Page 92 of Armed ’N’ Ready

As Meera jammed the gun harder against her skull, the thumping in Andi’s chest resounded like a battering ram, echoing in her ears.

“Let her go and put your gun on the floor.” Nick’s voice was cold and controlled. “There’s no way out.”

“I beg to differ.” Meera dragged the barrel of her gun lower, pressing it into the soft flesh of Andi’s cheek. “You’ll let me go because I’ve got something you want.”

As she breathed harder, the smell of gunpowder entered her lungs. The barrel of the gun was warm against her skin, reminding her that Nick and Meera had fired off a round.

Nick readjusted his position, giving Andi a brief but clear glimpse of his upper body, and her heart stilled. The center of Nick’s gray-blue uniform shirt was quickly darkening.

With blood.

Nick’s been shot.

But he was wearing his—

Body armor.

No, he wasn’t. He’d given it to her and never put it back on. Neither Nick nor Saxon was wearing a Kevlar vest. He’d adjusted his aim to keep from shooting her, but in doing so, had missed a kill shot and taken a bullet to the chest.

Worry hit her with more impact than any physical pain could. Nick had been shot, and he was bleeding profusely.

He clicked his mic. “Lock down the building. Nobody gets out.”

A voice came back that sounded like Eric’s. “Copy that.”

“Let her go, Meera.” His voice was even, yet she knew him well enough to hear the pain behind his words. “We have the laptop. Shooting anyone else won’t help you. The building is on lockdown, and there’s no way out.”

“We’ll see about that.” Meera backed up, edging for the door behind them.

Movement made Andi glance to where Joe lay on the floor. His shirt had dampened with more blood, but his eyelids fluttered.

He’s alive.

Meera yanked the gun from her face, pointed it at Nick, and fired again.

Andi screamed, squeezing her eyes shut. The gun had been so close to her head, her ears rang from the blast. When she opened her eyes, she expected to see Nick lying on the floor, but he and Saxon were still there, taking cover behind the column. He wouldn’t risk another shot at Meera, not while she still used her as a human shield.

Again, she clutched at Meera’s arm, feeling something warm and sticky. Nick had shot Meera in the arm, yet she retained the strength of a gorilla.

Meera walked them backward. “Open the door,” she growled.

“Andi, don’t!” came Nick’s harsh command.

“Do it!” She jammed the gun against Andi’s temple, and this time it was hot enough to burn her skin, and she flinched. “Do it, or I’ll keep shooting your boyfriend.”

“No,” she cried. She couldn’t bear the thought of Nick being shot again. “Please don’t. I’ll do anything you say.” Blindly, she reached behind her until her fingers contacted the doorknob. Twisting the knob, she pushed the door open.

Meera dragged her through the doorway.

“Andi, no!”

The last thing she glimpsed was the rage and pain on Nick’s face.

…

Nick bolted to the door and peered around the doorjamb in time to see Meera back her and Andi up toward the stairwell at the end of the corridor. The absolute terror in Andi’s eyes sent a shot of panic through his bones, the likes of which he’d never felt before in his life. Goddamn, he felt helpless. Helpless to save the woman he loved more than his next breath.

More than his own life.