Page 29 of Shrouded Past

He eased up to the window and peered inside. They were sitting at the kitchen table. Completely oblivious to the danger they were in. Perfect. He raised the weapon. Aimed. But before he fired a single shot, a scream broke the silence.

He fired twice in the direction of the man. The window shattered on impact of the first bullet. Had he hit his mark?

Sounds of furniture tumbling over. Then someone shot at him.

He’d missed! He let out a string of curses as he ran unheeded through the darkness. Escaping was his only thought. He couldn’t get caught. No matter what, he couldn’t get caught.

???

“Bryce!” Piper scrambled across the floor to where he lay.Blood pooled beneath his left arm.

“You’ve been shot.”

He opened his eyes. “I’m okay.”

But he wasn’t. “No, you’re not okay.”

“It’s just a flesh wound. Go to your room and lock the door. Call Will. I’m going after the shooter.”

“You can’t. You’ve been shot.”

He stumbled to his feet. “I’m okay, Piper. Go.”

She grabbed his phone and Bella and ran toward the bedroom.

Piper locked the door then scrolled to the last called number, which was Will’s.

“He’s here. He shot Bryce.” Words tumbled out.

“We’re on the way. How bad is it?” Piper heard him talking to his officer in the background.

“Bryce said it was a flesh wound, but there’s an awful lot of blood.”

“I’m calling medical assistance. Are you safe?”

“Yes. I think so.” She told him Bryce had told her to hide and then gone after the shooter.

“Stay where you are. We’ll see if we can back up Bryce.”

The call went dead. Piper clutched the phone close and listened. Nothing but waves against the shore. Where was Bryce? Was he safe?

Above the noise of her pulse pounding in her ears, another sound sent terror through her. Glass breaking followed by a door opening somewhere past the kitchen. Someone had come inside.

She ran into the cluttered closet and crouched deeper, grateful for the piles of clothing the girl who lived here had stuffed inside.

Piper strained to hear. The house was quiet. She typed a message to Will.

He’s in the house.

She quickly silenced the phone.

Two minutes out.Came Will’s response.

A board creaked somewhere within the house moving through each room. Searching for her.

Outside, sirens blared.Hurry, Will.Where was Bryce? She was terrified for his safety.

The steps halted.

---