Page 54 of All of Me

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I heard the roar of truck engines and then the gunfire stopped. It took me a moment because the noise was ringing in my ears, but then Drake burst into the bathroom, and took a still sobbing Tammy out of my arms. I picked Maxie up and stumbled out just in time to see Jay running through the front door.

“Report,” Drake barked, and I put Maxie down and took Tammy back, rocking and hushing her.

“Two tricked-out SUVs came from the woods at the back. One gunman in each. As soon as they saw Dixie, who was the closest, they turned tail and ran. The alert will have gone to Rawlings.”

“Who’s following?” Drake demanded just as I said,

“What about Moira?”

“No one’s following,” Jay clipped out. “Our orders are to secure the house.” He glanced at me. “The neighbors weren’t a target. I have my men checking the whole perimeter but the SUVs came from the back fields not in the direction of their house.”

I heaved out a sigh, but Drake was on the phone to Rawlings, and I tuned him out. By some miracle Tammy was nearly asleep. I closed my eyes for a moment in despair. I’d nearly gotten her killed because selfishly I wanted to stay with Drake, even if I’d let myself be persuaded by the doubled security. If they’d have gotten anywhere near the house she could have been hit. Some big brother I was. Walking back into her room, I laid her in the bed. Maxie had run after us both and I picked him up and put him in her bed, and he coiled around her feet. They both needed the comfort.

I glanced around the room, and then went to the closet and pulled out one of the two small suitcases I knew was in there and started packing her things.

I wasn’t going all the way to Pink’s but I would go to the apartment.

As I got her things together, the fight we ‘d had ran through my head. Drake's jealous outburst earlier seemed so trivial now in light of what had just happened. But it also showed how precarious we were. We'd rushed into this relationship and living situation so quickly, bringing a traumatized toddler into the mix as well.

I had no idea what I was going to do about a job, and I hated being dependent on Diesel still, but I was out of options, and it was clear this wasn’t going to work. I felt a sharp stab of pain and rubbed my chest, knowing this wasn’t because of my heart. I huffed out a breath; well, not because of the scarring anyway.

Closing the suitcase, I took a deep breath to steady myself. I'd tell Drake we needed to stay at the apartment for now, at least until things calmed down. Hopefully he'd understand and come with us. But if not...well, I'd cross that bridge when I came to it. I checked that Tammy and Maxie were asleep then walked into my old room to grab some things from the dresser.

Not that I had much.

I heard Drake's voice, still talking to Rawlings, I assumed. Steeling myself, I picked up the suitcase and headed into the kitchen where he was still pacing in the living room, phone to his ear. He looked up when he saw me, his eyes dropping to the suitcase.

"I have to go," he said abruptly into the phone before hanging up. "Shae?"

I set the suitcase down. "Drake, I think Tammy and I need to stay at the apartment for a while. It's not safe here for her."

He nodded, then walked up to me, regret and indecision in his eyes. “Yeah. They’re just doing another sweep. How the hell the cops haven’t been called is beyond me, but Alec just checked Albert’s and he thinks they’re both asleep. Moira sleeps at theother side of the house and Albert takes pills.” He hesitated. “Rawlings won’t pull the protection on them, but—” He frowned down at his phone and answered it. “Danny, what—” I was just turning to get Tammy’s case when Drake’s face paled. “The fuck?” he whispered.

“What is it?” I just about felt my heart bounce against my ribs. He blinked and looked at me. “Both SUVs just exploded. All passengers still inside.” He listened as Danny spoke again, but I couldn’t take it in. That…that was crazy. Ryan had lost his ever-lovin’ mind.

He listened some more then hung up. “They were just about to get onto the highway, and thankfully no other cars were near.”

Dixie appeared. Clocked my suitcase. “You need a ride?” I glanced at her then back at Drake.

“This is getting way out of hand,” I said. “How did we go from amateur arsonists to a single drive-by shooting to World War Three?”

Drake looked as shocked as I was, and then scrubbed a hand down his face, and sighed, focusing on Dixie. “Who’s going to be on the apartment?”

“Jay says Danny and Kane are on their way there. Rawlings is coming here, but then tonight he’ll stay there, as will I. Emilio is on his way to the apartment as well. He’s pulled Mac in here to replace me. Jay, Alec, Mac, Tony, and Paula are on next door and the rest of the place.” She paused. “Gray has been sent to pick up Ryan Connaught, and Rawlings says you know where they’ll be if you want to join them.”

“Good, that means I don’t have to,” Drake said, darkly.

I desperately needed to talk to Drake alone, but that wasn’t going to happen. “Are you going to follow us?”

He met my gaze, the green of his eyes nearly black. “As soon as I can.”

It wasn’t exactly a promise, but I couldn’t ask anything else. Everything was so messed up, especially us. “What about Albert and Moira? Should I stop by before I go?”

He shook his head. “No, Alec says they’re asleep, but I’ll double check.” Then he marched over and took me in his arms, completely uncaring of his audience. “I’m sorry. I’m a jealous screw-up that doesn’t deserve you.”

I ignored Dixie’s snort and kissed him. I knew I had to take some responsibility for threatening to leave, even if he was being a dick. Threatening to leave played into everyone of Drake’s insecurities and I needed to stop that.

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