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Thank the good Lord for Donna Lee. She was keeping their business running so that he and Patty could stay safe. Speaking of Patty, it was time to text her, just as he’d been doing every hour as he’d promised. He took his phone from his pocket and typed: You okay? I’m good. He waited for a reply, but none came.
Odd, because Patty kept the same hours that he did. She shouldn’t be asleep yet.
Maybe she’s busy watching a movie. Or cooking something. Lucky her.He’d really missed cooking things the past few days. He typed another message. Hello? Patty?
He looked up from his phone when Molly’s started to buzz. “It’s Burke,” he said after checking the screen. “Want me to answer it?”
She grew visibly tenser. “Please. Speaker, if you would.”
“Molly, you need to get home,” Burke said without saying hello.
Gabe felt sick. There was fear in Burke’s voice.
Molly stepped on the gas. “What’s happening?”
“Lucien called. They’re under attack. Four men. Luc’s hurt. Hurry.”
Molly floored it, passing the other cars like they were standing still. “I’m a minute out.”
“Don’t hang up,” Burke ordered. “Gabe? You armed?”
Gabe swallowed. “I am.”
“Good. Try to take them alive.”
Molly gripped the wheel even harder, twisting her fist like she was riding a motorcycle. “Making no promises,” she gritted out.
“I’ve called the cops, so you’ll have backup soon. André’s on his way.”
“Got it.” A minute later, she took a right-hand turn at full speed into a darkened garage. Shoving her phone into her pocket, she dug something from her other pocket and screwed it onto the barrel of her gun—a silencer, he realized. “I don’t want Harper to hear if I have to shoot,” she said, then leapt from the car, gun in her hand.
To Gabe’s horror, Shoe jumped from the back seat to the front and disappeared out of the door behind her.
Central Business District, New Orleans, Louisiana
THURSDAY, JULY 28, 1:20 A.M.
Gabe got out of their borrowed car, his gaze darting around the garage of Molly’s apartment building while his eyes got used to the darkness. Molly had run to a door that led to a flight of stairs, but as soon as she flung it open, she began backing up.
One of the intruders was forcing her backward, his gun pointed at her chest. Oh God. Oh no. No, no, no.
“Drop the gun,” the man commanded. “Do it now, or your sister and the kid die tonight.”
Molly’s back was rigid, but Gabe couldn’t see her face. He could, however, see her hand and watched, horrified, as she dropped her gun to the floor. Maybe she has a backup gun.
You have her backup gun. Do something!
The man shoved the barrel of his gun harder, and Gabe heard Molly’s grunt of pain.
She was still wearing the Kevlar vest. As am I.
But at that range, she’d still be hurt if the man fired. Still, the thought of the Kevlar quieted his mind, and he crept quietly around the other cars so that he could get a better view of the intruder, all while wondering where Shoe was. Just stay down, boy. Please.
“We didn’t expect you here,” the man said. “We thought we’d only get your sister and the kid.” His teeth flashed in the darkness as he grinned. “Bonus. Hey!” he yelled over his shoulder. “Got the—”
I don’t think so.Gabe lifted the gun and fired, aiming for the man’s shoulder. The noise echoed in the garage, and Gabe pressed his free hand to his ear. That hurt.
The man seemed to be hurt worse, though, slapping his hand to his neck as his knees folded, sending him to the floor.
