Page 91 of Armed ’N’ Ready

Five minutes. Nick pounded down the hallway with Saxon keeping pace at his side. This could all be over in two.

Standard federal protocol didn’t include security officers stationed inside the U.S. Attorneys’ office space. Security’s job was to guard all the first-floor entrances and courtrooms. Until backup arrived, he was on his own.

At the end of the corridor, the closed door to Conference Room B came into view. He had no idea what he’d find on the other side, but he wasn’t about to wait around with his thumb up his ass.

With his pulse skyrocketing, he and Saxon charged to the door. In those last steps, he completely regretted everything he’d said and done to push Andi away. She would never forgive him, but he prayed he wasn’t too late to save her.

Five feet from the door, he heard the gunshot.

And Andi’s scream.

Chapter Twenty-One

She shot him. Meera shot Joe. It had happened in an instant, and she still couldn’t believe it.

Blood seeped into his shirt, and his head lolled to the side. His eyes were closed, and she couldn’t be sure he was breathing.

Andi took rapid breaths, trying not to panic. She moved toward him, intending to kneel at his side.

“Don’t move,” Meera ordered. Her lips curled into an evil smile as she pointed the gun at Andi’s head. Oh my God, oh my God. She squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the bullet to blast through her skull.

“Put these on,” Meera shouted.

Something thumped on the floor at her feet. She opened her eyes to see a set of handcuffs.

Where did she get handcuffs? Probably the same place she’d gotten the gun.

“Do it!” Meera shouted. Spittle flew from her mouth, and her eyes glittered with rage. She unhooked her purse from her shoulder and heaved it to a corner of the room.

Keeping one eye on her, Andi swallowed hard, then picked up the handcuffs. Never having touched a pair of those before in her life, she didn’t automatically know how to work them. Using her fingers, she pushed on one side of the metal cuffs. It opened with a loud ratcheting sound. She clamped the cuff over her wrist, shoving one end into the other until it again made that same ratcheting sound.

Meera growled her impatience. “Now your other wrist.”

The door handle jiggled, then the door crashed open, slamming against the wall.

Nick and Saxon stood in the doorway. She wanted to cry with relief. Then it all happened so fast, yet she caught every movement as if she were watching a movie in slow motion.

While Nick raised his gun, Meera grabbed Andi’s arm, jerking her to stand in front of her. The woman was using her for cover.

The movement of Nick’s arm was subtle, but she caught it as he adjusted his aim away from her.

Two gunshots blasted. Meera cried out and winced but didn’t drop her gun. Blood trickled from her arm.

“Platz!” Saxon hunkered down at Nick’s feet.

The barrel of the gun jabbed against her skull. Meera’s chest pressed against Andi’s back as she wrapped her free arm around Andi’s waist. As they were both approximately the same height, Meera’s head was directly behind hers.

She grabbed the woman’s arm, clawing at her flesh, but Meera’s hold was as tight as a vise.

“Andi, don’t move!” Nick shouted as he moved into the room.

“Be a good girl and do what he tells ye.” Her breath was hot against Andi’s ear, her brogue becoming thicker. “And don’t do anything stupid.” She rammed the gun harder against her head.

Nick and Saxon had taken cover behind one of the floor-to-ceiling square columns in the room. Most of Nick’s body was concealed by the column, but she glimpsed his eyes. They were lit with fury.

Saxon’s tail and part of the dog’s body protruded from the other side of the column, his big body vibrating with energy. She understood he was only waiting for Nick’s command to lunge at Meera and take her down.

But he’ll be shot.