Page 58 of Against the Clock

Instinctively, I moved in front of Rosie, shielding her from them as I kept my gun aimed at their head.

“Don’t come one step closer,” I commanded.

They tilted their head and looked past me.I moved again, keeping her hidden.

“Get out now,” I warned as my fingers tightened around the trigger.

I studied them and tried to lock away as many details in my mind as I could.The way they stood, their height and weight—things that would be easy to identify later.

They moved quickly, darting for the couch.I kept my eyes focused on them as I pulled the trigger.

After three shots, I lowered my gun and watched them sink to the floor, clutching their shoulder.I reached for my phone to call for help when I heard Rosie crying behind me.

I turned around and found her curled into a ball on the couch, crying and shaking as she looked at the body on the ground in front of me.

Quickly, I tucked my gun into my pants and rushed over to her.

“Shhh, honey, it’s okay.”I grabbed her and clutched her to my chest, holding her tightly as she cried.

I hated that she had to witness this, but I hated even more that I had allowed myself to be distracted for a split second and that it allowed whoever it was to get away.There was a trail of blood that led to the open doorway where Roman now stood, jaw hanging open and grocery bags stacked on both arms.

“What happened?”

Twenty-Eight

Roman

3 Days Ago

“What the hell happened?”I asked again, tossing the bags to the counter before rushing over to Quinn and Rosie.

Rosie was sobbing uncontrollably as Quinn held her.I looked down at the blood smeared on the floor and then up at Quinn, needing answers from her.

“Someone got in,” she said quietly.

I raised my brows, asking the question I didn’t want Rosie to hear.

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