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Before either woman could do anything more than jump in surprise, a male voice shouted, “Get down!”
As they dropped to a crouch next to a parked car, a young man rushed over to them. “Lie on the ground! Less chance of”—he looked around, confused, before finishing what he’d been saying—“getting hit.”
Stacy and Adriene lowered to the concrete, next to the car. The man draped himself over them a second before another volley of gunfire erupted.
Adriene trembled in fear. Stacy wasn’t doing much better, but she grabbed her friend’s hand. “I’m right here. We’ll get through this.”
They waited for a third round of gunshots, frozen in place. When it didn’t materialize, the man cautiously lifted himself off them.
“Stay here. I’ll check if it’s clear.”
Stacy looked up in alarm. “It’s not safe.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be careful.”
???
Matthew made a show of scanning the street before he jogged over to the narrow park that ran down the other side. He was projecting a façade of concern, but inside he was raging.
Where was Tessa?
She should have been with the other two when they reached the street.
He was supposed to saveher, not her friends.
He contemplated leaving then and there, but if he did that he’d risk people thinking he’d been involved with the gunfire. He wouldn’t be able to show his face around the film shoot again and that would ruin everything. He’d just have to follow through with the plan for now and come up with another way to get close to Tessa later.
He “searched” the park, pretending to make sure no danger remained. As he did, he collected the homemade device that had created the sounds of the gunshots, slipping it into his pocket.
Once he’d put on enough of a show, he returned to Adriene and the other woman. “It’s okay. They’re gone.”
The women slowly lifted their heads and peeked at the street.
The one whose name he didn’t know looked skeptical. “Are you sure?”
“There’s no one here but us.”
Both women finally relaxed.
He crouched beside them. “Are you two all right?”
“If you don’t count the fact that my heart is about to burst out of my chest, I’m fine.”
Adriene nodded. “What she said.”
From the pathway behind them came the thuds of running footsteps. Two armed security officers from the set rushed onto the sidewalk a moment later and looked around.
When they spotted the two women and Matthew, they hurried over. One of them pointed his weapon at Matthew.
“Sir, back away from them. Now.”
Matthew raised his hands and did as ordered.
“It wasn’t him,” Adriene said. “He’s the one who saved us.”
The guard hesitated before lowering his gun. “Are either of you hurt?”
“We’re okay,” the other woman said.
