Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty-Five
Police burst into the room as Colton reached Trevor, only minutes after the first shot was fired. Yet it seemed much longer. John barked orders to the uniforms, and Colton dropped to his knees beside his friend, on his back but trying to push himself up.
“Stay down, Pax.”
“Why?” His breath ragged, he pushed himself up with one arm. “Hit … my vest.”
“You’re sure? Nothing penetrated?”
“Pretty … sure. Just … knocked the … air—”
“I got it. Don’t talk.” Colton put his arms under Trevor’s and helped him sit up. “Better?”
Trevor nodded, still working to draw air into his lungs.
Colton examined Trevor’s shirt, where a clear bullet hole penetrated through to the soft vest they wore when out with a principal. Lightweight, easy to conceal. Most people weren’t even aware they wore them.
He put his finger through the hole to the indentation left in the vest. “You may have a broken rib. Pretty good dent here.”
Trevor wrapped his arm across his middle and grimaced. “Wow. I just took my first bullet for a principal.”
“And it’s my fault.”
Trevor’s brow creased. “How do you figure?”
“I shouldn’t have been on the dance floor.” Colton searched for the bullet but came up empty.
“You were with Riley. Exactly where you should’ve been.”
Colton disagreed. “Mind if I pat you down? Can’t find the bullet.”
“Go for it.”
As gently as he could, he patted around Trevor’s middle. “Nothing.”
“Could’ve bounced. Hopefully, forensics will find it. We’ve gotta get Riley home.”
“You should go to the hospital. Get some X-rays. Make sure nothing’s broken.”
“After we get Riley home. Get me on my feet, and I can handle it from there.”
“You sure?”
“Affirmative. Come on. We’re not done here yet.” He sucked in a breath and clutched his midsection as Colton helped him to his feet. “Man, that hurts.”
“Sorry, buddy.”
“Was anybody else injured?”
“Not that I know of. How’d we miss him? How’d he get so close to her?”
“He must be a master of disguise.”
Colton gave Trevor a second to catch his breath once standing. “What tipped you off about the threat?”
“They turned down the lights, and a waiter I hadn’t seen before came out of the kitchen.
” He took a deep breath and winced. “Figured a closer look might be warranted, so I started his way. He had his tray balanced on one hand, but the other was inside his jacket. I saw the butt of the gun and made a beeline for him. Got between him and you guys before he got the first shot off. I didn’t have time to take aim myself. ”
“You did the right thing. Riley’s our first concern.”
“Yes, she is. So, stop worrying about me, and let’s get her out of here.”
Colton made his way to the overturned table, Trevor a few steps behind.
Riley still crouched in a ball behind it, her brothers flanking her with their arms around her.
Drew stood next to his wife behind them, Candace holding onto a tearful Avery while Frances sat between Barbara and Kade at the next table, fear etched into all their faces.
Colton’s heart broke at the sight of Riley’s shaking shoulders. “Riley.”
When she didn’t acknowledge him, Kevin stood to let Colton kneel beside her. He put his hand on her shoulder. “Riley. We have to go.”
“No. He’s out there. I’m safe in here.”
“We need to get you home.”
She finally looked up, and the stark panic on her face clutched at his gut. “Did anybody die?”
“No. Everybody’s fine.”
“Trevor?”
The injured bodyguard stepped around the table. “Right here, Ri.”
Tears spilled from her eyes. “Are you shot?”
“Hit my vest.”
“I’m so sorry. I’m so terribly sorry.”
“Not your fault. But Colton’s right. We need to get you home.”
At Alex’s nod, she rose to her feet with Colton’s help, visibly trembling from head to toe. When she faltered, he wrapped his arm around her and let her lean into him. Paxton pulled his gun and preceded them to the designated exit, his head moving side to side.
She stumbled again. Before she could fall, Colton scooped her up and carried her against his chest, her legs draped over his arm.
He could move them both more quickly with her in his arms than trying to keep her on her feet.
She grabbed him around the neck and buried her face against his skin, sending tingles down his spine.
“You’re all right. I’ve got you, Riley. You’re okay.”
They finally made it out the back exit they’d planned to use in the event of an emergency, hoping, as always, they wouldn’t have to use it.
After putting her in the car, he climbed in right next to her instead of walking around to the other side.
He wrapped her in his arms again and held her close, her face pressed to his shoulder, as they pulled quickly away from the building.
The heater ran full blast, but she shook as if left out in the cold for hours. He let her go only long enough to pull off his suit coat and wrap it around her, pulling her close again.
Her shaking gradually eased as they made their way toward the estate, her tears falling silently now. So many tears she’d pent up all these weeks she’d been terrorized by a madman. Culminating in tonight’s almost successful plan to end it once and for all.
He put his cheek to the top of her head. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I shouldn’t have let this happen to you.”
She turned her face up to his. “You didn’t.” Her soft voice quivered. “It’s not your fault.”
He brushed a loose lock of hair off her forehead and placed a light kiss there. She curled into him again and didn’t move until they pulled up to the front steps.
Colton reached for the door handle. “Paul. Get Trevor to the hospital. I’ll see her inside.”
The driver nodded. “You’re all right without the two of us for a while?”
“Yes. The Hudsons are right behind us, and we have adequate security here.”
“Copy. I’ll come back after we find out what the doctor says.”
Colton climbed out of the backseat and reached for Riley’s hand, helping her out and wrapping his arm around her shoulders. They walked up the steps to the door. Riley jumped when it opened. No doubt her nerves were vibrating at full tilt.
She put her hand to her heart. “Hilda.”
“Oh, honey.” The tearful cook took Riley’s other arm and helped them in. “We heard. Are you all right, sweetie?”
“Um, I’m not sure.”
“She wasn’t hit,” he assured the older woman. “Just a little shaken up. Can you come upstairs with us and help her out of her dress? She’s a little unsteady yet, and I don’t want to leave her alone.”
“You got it, Mr. Blankenship.”
Upstairs, he left Riley in her bedroom with Hilda and Irene, the house manager. Down the hall in his own room, he changed out of his rumpled tux into jeans, a sweatshirt, warm socks, and tennis shoes.
Walking back out into the hallway, he met Hilda coming out of Riley’s room with Irene. “How is she?”
Fresh tears fell down her face. “Scared to death, poor thing. I’m going to make her some hot chocolate.” She brushed a hand across her cheek. “The girls got here a few minutes ago. They’re with her now. Kade’s in the living room with the family.”
“I’m glad she has such good friends.”
“Many. The main line hasn’t stopped ringing since it hit the news.”
“I can imagine.” He glanced over at Riley’s door and back again. “If she or anyone needs me, I’ll be in the study up here. I need to call in.”
“I’ll bring some cocoa for you, Mr. Blankenship.”
“Thank you.”
Irene stepped toward him as Hilda walked away. “How is Mr. Paxton?”
“Paul took him to the hospital for X-rays and a work-up. We’ll know more after that, but hopefully he’ll just be sore for a few days.”
“I’m praying he’s well. A hero, he is.”
His stomach clenched. “That’s a fact.”
But Trevor shouldn’t have been the one to take that bullet.
Colton was lead man, assigned to the principal, not to a position in a room full of people.
He didn’t want to be a hero, but it rankled that one of his men was this minute being checked in an emergency room because his team lead had been distracted.
“I’ll take care of your clothes. Are they in your room?”
“Yes, but I can send my tux out for cleaning.”
She flipped her hand at him. “Nonsense. I’ll take care of it.”
“Thank you, Irene. I left it on the bed.”
“Thank you, young man. For taking such good care of our girl.”
His gut twisted as Irene strode down the hall to his room. He didn’t deserve gratitude. Not after tonight’s fiasco.
In the upstairs study, he sat behind the desk, took a deep breath, and released it for a count of ten. Shaking his head, he reached for the phone. The line picked up after one ring.
“Mack. I guess you’ve heard.”