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Adrenalin wearing off now that the danger had passed, he rolled the slumped kid to the side and flipped off the hood to see he’d been fighting with a girl, maybe sixteen years old.
First shock hit him hard and then tenderness flooded, and he had the strangest urge to embrace the stupid, short-haired witch and protect her from the world awaiting her. He knew that whatever had driven this young girl to these heights of freaking extreme behavior couldn’t have been good. In fact, he had a feeling her everyday world must be a living hell.
Only having his accomplice flop next to him as if she’d lost her strength, caught his attention, and directed his gaze her way. What he saw horrified him. The damage this crazy day had taken out on her earlier appearance had been brutal.
Sorrow spilled into all the safeguarded spaces he hid away from the world, and his heart took a direct hit. When he saw her eyes on him questioning, checking if he were safe, he opened his arms, and she slid in.
He cuddled and rocked her as much for his own good as for hers. When he felt her body heaving, heard the sobs she couldn’t squelch, he put his hand over her hair and gently caressed the smooth braided mass.
Within seconds after the threat had been neutralized, panic erupted. Terrified kids flew to unlock the classroom door and cops poured into the room, calling for EMTs. The place looked like a war zone.
Finally, as if she’d drained her explosion of feelings, his girl pushed at his chest. “Are you okay? Did he get you with that last bunch of shots?”
“No. You smacked her in time, and the aim went wild. I’m fine. What about you?” His hands went to enfold her poor face, caressing her skin with his thumbs below where it had been ripped by glass. “You’ve been cut.”
“Have I? I didn’t feel a thing.” She raised her trembling hand and felt where he’d motioned. Her face blanched when she saw the blood. “Guess you’re right. My arm got a few abrasions too.”
They both looked there and saw her exposed thigh, where her skirt had been ripped away and was now hanging in shreds. Any other time, he’d be yearning to touch the smooth, tanned flesh of a beautiful leg but right now, he just wanted to hold her gently and commiserate.
“You two okay?” The S.W.A.T. leader approached in a purely businesslike fashion. “This the perp?”
Beau gave his partner a last squeeze before releasing her and turning to the awakening teen next to him. “Yeah. She’s a kid.”
“Gun’s no toy.”
“True.”
“Come on, now. Let’s get you safely in handcuffs.” The officer wrenched the flinching teen around and roughly pulled her arms behind her back. “Up you get.”
Beau kept his mouth closed because he understood the rage the other man felt when he saw the mayhem this young girl’s wrath had committed.
Not so the lady jumping up next to him. “Hey. Police brutality isn’t going to help. Go easy.”
Anger etched into the older cop’s face as he growled, “She doesn’t deserve easy.” Then he frog-marched the barely coherent, stumbling kid in front of him to the door.
Chapter Seven
Once on her feet, Lori couldn’t make sense of the confusion around her. Wishing herself back in her hero’s arms; she inched her way toward the closest wall. As soon as she felt the solid support, her legs gave out and she sank down in a huddle.
She wrapped her arms around her knees and let her head drop. For a few moments, everything faded. Taking cleansing breaths, she let her body have the precious time it needed before all hell broke loose.
Sure enough, a detective took charge and began firing orders. “Hey, let’s clear the crime scene. I don’t want anyone leaving the building. We’re in for a long night, people. Let’s get moving.”
Lori stared longingly at the window and almost tried an escape before she felt someone take her arm to help her to her feet. “Come on. The chief wants to talk with us.”
“I don’t want to talk. I want a drink and a bath… in that order.”
“You have my vote, but it seems like our votes don’t count. Let me help you up, Princess.”
Her hero put forth his hand, and she took it, feeling the warm palm enclose hers. What she didn’t expect was the bolt of excitement that shot from where they touched. It ramped up her pulse and that had her snatching her hand back. In the few seconds it took for her brain to see the man as he looked to others, she felt all her defenses slip into their slots and the door to the what-ifs slam shut.
Figures, just her luck to play partners with a good-looking stunner. The exact kind of man she’d made a habit to stay miles away from. Then she let her gaze meet his and saw the gentle smile that didn’t appear on his lips. Okay, maybe this guy had a beating heart.
Another officer approached, one who wouldn’t take no for an answer. He led them to the room where there were a number of bigshots who turned at their entrance. Then he made his announcement. “Here’s the two who stopped the shooter.”
A tall man with an imposing presence pushed his way to the front. Hand thrust forward aggressively, he grinned and came pretty close to bowing. “Agent Beau Walker. Just the fellow I’ve been trying to get a hold of.”
“Hi, Mayor Campbell.”
