No sign of Dimitri, though.
"Heading toward the side door," Tripp hisses into his radio.
"I've got him," Van says. "He's trying to get outside. West wall."
"On it," Lisa says.
“No, stay put,” I order, but knowing full well she's not going to listen, I change course to intercept them both.
Through the growing chaos, I spot my brother, a head above anyone else. Mr. Black has Sophia by the arm, hauling her toward the rear. He watches them go, his whole body straining, and I can see the moment he makes his choice.
Caleb lets go of Lisa's arm and follows Sophia and her father through the back door. He should have stayed with my mate,protected her. When I find him again, I’ll be making that point to his face. With my fists.
“Cop,” someone shouts loudly, then panic spreads like wildfire. Instead of hurrying toward the exits, people are sprinting now, pushing and shoving to get out of here fast.
Dimitri bolts, shoving through bodies in his haste to get outside.
"He's getting away," Lisa's voice is sharp and professional, but also scared. Not for her, but at the idea that this chance to get Amber, which might be our only chance, is slipping away.
“Wait. I’m almost there.”
She's already moving, her red hair still visible for a split second before she squeezes out under someone’s arm. Through the earpiece, Lisa's breathing changes. She's running, her footsteps on gravel, then concrete.
"He's just ahead of me, dodging between the cars."
Barrelling through anyone in my way, I charge toward the exit and finally push out into the fresh air. The dark sky is illuminated by hastily erected flood lights blinding me. I can’t see her in the inky darkness beyond, but I can hear her panting as she chases him.
"Lisa, STOP," I demand through the radio, but she’s not listening, one hundred percent focussed on getting her man.
I take off after her, not giving a shit whether anyone notices my inhuman speed or glowing eyes. I just need to get to her.
In the distance, her footsteps slow, then there’s silence.
I don’t like it. “Lisa?”
Nothing.
My legs are pumping, lungs burning, following the pull in my chest that's screaming her location at me.
“Stay back,” a deep male voice spits. “I mean it, stay the fuck back.”
Dimitri. It has to be.
“He’s got a gun,” she whispers, and my vision falters for a second, even as I push my body harder.
“Just calm down–” Lisa says, her tone professional, as I burst through the gap between two cars into the empty section of the lot where they stand facing each other, her arms raised.
Dimitri is edging backward, but the second he sees me, running straight for him at speed, he makes his decision, his finger moving to the trigger.
The first gunshot splits the night. Then a second. Then a third.
28
LISA
The muzzle flash comes before the sound, both of which seem to happen in slow motion as I stand frozen to this spot.
Then Beau is there, charging out from between two cars, moving faster than any human being should be able to move, launching himself at me, arms outstretched. His back hits my chest, his body jerking against mine as the first gunshot fills the air.
