Page 158 of Missile Strike

Crack!

Head down, Isabella made herself ignore the gunshot and keep going.

More footsteps. Heavier ones. Fast and to her left.

A flash of red and blond, and then the world went sideways as a heavy body took her to the floor.

Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!

Gunshots. Too many to count.

The body above her grunted. Shifted slightly.

More gunshots. Too close.

Her face was mashed into a chest that smelled like—

Beach. Sun. Driftwood.

Silence. Deafening in its stillness. The red shirt lifted enough for her to focus on it. Palm trees. Pink flamingos.

Trembling fingers touched her cheek. “Are you okay, Bella?” Desperate. “Tell me you’re okay.”

“Danny?” Now that she could take a full breath, her vision cleared.

His ashen face stared down at her. He’d come for her.

She frowned. Why was he so pale?

“You’re here.” She wrapped her arms around him, brushing damp spots that clung to his back.

He hissed and rolled off her.

The slam of a door and heavy footsteps shattered the silence.

“Danny!”

Nathan Long’s voice, deep and urgent.

Danny lay on his back, his breaths rapid and shallow. Sweat beaded his forehead.

Isabella’s brows furrowed. “Danny?”

She scrambled to her knees. Something was wrong. Her hands slipped on the floor, leaving red smears. She raised them.

Why were her palms red?

Her horrified gaze flew to Danny, then she threw back her head and screamed. “Help!”

The heavy footsteps stopped, then pounded in her direction. Nathan appeared, and next to him, a tall man with black hair and striking green eyes.

Nathan dropped to his knees next to Danny. “Easy, amigo. Police just arrived.”

“I’ll tell them to call an ambulance.” The black-haired man had a Scottish accent. He disappeared as quickly as he’d arrived.

Nathan carefully removed the gun from Danny’s hand. He looked up at Isabella, his icy gaze warm with concern. “You okay, darlin’?”

“Yes.” A whisper. Her entire focus returned to Danny. All that gunfire. She’d thought it was only coming from Talia.