Lily grabbed her hands. Squeezed tightly. “You good?” Lily asked.
No, but people used to think she was. Sloane just summoned one of her megawatt smiles. “Of course.”
Lily sighed.
Then, beyond Lily, Sloane saw…him. Preston. Hands loose at his side. Hair tousled. Face locked in brutal lines. Eyes on her.
Her smile dimmed. He stared at her—stared at her like?—
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Fast and furious gunfire seemed to explode around her.
She heard Atlas bellow, and he grabbed Lily even as blood splattered in the air. Sloane screamed because that had been Lily’s blood. She reached for her friend, desperate, but…
Preston locked his arms around Sloane. His body surrounded her, and he hurtled her to the ground even as more gunfire rang out into the air. She hit the concrete hard. Glass fell near her, and she realized that one of the bullets had blasted through the glass door of the sheriff’s station. The spray of bullets had been wild, and she twisted her head to see the back of a red Honda fishtailing down the road.
Preston’s body crushed hers. She pushed against his arms even as Debra rushed out of the sheriff’s station with her gun drawn.
“What in the hell is happening?” Debra yelled.
“Lily!” Sloane tried to claw her way out of Preston’s hold in order to get to Lily. But he tightened his grip. Kept right on shielding her with his body.
Atlas had covered Lily. He rose up, and Lily’s blood-stained hand pressed to her husband’s chest.
Chapter Thirteen
“I want an APB on that vehicle!” Debra snarled.
Eugene stood on the front steps with her, body heaving because he’d just run outside.
“No one shoots up my station,” Debra’s fury was clear. “No one.”
“Get off me!” Sloane snarled, and she shoved hard at Preston. “I swear, if you don’t move, now, I will punch you!”
She could punch him all she wanted, but he wasn’t moving until he’d made sure she was safe. Preston searched her for injuries. His heart still thundered far too fast in his chest. When he’d heard the eruption of gunfire, he hadn’t been able to reach Sloane fast enough.
Sloane swatted his hands away when they skimmed over her body. “Get off me!” She blasted again. “It was a red Honda Accord! One with dark, tinted windows!”
Yes, it had been a red Honda. He’d seen the side of the vehicle. Had seen the gun pointing out at them, and for one, desperate moment, Preston had been sure his world was ending.
Sloane could have gotten killed. Right in front of me.
“Late model,” Sloane huffed out. “Didn’t get the tag number, but I did see a decal on the back window. White outline of mountains, like something you’d see a hiker put on a vehicle.”
He rose. Slowly. She immediately tried to bound away, but he locked his hand around her wrist.
She hissed out a pain-filled breath. “Let go!”
He’d hurt her. He’d seen the flash of pain on her face. Preston let her go, but he made sure to keep his body close to hers as he shadowed her movements.
Atlas was on his feet, and he held Lily cradled in his arms.
“I’m okay!” Lily hurried assured everyone. “The bullet just nicked my upper arm. I am all right. Atlas, it’s okay!”
“No, it’s fucking not,” he gritted back. “I’m getting you to the hospital, now.”
“Flesh wound!” Lily shook her head. “That’s all it is. I’m an MD, remember? I know what a scratch is. Nothing vital was hit. I’m just bleeding a little bit. Give me a bandage, and I’ll be as good as new. Don’t you worry, the baby and I are fine.”
