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Before any of us could move, a loud crash came from somewhere nearby. As Max looked toward the door, Rachel ran forward, barreling into him so hard she knocked him off his feet and the gun went off with an ear-splitting blast.
"Run," I told Dani, as Rachel and Max got tangled up on the floor.
We raced toward the door. I had no idea what was waiting for us in the hallway, but it couldn't be any worse than what was behind us.
CHAPTERTHIRTY
I randown the hall and through another open door, Dani right on my heels. We found ourselves in a small room next to the altar where the families with babies would stay during the service. Hearing Max coming after us, we ran into the church. Crossing the altar, we headed for the side door, but before we could get there, a gun went off, and a bullet whizzed past my ear.
We dove into the nearest pew as more shots sprayed the air. I looked at Dani, seeing the panic and fear in her eyes. "I'm sorry," I said, realizing we were trapped. There was nowhere to go.
"I love you," she said.
We pressed our heads together once more as Max's voice grew louder.
"No way out, girls," he said, a triumphant note in his voice.
I broke away from Dani and lifted my gaze. Max was standing at the end of the pew, his gun pointed at us. "Are you really going to kill your own children?" I asked. "What kind of monster are you?"
"That bitch was probably lying," he said. "And I can't let you go. It's you or me."
"And you always choose you, don't you?"
I shifted in front of Dani, but there was no way to really protect her. I wanted to close my eyes, but I also didn't want to show him that I was afraid. I couldn't give him that satisfaction.
For a split second, I thought I saw a gleam of admiration in his eyes. But then he lifted his arm.
I jerked and ducked as a shot rang out. Dani screamed. I waited to feel something, but there was nothing. As I lifted my gaze, I saw Max fall to the ground.
Oh, my God! He hadn't shot us. Someone had shot him.
A man came running down the aisle, and I let out a breath of terrified relief.
"Kade," I said, shocked to see him. I jumped to my feet. "You shot Max? Where did you get the gun?"
"From the guy I took out in the parking lot," he said grimly. "Are you all right?"
"Thanks to you." I looked back at Dani, who was still cowering on the floor. "It's okay, Dani. Kade shot Max." When my gaze returned to Kade, I saw him checking Max for a pulse.
"Is he dead?" I asked.
"No, but his pulse is faint." He stood up, his gaze sweeping across me and Dani, who was now sitting on the edge of the pew, tears streaming down her face. "The police are on their way. Is anyone else here?"
I started at his question. "Yes. Rachel. Max shot her. We need to get to her." I ran to the aisle, and stepped over Max, who was bleeding profusely from the back of his head.
Dani and Kade followed me back to the storage room. Rachel was on the floor, her eyes open, as blood poured from her shoulder.
"You're alive," she gasped, her face white, her eyes huge with relief. "I heard shots. I thought he killed you."
Kade ripped off his jacket and pressed it against Rachel's wound. "Hang in there. Help is on the way."
"How did you know where we were?" I asked Kade.
"I was in my apartment when I heard someone in the house. You'd texted me that you were at the hospital, so I knew it wasn't you. When I looked out the window, I saw a man leaving with a box in his hands. I had a bad feeling. So, I jumped on my bike, and I followed him here. I confronted him in the parking lot and took him down. The box he'd been carrying had photos of you and your sister inside. I called you, and your phone was in his pocket. That was the worst moment of my life," he said, his eyes burning as he looked at me. "I called the police next. They told me to wait outside the church. But then I heard shots, and I knew there was no time to wait. I grabbed the guy's gun, and you know the rest."
"We're so lucky you were home," I said. "I told Max that I had found the jewels and they were hidden in a box in the closet. I wanted to buy us some time."
"What jewels?"
