I winced, hating that I was causing her distress. “I’m sorry, Liza. It’s just hard to let go of the worry, even for a little while.”
“Then, maybe we should leave.” She cast a furtive glance around the diner, also searching for potential threats. “If you can’t relax, there’s no point in trying to enjoy ourselves here.”
“Maybe you’re right.” Relief and guilt washed over me at her statement. While I’d been hoping for an excuse to get Liza out of public and back to the safety of our home, I didn’t want my paranoia to dictate our every move. God, I was the one who’d orchestrated this outing.
“Let’s go,” Liza pushed away her half-eaten meal, wiping her mouth with her napkin, leaving it on the table.
As we stood and prepared to leave, a sense of foreboding settled over me like a dark cloud. Though I desperately wanted to believe that Liam’s protection would be enough to keep Liza safe, I couldn’t shake the nagging doubt that it wouldn’t be long before danger found us again.
“Let’s head back to the estate.” I guided Liza toward the exit. At least there, I was sure she’d be safe within the protected confines of our territory. The thought of having her out of harm’s way was enough to put a small smile on my face.
She squeezed my hand. That one small gesture showed me she appreciated my concern, even if it made our outing less enjoyable.
Once we stepped out into the bright sunlight, we became exposed. My instincts were screaming to get us both to safety as quickly as possible. Once again, I surveyed the area, searching for anything out of place.
“Ty, don’t worry so much,” Liza said gently, pulling me from my thoughts. “You’re making me nervous.”
“Sorry,” I said, regretting how my anxiety had affected what was supposed to be a nice lunch. I did my best to push my fears aside and focus on getting us home.
When we neared the car, the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. Something wasn’t right. The air was charged with tension, and the security team and I were on high alert. Before I could fully process what was happening, a series of loud cracks rang through the air.
The acrid stench of gunpowder burned my nostrils as the deafening echo of bullets bouncing off nearby cars pierced my ears. Instinctively, I lunged toward Liza, shielding her body with my own. The bitter metallic taste of fear filled my mouth, but I refused to let it show on my face. Protecting Liza was my only concern at that moment.
“Get down!” I shouted, yanking Liza behind a nearby vehicle for cover. Adrenaline ignited in my blood. Someone was shooting at us. More bullets zipped past us.
“Ty, what’s happening?” Liza’s knees buckled, and her body shook in sheer terror.
“Someone’s trying to kill us,” I said through gritted teeth. “Stay down and don’t move.”
Despite the fear that gripped her, she nodded. Who the fuck was behind this attack? Was it Castro or someone else entirely? Whoever it was, they’d made a grave mistake in targeting us.
“Ty, we need to get out of here!” Liza yelled. “We can’t stay pinned down like this.”
“Wait for a break in the gunfire, then make a run for it,” I said. “I’ll cover you, but you have to move fast.”
She bit her lip and breathed heavily, then nodded with newfound conviction. As soon as the next pause in gunfire came, she sprinted toward safety, moving with surprising speed.
“Baby, you’ve got this.” I looked at her with pride as she reached the car, a deep affection welling up inside me. My mate possessed a courage beyond measure.
Now it was my turn to make a break for it. I waited for another lull in the gunfire, then bolted toward the car, praying a stray bullet wouldn’t strike me. The blood thumping in my ears made it difficult to hear my own footsteps.
Liza sagged in relief when I dived into the car. Her face was set with worry, but her eyes shone with fierce bravery. We had survived this attempt on our lives, but whoever was behind this wouldn’t stop until they succeeded or were taken down themselves.
“Let’s get out of here.” I started the car and punched the gas, speeding away from the scene. As we left the chaos behind us, a renewed sense of purpose filled me. I would protect Liza at all costs, no matter who our enemy was or what they had planned for us.
We returned to the estate, the atmosphere in the car so thick it was like a physical weight pressing down on me. My body was still buzzing from the adrenaline of the attack, and my wolf pawed at the edge of my mind, seeking an outlet for its anger and protectiveness.
When we entered the house, a furious Liam met us in the foyer. His temper crackled dangerously close to the surface.
“What the fuck happened?” He growled, taking in our disheveled appearances.
“Someone took a shot at us,” I said tersely, pacing. “In public, Liam. In the middle of the goddamn street. There were kids. Fucking kids!” I stopped and raked my hand through my hair, struggling to keep my own temper in check. “Nobody saw the shooter; they just saw the gun.”
“Who was the target?” Liam’s hands balled into fists, the tension evident in his clenched muscles. “Because if I discover someone was trying to kill my sister, I’ll fucking tear them apart.”
Liza had shrunk in on herself now she’d had time to process what had happened. She’d already been through so much, and I hated that this new threat had emerged just when she was starting to feel safe again.
“Regardless of who they were aiming for, Liza was in danger.” I was calm but firm, desperately trying not to let my emotions get the best of me. “I shielded her with my body, and we made a run for the car when they were reloading.”
