Page 85 of Mistletoe and Malice
“You’re sure? Nothing penetrated?”
“Pretty … sure. Just … knocked the … air?—”
“I got it. Don’t talk.” Colton put his arms under Trevor’s and helped him sit up. “Better?”
Trevor nodded, still working to draw air into his lungs.
Colton examined Trevor’s shirt, where a clear bullet hole penetrated through to the soft vest they wore when out with a principal. Lightweight, easy to conceal. Most people weren’t even aware they wore them.
He put his finger through the hole to the indentation left in the vest. “You may have a broken rib. Pretty good dent here.”
Trevor wrapped his arm across his middle and grimaced. “Wow. I just took my first bullet for a principal.”
“And it’s my fault.”
Trevor’s brow creased. “How do you figure?”
“I shouldn’t have been on the dance floor.” Colton searched for the bullet but came up empty.
“You were with Riley. Exactly where you should’ve been.”
Colton disagreed. “Mind if I pat you down? Can’t find the bullet.”
“Go for it.”
As gently as he could, he patted around Trevor’s middle. “Nothing.”
“Could’ve bounced. Hopefully, forensics will find it. We’ve gotta get Riley home.”
“You should go to the hospital. Get some X-rays. Make sure nothing’s broken.”
“After we get Riley home. Get me on my feet, and I can handle it from there.”
“You sure?”
“Affirmative. Come on. We’re not done here yet.” He sucked in a breath and clutched his midsection as Colton helped him to his feet. “Man, that hurts.”
“Sorry, buddy.”
“Was anybody else injured?”
“Not that I know of. How’d we miss him? How’d he get so close to her?”
“He must be a master of disguise.”
Colton gave Trevor a second to catch his breath once standing. “What tipped you off about the threat?”
“They turned down the lights, and a waiter I hadn’t seen before came out of the kitchen.” He took a deep breath and winced. “Figured a closer look might be warranted, so I started his way. He had his tray balanced on one hand, but the other wasinside his jacket. I saw the butt of the gun and made a beeline for him. Got between him and you guys before he got the first shot off. I didn’t have time to take aim myself.”
“You did the right thing. Riley’s our first concern.”
“Yes, she is. So, stop worrying about me, and let’s get her out of here.”
Colton made his way to the overturned table, Trevor a few steps behind. Riley still crouched in a ball behind it, her brothers flanking her with their arms around her. Drew stood next to his wife behind them, Candace holding onto a tearful Avery while Frances sat between Barbara and Kade at the next table, fear etched into all their faces.
Colton’s heart broke at the sight of Riley’s shaking shoulders. “Riley.”
When she didn’t acknowledge him, Kevin stood to let Colton kneel beside her. He put his hand on her shoulder. “Riley. We have to go.”
