Page 49 of Gifts

She’s staring out at the commotion when her expression falls, and the moment I grab her arm, it happens.

Gunfire.

Emma screams and I yank her down between the front seats and throw myself over her torso as it happens.

Shots, ringing all around us. Glass shatters. Bullets hit against my van with a sound of metal striking metal at full velocity.

My body tenses—pins and needles creep over my skin with fear and panic. The need to scream is overwhelming, but I can’t manage a sound.

Emma continues to cry out and shake beneath me. Grasping her, I do all I can to press us as low as possible to the van floor.

The bullets stop raining down against my van, but glass breaks in the distance with pings of bullets ricocheting off stone and splintering wood.

But only for a second before more shots come back to my van, this time hitting us low and I can’t believe I can feel it, but the tires pop and one last window is shattered.

I don’t know how long this lasts—it feels like an eternity.

Then … nothing.

An ache comes over me and the eerie silence engulfs us aside from Emma’s whimpers. I feel her shake below me but we don’t dare move a muscle.

Paralyzed, I expel a breath of air I must have been holding and feel myself start to tremble. I only move because Emma begins to pull away, too shocked to utter a word.

Glass falls away from us as we sit up, and when I look into Emma’s terrified eyes and tear-streaked face, she screams, “Oh, shit. You’re bleeding!”

*****

Asa

“Regardless of any issues Emerson may be experiencing, she’s behind. She’s flirting with a failing grade in geometry for the semester and will not be prepared for Algebra 2 next year. I recommend she take the class again.”

This woman is a bitch and I feel sorry for Emma having to put up with her every day. I’ll do everything I can to make sure she doesn’t have to repeat her class.

“She had an A first semester. Regardless of your thoughts on the subject, I’ll talk to Emma about the grade and make sure she’s caught up and ready for Algebra 2 next year. She’s got two months and the summer—I’ll make sure she’s ready.”

My phone vibrates again. It’s been going fucking crazy for the last ten minutes.

Emma’s science teacher throws the bitch a look as she breaks in. “Mr. Hollingsworth, Emma is a fifteen-year-old girl. I’m sure you and she will figure this out and she’ll get back on track—she’s bright. Until then, we need to be vigilant that she doesn’t fall further behind. Her study hall is during my planning period. I’ll start scheduling review sessions with her. We’ll make sure she gets caught up.”

I acknowledge her, but this time I can’t ignore it when my phone goes off again.

“Excuse me.” When I pick it up to flip through my notifications, there are countless phone calls and texts, first from Carson—my contact at the CIA—and then from Crew and Grady.

I stand and don’t look at Emma’s team of teachers when I mutter, “Excuse me. I’ll get back with all of you—I’ve got something I need to deal with.”

I hit Crew’s number first as I rush out of the school offices. It barely rings once when he picks up and demands, “Where are you?”

I’ve known him since he was a teenager and I was a rookie just starting on the PD in the District. Crew’s dad was my Sergeant. “I’m at my kids’ school. What the fuck’s going on?”

I hear the rustle of the phone with a shit-ton of voices in the background, and fuck me, sirens.

“Everyone’s okay.” You’d think these words would calm me, but I know Crew. His voice is low and tight, and even if he tells me everyone’s okay, everything is definitely not okay. “Grady and I are here with Em and your counselor-woman. Where’s Levi?”

“At practice,” I bite out as I jog to my truck. “Tell me what the fuck happened.”

“I don’t know who’s behind this, but pull Levi from practice just in case. Now. And man,” he pauses, this time his tone and his words don’t hide a thing, “Get the fuck home. Fast.”

*****

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