Dispatch answers before the room fully catches up. “All units, respond. Officer assist, EMT shot, possible active scene-”
The location hits. And something in my chest drops out completely.
We’re moving before the call finishes.
“Let’s go,” Mason barks, grabbing his jacket.
I don’t respond. I’m already halfway to the door.
Sirens scream as we tear through traffic, lights carving through the dark.
“Unit 12,” Mason mutters, piecing it together. “Maybe she’s with someone else today. Or she and Scott took a different rig…”
I don’t answer. Because there’s only one unit I care about. Only one person. And the address…
“Alex,” Mason says, sharper now. “Don’t jump to conclusions.”
Too late.
The scene hits before we even fully stop. Flashing lights, gunfire, and chaos.
“Shots fired!” someone yells as we bail out of the car.
Multiple units are already on scene, using vehicles as cover, with returning fire down the narrow street.
“Where?” Mason shouts.
“Ambulance!” an officer points. “They walked into it. Looks like an ambush!”
My eyes snap to the rig. Doors open, lights still flashing, and blood on the pavement.
I move, fast and low, gun drawn.
Training takes over, even as something violent claws up my spine. Two suspects break from cover, one going down under return fire while the other ducks behind a car. I don’t stop.
“Thornton!” Mason calls behind me. “Left side!”
I pivot just enough to track movement, fire once, twice… The figure drops. Not clear if dead. It doesn’t matter.
I keep moving. The closer I get, the worse it looks. More blood than there should be. One body on the ground in an EMS uniform, a puddle of blood emanating from his leg.
My pulse quickens. I drop beside him, realizing its Scott, one knee hitting pavement hard. I check his pulse; it’s fast but definitely there. Alive… barely.
“Hey. Hey, stay with me,” I mutter.
His eyes flutter. “Liv-” he chokes.
My stomach drops. No way around it now; she was in Unit 12 today. “Where is she?” I demand.
His hand twitches weakly toward the ambulance. “-took-” his voice breaks. “He-”
Gunfire cracks again, too close.
I grab his arms, dragging him behind the engine block of a squad car. “Stay down,” I snap to the nearest officer. “He’s alive.”
“Copy!”
I’m already moving again. The ambulance looms ahead. Driver door open. One of the back doors swings slightly on its hinge. There’s movement inside.
