Page 45 of Gage

It rang. Once. Twice. Three times.

Then—someone answered.

A man.

And helaughed.

Ice shot through my veins.

They have her.

I slammed my foot on the gas. The road blurred around me as I tore through the streets.Please, God, let me get there in time.

Then I saw it.

Flames.

The house was engulfed, fire roaring through the windows. Sirens wailed. The fire department was already there, battling the inferno.

I barely threw my truck in park before jumping out and sprinting toward the house.

“LORI!” I shouted.

A firefighter grabbed my arm. “Stay back! The house is about to collapse.”

“She’s in there!” I fought against his grip, scanning the flames. Where is she?

Then I heard it.

A voice.

“I’m on the roof! Someone help me! I’m on the roof!”

I spun, searching the house.

“Lori!” I shouted. “Hold on! I’ll get a ladder!”

I ran back to the firemen. “She’s on the roof! I need a ladder—now!”

We grabbed a long ladder and rushed around the house. Before anyone could stop me, I was already climbing.

Lori was huddled behind the chimney, her face streaked with soot, her body trembling.

I reached her and crouched beside her. “Come on, sweetheart, we don’t have much time. We have to hurry before this roof caves in.”

She nodded, her eyes wide with fear.

I cupped her face, pressing a quick kiss to her lips. “Let’s go.”

We started down the ladder.

Then—a bullet whizzed past my head.

Someone was shooting at us.

The crack of gunfire echoed through the night. Instinctively, I threw my body over Lori, shielding her as bullets whizzed past.

Then, the FBI pulled up, agents jumping out of their vehicles and sprinting into action.

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