Page 85 of Fatal Intent
“Ten o’clock. Is there a metal structure or something with glass out there?”
He remained silent for a moment. “I see nothing.”
She turned back and studied the area again, frowning. He was right. Nothing was there. Was she imagining things? As she stared at the same area, the light glinted again. “Gun!”
A shot rang out.
Rayne dove for Helen, rolling in mid-air as she took the older woman to the ground, then flipping their position so her body covered Grant’s mother. Weapon drawn, she quartered the area, searching for the shooter. Nothing. No movement, no more glinting of glass. Zip.
“Dad!”
Helen gasped. “John?” She shoved at Rayne. “Is he all right? Get off me. I must go to him.”
“Not yet. We have to be sure you’re safe.”
“It’s too late for that, isn’t it? Get off me.”
Rayne easily controlled the irate woman until she was satisfied the shooter was in the wind. She scrambled to her feet and held out her hand to Grant’s mother.
Helen slapped away Rayne’s hand, got to her feet by herself, and rushed to her fallen husband. “John!” She dropped to her knees and gasped at the sight of his blood-soaked shirt.
Grant caught the towel Andre tossed to him and pressed the cloth to his father’s chest.
Rayne knelt beside Grant. “How can I help?”
“Take over here. Andre, we need more towels. Seth, how far out is that ambulance?”
“Two minutes.”
Rayne didn’t have to ask how serious his father’s injury was. She could see the worry in Grant’s eyes.
Andre returned with an armful of towels.
“Help Rayne.” Grant surged to his feet and turned toward the area from which the shot originated.
“Where are you going?” Gabe demanded. “Our father’s been shot. You can’t just take off.”
“I’m going after the shooter.”
“Are you crazy? He’s gone by now. You’re a hotshot Special Forces soldier. You should know that much.”
“We don’t know that he’s left the area,” Teagan said. “He may set up for another shot. Every minute we waste arguing with you is another minute he has to choose another sight line to shoot someone else.”
Cilla hurried their children to Gabe. “She’s right. We have to get the kids inside where they’ll be safe. Hurry.”
Grant’s brother glared at him. “This isn’t over, bro.”
“Go. Protect your family. Isabella, take your kids inside along with Tony.”
“What about Dad? Don’t you care about him at all?”
Sirens grew louder. “The ambulance will be here in a minute. I’m not a medic, Izzy. I can’t help Dad here, but I can and will track down the man who shot him.”
“Yeah? Good luck with that.” Isabella’s voice was frigid. She turned her back on Grant and, with the help of her husband, began herding frightened children to the house. “Mom, come with us,” she urged her mother.
“I’m not leaving his side. We’ve never been separated during our marriage. I’m not starting that now.”
“I’ll watch out for her,” Seth said to Grant. “Do what you need to do. Teagan, go with him. Find the nest and get back here. Watch your back, baby.”
