Page 121 of Mistletoe and Malice
More shouting from the lobby drew her protectors’ attention. Under her dress, she slipped out of her shoes and made a break for the lobby.
“Riley!” Trevor called after her. “Stop!”
If she could just see for herself …
“Riley!” Nowell’s voice came from too close behind.
She gathered up the full skirt of her dress, tapping into her high school regional champion sprinter days to stay out of his reach. If she could just get outside to make sure Colton was okay. That nobody else had been hurt on her account.
The glass doors opened with ashwoosh. Outside, Colton ran after a red-jacketed waiter. The man turned, aimed?—
A shot rang out.
“Cole!”
Someone grabbed her from behind and pushed her to the ground. Her breath left her as she hit the pavement.
“Sorry, Riley,” Nowell said from on top of her.
“He’s down! He’s down!” a voice yelled from a distance.
Trevor positioned himself, weapon drawn, between them and the scene several yards away. Too many people. She couldn’t see.
Panic tightened her throat. “Who’s down? Who is it?”
“Everett,” Trevor threw over his shoulder.
“Colton—”
“He’s fine.” Trevor holstered his gun, still watching the scene in the parking lot. “Looks like Everett took one in the leg. Squealin’ like a stuck pig, as we used to say on the ranch.” He grinned down at them. “He’ll live, but he’ll be gimped up for a while.”
Closing her eyes, she put her forehead down on her crossed arms, her shoulders shaking as the torment of the last several months left in a torrent of tears.
Nowell lifted his weight from her and put his hand on her back. “You’re okay, Riley. It’s all over. You’re okay.”
When she could speak, she lifted her head and swiped at her cheeks. It didn’t matter if she had tracks in her makeup or stains from the pavement on her dress.
Colton was safe. And she was free.
“Thank you.” She swallowed the thickness in her throat. “All of you.”
Trevor glanced over his shoulder to his team lead. “Blankenship’s on his way.”
Nowell sighed as he stood. “I’m so fired.”
“We both should probably update our resumes.”
Nowell offered his hand to help her up.
“I got her.” Colton took her by the hands to draw her onto her feet, then lifted her into his arms, like he had at the Christmas ball. Holding him tight around the neck, she gave in to a fresh spate of tears.
“It’s okay, Ri. You’re all right.”
Once somewhat composed, she pulled back and wiped her face with her hand. “I thought he shot you.” Her breath hitched. “I saw him turn … and the gun?—”
“I got him first.”
She nodded, unable to do anything but stare into those crystal blue eyes.
