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Despite the chill of standing on the perimeter of the tent, I desperately want this party to end. Being around the Wells reminds me of the few good parts of my adolescence, but Ava being so close has only increased my agitation, and I’ve had enough.
“Ten, nine, eight, seven…”
Voices all around me ring out, counting down to the new year. Again, my gaze returns to Ava, who is looking up at the stars in the clear-roofed tent. She’s the only one in red tonight, and she’s radiant as always. Even in her anger earlier, I wanted to grab her and grasp her spark.
A waiter pauses to hand me another flute, and I shake my head at him. I lift the now empty one in my palm and deposit the glass on his tray.
“Three, two, one. Happy New Year!”
Asher told everyone about the fireworks, so no one bats an eye at the first popping sound. Except the sounds don’t stop, and only one firework has been released into the sky.
The sound of bullets ricocheting inches from where Ava is standing has me running. Screams burst out as the bullets increase. My long legs are pumping as quickly as possible to get to where the Wells are standing.
Pandemonium ensues.
All the guests dressed in their golden finery dart in all directions, trying to get away from the shots. I can’t get a read on where the bullets are coming from, but I reach Ava and wrap an arm around her waist, pulling her towards me. When there is a brief ceasefire, I drop to bend at the waist, taking Ava with me.
“Everyone, get down now!” I scream as the party empties and the shooter must have stopped to reload.
I curse at myself for leaving my weapon in the glove compartment. I should have brought it with me.
I wave my arm to get Asher’s attention. He’s ducked down on the other side of the table we’re crouching under.
“Get them inside.” I indicate towards his mother and Madison with a tip of my head. “Stay low!”
I see Madison reach for a crying Violet –Ava and Asher’s mother— as the trio begin heading towards the side entrance of the house that’s past the pool.
Before Ava and I can follow suit, another shot rings out past our heads, disintegrating the discarded glasses all around us. Instead of following the family, I move in the opposite direction.
“You—you’re—” Ava can barely get the words out. “You’re going the wrong way!”
I know exactly where I’m going. Back to where I parked and can get Ava and myself out of here. I can’t see where the shooter is aiming from, and as the seconds tick by, my only thought is getting Ava far away from this party.
Something tells me that Ava’s stalker decided to make their presence known tonight.
CHAPTER 2
Ava
I can barely keep up as Brandon drags me away from the party. My shorter strides are no match for his long, determined ones.
The popping sounds stop, and all I can hear are people running and car engines starting all around me. My right foot is bleeding, and the pain crawls up my leg as I step towards the gate at the side of the property. I peer down at my stiletto-clad foot and see a piece of glass embedded in my skin, no doubt from all the glass flutes that were destroyed moments ago.
Brandon’s gaze follows my own, and he briefly lifts my foot to take a closer look. I lean my weight against his warmth, my hands splayed against his broad back, feeling the muscles undulate under my touch as he checks out my foot.
He stands up back to his full height but doesn’t let go of my right arm. “I’ll have to carry you. I parked all the way down the block.”
I nod because what else was there to do now? The shots have stopped, but I’d be a sitting duck if I tried to hobble my way down the street.
Brandon bends at the waist and puts his arms under my knees and hoists me up in his arms. Instinctively, I put my arms around his neck as he begins moving onto the street. Cars are frantically driving past, and I see neighbors standing in their windows with phones up to their ears, hopefully calling the police.
The street is lit by lights sparsely lined between each house. I grew up on this block and never imagined a nightmare like tonight was even possible in this small enclave of Greenwich.
Brandon is practically in a full sprint now, and I turn my head to see we’re almost to a black SUV.
“I’ll have to set you down to unlock the door,” he says, his deep accented voice a comfort amid the chaos.
I can’t find any words right now and only nod.
