Page 3 of Shea's Hero

“Yeah.” Jade pauses. “So… that’s kind of why I wanted you to come out here with me. Because I have news. Only Niall knows so far, but as my best friend and sister…”

“What is it?”

She hesitates. Then a broad smile breaks out, lighting her face up with it. “We’re pregnant. I just found out this morning. That’s why I was in the bathroom so long. I know it’s too soon to tell everyone else. But I couldn’t wait to tell you.”

Tears shine in her eyes as she looks at me, her joy a visible thing. “We didn’t know how long it would take, so we just started trying after the wedding, and hoping. And then I started feeling a little nauseous in the morning, and I thought…”

“Jade.” I reach forward to hug her, squeezing her hard. My own eyes are stinging with threatening tears. Not sad ones, but of pure happiness. “I’m so excited for you. You and Niall are going to be such great parents. It’s just…”

Now my nose is prickling. “It’s the best news. And I can’t wait to be Aunt Shea. I’ll be the cool aunt, and I’ll send all these cool presents, and I’ll make sure to visit all the time.”

“You’d better.” Jade sniffles, brushing at tears. “We’ll come here tons. Whenever we can. And when the baby is older, we can take him or her into the city, take them to the toy stores?—”

“Oh, if it’s a girl, as soon as she’s old enough, we can take her to the American Girl Doll store in the city. How cute would that be?”

Jade makes a little squeeing sound. “Oh, my gosh. That would be adorable.”

“And if it’s a boy, we can take him to Yankee games. Get him a little jersey. And when he’s little, those tiny headphones they wear when it’s noisy.”

“Oh, Shea.” She leans in to hug me back. “This is going to be so great.”

“Hey, guys.” We both look up to see Elle headed towards us, a hesitant smile on her face. “Sorry to interrupt. But the guys are talking about ordering more food. Is there anything you want?”

Jade glances at me and I shake my head. “No,” she replies. “I think we’re good. But if you want to join us?—”

She’s interrupted by the sound of tires squealing.

Not a distant sound, from a few blocks down.

But close.

As I glance at the street, a van speeds down it and comes to a screeching stop right in front of the pub.

Jade frowns, her brows pulling into a little V. “They need to be careful driving like that. In the dark, with all the restaurants and bars around?—”

“Wait.” I clamp my hand over hers. “This doesn’t feel right.”

I don’t know why.

Call it a sixth sense.

There’s no reason to assume there’s anything awry aside from a careless driver in a hurry to get a drink. Someone late to meet a friend. A delivery person rushing to pick up an order.

Niall always relied on his gut in the Army. He refused to tell me just how many times it saved his life, but I know it was more than a few.

My mom always said she had these feelings, too.

Right now, my gut is saying that something is very wrong.

“What’s wrong?” Jade asks. Fear flickers in her eyes.

I glance at Elle, who’s stopped halfway across the patio, alarm tightening her features.

The van door slides open.

A man jumps out. And it’s the first sign my gut was right.

He’s in all dark clothes. His hoodie is pulled tight around his face. A gaiter covers his nose and mouth.

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