Page 45 of Phoenix Rising

Audria came out dressed for a run. “My bosses are going to call in fifteen minutes.”

Reese took his turn in the bathroom. After a quick shower, he brushed his teeth and donned his new workout gear. As he opened the door, Audria’s phone buzzed.

“Talia and Hunter are on their way,” Logan told them. “We’re sending Christian Zamora to assist as well. They have reservations at the same resort and will bring more supplies.”

“We had the tech crew dig into Phoenix Valo,” Luke said. “His background is fake, and whoever he paid to compile it wasn’t very good or thorough. Holes everywhere. Our guys tore it apart in minutes. He didn’t start using a credit card until a few months ago.”

“Mighty suspicious,” Reese agreed.

After they ended the call, Reese and Audria headed out. BeBe had included a fanny pack, and though they weren’t Reese’s style, it allowed him to carry his weapons, so he strapped it on. They stopped by the SUV to lock up their computers.

The heat was picking up when they stepped outside. Though it was still early, they were later than usual due to their nocturnal activities and then the phone call with Audria’s bosses. They decided on a trail that took them on a journey through vast desert landscapes.

They were starting mile two when Audria pointed and said, “Look, there’s something over there.”

Reese searched the spiny cholla cactus and other plants but saw nothing. “I missed it. What was it?”

“I’m not sure. All I saw was fur.”

“Like a bunny?”

“No, it was bigger, like a coyote.”

“Thankfully, they are afraid of humans, so we shouldn’t have a problem.”

The path they chose was mostly deserted. Only two other people were out enjoying nature. They saw more wildlife, including a road runner, an Arizona coral snake, and a herd of mule deer. They had just rounded a rocky outcropping when the red clay soil in front of them kicked up.

Before Reese could process what was happening, Audria grabbed him and tossed him behind the rocks as another pop sounded. He felt a scorching burn across his arm.

Audria already had her weapon in hand and was searching the ridge from which the shots had come. Reese wiped the dust from his eyes, whipped out his gun, and joined her.

#

Audria couldn’t believe someone had shot at them. They were lucky that the person didn’t seem too bright. Otherwise, they would’ve picked a location that didn’t offer a giant boulder to hide behind. She and Reese would’ve been easy targets out in the open.

“There,” Reese said softly, and she simultaneously spotted the sun’s reflection glinting off a rifle barrel.

They both aimed their Sig Sauers and fired, startling the shooter and causing them to drop the weapon. It tumbled down the side of the bluff.

“They go after it, I’m putting a slug in their kneecap,” Audria promised. “I’d take out their right eye socket, but we want the shooter alive to find out their identity or who hired them.”

“We won’t be able to keep the local police out of this now,” Reese groused. “I’ll contact Detective Beaumont.”

While he called the authorities, Audria kept watch for any movement. She doubted the shooter would go back for his weapon, but he might’ve brought a backup. Most likely, he was hightailing it out of the desert like the coward and failure he was.

She glanced over at Reese as he ended the call and gasped. “Reese, you were shot!”

He slid his phone into a pocket. “Police are on the way, and it was a graze.”

“Let me see it.” Audria lifted the sleeve of his T-shirt to see a nasty gash dripping blood. She had nothing to stop the bleeding except her tee. She started to lift it over her head, but Reese stopped her. “What? I’m wearing a sports bra and a bulletproof vest,” she argued.

He removed his shirt, which caused her eyes to glue to his bulging biceps. When she could think clearly, she yanked it from him and held it against the wound.

“Easy there,” he hissed.

“Sorry,” she mumbled, loosening her grip. “Why wouldn’t you let me use mine?”

“Because there will be men here soon, and I don’t want them ogling you.”

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