Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Rapid gunfire shattered the calm of the living room. Devon shielded Aurora with his body. His ears rang with the noise as his mind worked, trying to strategize.
He had caught a single glimpse of the black Escalade before the shots rang out.
It had been just enough time to save them from being riddled with bullets.
But now, Devon had to find a way to get Aurora out of the zone of danger.
He didn’t know if it was one person in that car or more.
If several attackers might be flanking them even now, approaching them from the rear and sides of the house.
What would they expect Devon and Aurora to do? Were they trying to flush them out of hiding? Would they be waiting outside to pick them off once they showed their faces?
He had to choose. Stay or go? Neither option was ideal.
The gunfire paused. Then another burst strafed across Chase’s living room. That settled it. Devon was going to get Aurora deeper into the house. Then, he could decide what to do next.
“Go towards the bedroom. I’ll be right behind you.”
Aurora crawled forward. Devon pulled the gun from its holster and crawled along after her, keeping his head as low as possible.
Like always when he was in a crisis, a preternatural calm had fallen over Devon’s mind and body. As if the rational part of him had fully separated from any trace of fear.
He and Aurora reached the bedroom, which faced the side of the house.
At the window, Devon carefully stood to one side of the frame, keeping himself out of sight.
With his gun at the ready, he checked one direction, then the other.
No sign of any activity. He could see a neighbor next door in her kitchen, speaking into a phone with a panicked look on her face.
The gunfire had stopped, and he heard tires squealing. Perhaps it was just a drive-by, and the attacker was already driving away. The police would be here soon, which hopefully meant the attacker was already on his way out of the neighborhood.
But Max and Sylvie still hadn’t determined whether someone inside the police department had leaked Aurora’s identity.
Aurora was cowering on the floor, shaking. “What are we going to do?”
“I want to put some distance between us and this house, and then I’m going to contact Max.
His car is still on the way. I’m going to have them pick us up.
” They could’ve gone for the car that Sylvie left behind, but Devon wanted the backup of more bodyguards.
Briefly, he held Aurora’s hand in his. “I’m going out the window first to make sure it’s safe.
Then you’re going to follow me. Can you do that? ”
She nodded, her eyes unfocused.
Constantly checking for assailants, Devon pushed aside the curtain and lifted the window sash. He vaulted over the sill and dropped onto the grass below. He pivoted left and right with his gun raised. When he was sure it was clear, he waved for Aurora.
She climbed out. “What now?”
“We’re going to cut across some of the neighbors’ yards.” Most of the houses around here had low fences, so they were easy to climb over and provided a wide view of the surroundings.
Several frightened faces stared at them from windows as they passed, moving as quickly as they could from one property to the next.
At one point, someone burst out of his back door, shouting questions. But Devon didn’t even slow. He didn’t aim the gun at the neighbor, but he did make sure it was visible as they hurried onward. The guy quickly vanished back into his house.
They reached the next street. Devon told Aurora to get down while he scanned for threats. He didn’t see any sign of the black Escalade or its driver. He had to assume it was the same man that they’d seen on the video footage. But he kept an eye out for anyone looking suspicious.
There was a sedan a block down, and Devon saw a woman and children inside. He ducked out of sight until the car had passed, more out of concern for innocent bystanders getting caught in any crossfire. Then he pulled Aurora up and they ran across the road to hide behind a hedge.
Devon pulled out the burner phone and dialed the only number that was programmed into the contacts. Max answered on the first ring.
“We heard there were shots fired at your address. Is Aurora all right?”
“No injuries. I’ve gotten her to the corner of Water Street and Birch Lane.”
“Got it. I’m in the car. We’re seven minutes out. Don’t go anywhere if you can help it. We’re coming to you.”
As the minutes passed, Aurora’s breathing got more and more ragged. Devon wrapped an arm around her and rubbed her arm. “Max is almost here. We’re going to get through this.”
She hugged him back and buried her face against his shoulder. “Chase’s house—”
He almost smiled. “Don’t worry about that. We’ll take care of Chase, okay? But only after we take care of you.”
“And you. I’m not going anywhere without you. No exceptions.”
“Yes, ma’am. You’re in charge.”
“Damn right, I am,” she murmured against him. Then Devon’s smile faded. Dread surged through him.
The black Escalade had just turned onto the street.
“Fuck,” he said quietly.
Aurora lifted her head. “What?”
“Aurora, in about five seconds, I’m going to need you to climb that fence there and take cover behind the house. It’s very important that you stay out of sight of the road.”
“Why? What’s happening?”
He held her close to him, partly to keep her from moving and giving them away. But mostly, he just needed to feel her and remind himself exactly what was at stake. This wasn’t just a job anymore. He was going to do anything it took to get Aurora into her brother’s car.
Devon glanced at his watch. Only two minutes had passed since he hung up with Max. Five more minutes until they would be here.
And that Escalade had almost reached them. Devon imagined the choreography in his mind. They would stay out of sight until the Escalade passed. But once it did, if the driver looked into his rear mirror, he would have a clear view of them where they currently sat.
So that meant a brief window when Aurora had to run for it, and Devon had to create a distraction. He didn’t want to risk drawing gunfire toward an innocent person’s house. But if Devon himself stayed out in the open, the asshole would keep his attention exactly where Devon wanted it.
“There’s no time,” he told her. “Right now, you just have to do what I say. I know you don’t like it, but—”
“You just promised we were going to stay together. When I run, you’re not coming with me, are you?”
Devon handed her the burner phone. “When Max calls, tell him where you are. It’ll be like the rooftop terrace. I’ll meet up with you.” He would draw the Escalade away from her, then take Sylvie’s car to catch up.
Tires rolled along the pavement, going much too slow. The driver had probably been circling, searching for them. The man assumed they were still on foot, which meant he might have even seen them running from the house. They would have to act quickly. This guy, whoever he was, wasn’t stupid.
Devon felt the panicked energy in her body, just as clearly as if it were his own. “I need you to trust me. Now run.”
At the same moment, black metal appeared in his peripheral vision. The SUV had just driven past.
Aurora darted the few yards to the next fence and swung her leg over.
The Escalade’s tires screeched. It had stopped in the middle of the road. Devon was already racing toward the vehicle. He saw a glint of light against metal as the driver raised his own weapon.
Devon squeezed off a shot. The rear window of the vehicle splintered into a spider’s web around the bullet hole. He crouched behind the bumper, then lunged out to fire twice more. He withdrew just as a bullet dinged off the fender.
Devon risked a quick glance in Aurora’s direction. She’d disappeared over the fence.
The engine revved to life. Had the man seen her? Was he going after her? The driver probably hoped to cut her off at the next street.
He wouldn’t stop until Aurora was lying in the dirt. Silenced.
Surrender is not a Ranger word, Devon thought. He’ll have to kill me if he wants to take her.
The driver took another shot in Devon’s direction, like he was thinking the same thing. The SUV peeled away. Devon ran after it, exchanging fire. Bullets widened the hole in the rear windshield.
He felt something pierce his left arm, as sharp and sudden as a bee sting. The vehicle rounded a corner and disappeared.
Pain rocketed up and down his arm. I’m shot, he realized. Dammit. I don’t need this right now.
“Devon!”
Aurora appeared, running toward him. She grabbed him around the waist. Her eyes stared in horror at the growing patch of red on his shirt.
“Aurora, what are you doing here? If he sees you, he’ll turn back around and come after you.”
“Then let him. I’m not leaving you.”
They ran for the cover of the hedge. Devon sank down onto the grass. His sleeve was now soaked with red. It was more than just a scratch. A lot more.
Devon ripped a strip off his T-shirt with his teeth. “Give me a hand?”
Aurora helped him tie a makeshift binding around the wound, cinching it tight. “Where’s the phone? I need to get you to a hospital!”
“I’ll be fine. You get out of here before that asshole comes back. Please.”
She wouldn’t listen. He debated picking her up and forcing her to move. But he couldn’t carry her like this. He could walk beside her, but he’d be slow. And in a few minutes, if he didn’t stop the blood loss, he’d be useless in a fight.
They heard a car speed onto the street, tires screeching. It had to be the Escalade. He had come back for them.
Devon checked his gun. Three bullets left. He pulled a spare magazine from his holster and replaced it. “Aurora, go. I’ll hold him off.” For as long as I can.
Aurora’s eyes were wide. “Not without you.”
There was only one thing Devon could do—stop the car before it reached them. The engine gunned as the car sped down the road. He looked out from behind the tree, taking aim at the approaching black SUV.
His finger curled on the trigger.
But it wasn’t the Escalade at all.
The vehicle skidded to a halt. Max Bennett jumped out of the passenger side, holding a shotgun. Another Bennett Security bodyguard—Tanner—got out of the back. They raced over.
“Max! Help him!”
Max gathered his sister and pulled her toward the car. Tanner hefted Devon into a standing position.
“Looks like you made one hell of a mess, Whitestone,” Tanner said.
“You have no idea.”