annoyance.
“In fact, I think you two should maybe try dating. I’d like a nice, handsome, strong grandson in the family.”
Grant gave Kate a sultry look. The waiter came over and started listing off the specials, which saved Kate from a response.
“We have an omelet with heritage cream cheese and wild-caught salmon with fresh dill from the garden, topped with Belgian caviar—”
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Kate screamed as three masked men shot their way into the room, automatic rifles in their hands. One man pumped several shots into the elaborate ceiling. The lights sparked, and plaster and crystals rained down on the diners. Kate’s ears rang, and she heard muted screaming as she tried to pull her grandmother under the table. As she watched in horror, one of the attackers jumped up on a table, waving the gun around and yelling over the din.
“You are all now hostages. The guards are dead. Everyone remain in your seats. We will be coming around to tie you up. Stay calm and cooperate, and we won’t—”
Pop! Pop! Pop!
The man wavered comically and collapsed, followed closely by his accomplices. Kate cautiously stood up. She couldn’t hear a thing; her ears felt blocked, and she could only hear a dull throb. She looked at Grant. He was standing a few steps away from their table and had a large pistol in his hand. He seemed eerily calm and detached, his gun in a loose but controlled grasp.
She watched his eyes dart around, then he slowly lowered the gun and began to move assuredly around the room asking, “Anyone hurt? Does anyone need medical attention?”
Kate could hear the sirens faintly over the throbbing in her ears. She mouthed to her grandmother, “Are you okay?”
The older woman looked as if she had had a shock, but she nodded then stood up and went to nearby tables to reassure people. The club members were already on their phones to 911. Kate staggered over to Grant, who was standing over the would-be hostage takers. One of the bodies jerked, and she jumped with a little scream. Grant fired another bullet into the assailant’s head.
“Don’t worry. They’re dead,” Grant mouthed to her.
He holstered his gun as the doors crashed open, the SWAT team bursting in. Kate automatically put her hands in the air. The officers swept through the room. Several came over to Grant, where he was standing next to the assailants bleeding on the floor. Kate worked her jaw, trying to force her hearing to come back as the officers began to question Grant.
“We’re fine!” her grandmother shouted as she came over, waving her arms. “He shot them. He’s a marine! He saved us all.”
She tried to lead the crowd in a round of applause. Everyone was too stunned to join in.
“Please, Gram,” Kate said. The muffled throbbing in her ears was now a ringing. It was disorienting, but she felt as if she could hear again, at least.
“Did you shoot them?” the officer asked, looking at Grant, impressed.
Grant nodded.
“From where?”
“We were sitting over there in the corner!” Margaret said.
“Gram, stop it!” Kate hissed, trying to pull the woman away. “Go sit down.”
“You made that shot?” The officer whistled.
“Yes,” Grant said.
“That’s impressive.”
“It’s lots of practice,” Grant said.
He didn’t seem all that affected by what just happened, Kate thought.
“I was in Iraq in ’08.”
“Bad time then,” Grant said.
The man nodded then held out his hand.
