Page 83 of Rescued Hearts

The sound hadn’t come from inside the building. His brothers verified that fact as he sprinted for the exit.

He already knew before he reached the door that the shot came from outside.

He should have known the plan would fall apart the minute he left Honor.

His blood froze into ice, and her name left his lips in a whisper that felt like a curse…or a prayer.

“Honor.”

As he broke through the door, Colt was right on his heels. Across the parking lot, he caught the gleam of moonlight on a metal car door as his brothers put Felicity in the safety of the SUV.

Gray’s mind was already working over that gunshot, analyzing it. It hadn’t struck metal or shattered glass. Which meant Sully didn’t shoot through the van in an attempt to get to Honor.

That could only mean one thing—she hadn’t stayed in the van.

His mind repeated her name in a drumbeat as he raced to her. The door hung open like a scream frozen in midair.

Then he saw her.

Lying on the ground. Motionless.

Her hair swirled around her like a pool of silk. One arm was twisted awkwardly by her side.

A few feet away, a man writhed on the ground, screaming in pain. The stench of hot blood flooded Gray’s nose and hazed his mind with red fury.

That bastard had hurt her.

And he was going to kill him.

Sully clutched his thigh, his face battered with cuts and bruises, but Gray gave him no notice as he dropped to his knees beside the woman he loved.

The world narrowed.Allhe could see was her.

“Honor! Honor. Oh god.”

She groaned softly, and her beautiful eyes fluttered open.

Relief hit him so hard that his knees would buckle all over again if he were standing.

“Jesus Christ.” He cupped her face, brushing her hair away from her cheek with a shaky hand. “You’re okay. You’re okay. You’re okay.”

Her brows pinched as if she tried to focus on his face. “Clogs,” she whispered.

“What?”

“Clogs. In retrospect, not the best tactical footwear.”

He glanced down at her feet. One clog shoe had fallen off and lay tipped on its side.

So did the gun he’d given her for self-defense.

He pieced it all together—how she shot her ex, lost her footing and fell backward.

“Jesus. You scared the hell out of me. What happened?”

Several feet away, two of his brothers were restraining the bleeding man. In the distance, sirens wailed, the authorities obviously on the way.

He cradled Honor in his arms.