Sam dove for the floor and crawled away from the window and toward the hall. Bullets whipped above her, destroying anything in their path and lodging in walls. She dialed 911 as she crawled.
Bella’s and Sophia’s screams and the pounding of Sam’s heart drowned out the chaos as she made it to the hallway.
“911. Where’s your emergency?”
Sam gave the dispatcher Dean’s address. “Someone is shooting into the house.”
She moved the phone away from her mouth and waved at the girls, who stared from the floor in the spare room, faces pale. “Stay down and crawl to me.”
“Do you know how many shooters there are?” the dispatcher asked.
“I didn’t see anyone.”
“Are you in a safe place? Away from all windows?”
“We’re heading there now.” She led the girls to the hall bathroom. It was centrally located with no windows. She dragged them both past her, then shut the door. “We’re safe.”
“Are shots still being fired?”
The gunfire had stopped. “Not right now.”
She’d watched enough television shows and movies to know that that didn’t necessarily mean the attack was over.
“Officers are on their way. Stay on the line with me, okay?”
Sam motioned for the girls to get into the bathtub, where they huddled together and cried. She climbed on top of the bathroom counter, away from the door in case bullets came flying through it.
She looked wildly around, trying to find anything she could use to defend herself. There was nothing but bath toys and toddler things. A rubber duck wasn’t going to save the day.
Liam would know what to do. He wouldn’t be huddled up on a counter, waiting for them to come to him. He’d chase them down and make them regret showing up. That was what he was trained to do. She was trained to fight fires. Not the same thing.
“The officers are two minutes out. Can you tell me what’s happening now?”
Two minutes wasn’t long, but it was too long when someone’s life was on the line.
She shushed the girls, pulled the phone away from her ear, and listened for sounds. “I don’t hear anything,” she whispered into the phone.
“Okay, officers are on the scene. Sit tight. They’re going to check the perimeter, and then they’ll come to you. Remain on the line with me.”
“Okay.” Sam climbed off the counter and made her way to the girls. “The police are here. Just a few minutes longer.”
The girls sat up and wrapped their arms around her.
“Okay. They’re entering the house. Stay where you are until they knock on the door.”
Shouts and commands from officers echoed on the other side of the door.
Sam gripped the phone and forced her breathing to slow.
“Officer Johnson is coming to get you, okay?” the dispatcher said.
“Renegade Police Department!”
The girls whimpered at the man’s booming voice.
“He’s here,” Sam told the dispatcher.
“Okay, I want you to let him know you’re in there and follow his directions.”
