Page 152 of Sheltering You

“Gun’s empty. He was out of bullets.”

Oh. Oh.

That explained why Khalid had knocked him over the head instead of shooting him.

“You mean he couldn’t have shot me?” Jasmine asked.

“He figured you’d just go with him, the arrogant little rat.” Grant grinned. “You probably gave him the shock of his life.”

Jasmine didn’t smile, though. “He is dead? He is really dead?”

“He can’t hurt you now.” Grant moved out of the way. “See for yourself.”

“No, no. It is…” Her head shook, then her whole body shook, trembling, quaking. She swayed, her skin turning that yellowish tint that told Derrick she was not all right.

Ignoring his headache and praying he wouldn’t get dizzy again, he scooped her into his arms. “It’s okay, sweetheart. You’re okay.”

“But the house.” She must’ve just remembered what happened before because she suddenly sounded panicked. “Who is hurt? Is Leila…? There was an explosion!”

“I think it’s okay. Let’s find out.” He carried her across the lawn to the door that led to the basement. It slid open as they approached.

Leila stood in the opening. “Yasamin! Thank God.”

Derrick set her on her feet, and she fell into her twin’s arms. They hugged, then backed up to see each other, studying one another with identical gazes.

“Are you okay?” They both asked the question at the same time, then both answered with, “I’m fine.” They smiled identical smiles.

“As long as you’re both sure.” Mom shoved past Derrick and hugged Jasmine. “Thank God you’re all right. What happened? Derrick said a man had you? It was your husband?”

“Yes. He somehow⁠—”

“It’s a long story,” Derrick said. “We’ll explain everything. How’s everyone here?”

“It could have been worse.” She focused on Jasmine again. “Thank you for making sure everyone was safe.”

“I’m so sorry, so sorry this happened.” Jasmine seemed shaky and ill. “Is anyone hurt?”

“Camilla has a sprained ankle.” Mom shooed him away, and she and Leila urged Jasmine toward the chairs against the wall. “Summer is a little banged up.”

“Summer what?” Grant had followed Derrick and Jasmine inside. Now, he nudged Derrick out of the way. “Where is she?”

“Upstairs with Dad,” Mom said.

Grant was already making his way past Sophie, Zoë, Camilla, and Eliza, who stood between the ping-pong table and the pool table, though they parted to give him space to pass.

Levi was playing the Ms. Pac-Man game against the wall as if all were right with the world. Thank heavens somebody had turned its volume way down. Derrick wasn’t sure he could stand the mechanical munching sounds at that moment.

When Grant had reached the stairs, Derrick leaned close to his mother, lowering his voice. “Is Summer okay? Really? And the baby?”

Mom shrugged, her smile tight. “Dad’s with her. She said she saw the guy aiming the launcher thing and dove under the bed. It hit…” Mom shook her head, and the tears she was trying to hold back dripped. “Hit the house next to the window where she’d been standing. Blew a big hole in the wall. But she’s tough. Jeremy scrambled down in seconds.”

Derrick was confused. He’d taken out the guy with the launcher.

Maybe there’d been two launchers. Must’ve been. And that made sense because they’d hit the back of the house and the front, and Michael or Grant would’ve seen and stopped anyone trying to move past the house with it.

“What about the fire?” Derrick asked. “Caused by the explosion?”

“No. Summer said one of them threw a… What do you call it? Named like a mixed drink?”