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“Grayson?” She lifted her head to glance around. Grayson stood with his back to the passenger-side door.
He turned to glance at her briefly, before turning to scan the area again. “Stay put.”
She swallowed a wave of frustration. She opened the door, bumping into him. There was just barely enough room for her to squeeze out of the vehicle to stand beside him.
“What are you doing?” Grayson’s eyes widened in frank alarm. “Get back inside the car, Elly.”
She ignored him. “I think this is a trap. I want you to call Joe, get him and Steele out of there.”
“They’re cops; they can take care of themselves.” Grayson scowled. “Are you trying to get me fired? Joe will slice me to ribbons if you get hurt.”
She grabbed Grayson’s arm. “Listen, I was there when Kyle died. He tried to tell me something but could only say El. I think he wanted to warn me about Eloise. His wife!” She shook his arm with frustration. “Please call Joe. Hurry!”
Grayson looked torn but reluctantly reached for his phone. From the corner of her eye, she glimpsed a hint of movement. Without thinking it through, she threw herself at Grayson with enough force to knock him off balance. They tumbled to the ground, her landing on top of Grayson, covering him with her body as the sharp crack of gunfire rang out.
* * *
Joe watchedEloise flinch at the sound of gunfire, the blood leeching from her face as if she herself had been struck. Alarm bells jangled loudly in the back of his mind.
From the moment he’d stepped inside the ranch house, he’d noticed something was off about Eloise.
She’d been nervous, avoiding direct eye contact. And now he knew why.
This was a trap! And he’d fallen for it.
“Steele, grab her!” Joe spun on his heel and bolted for the door. “Elly!” The shout was little more than a strangled sound.
Behind him, he heard the scuffle as Steele grabbed Eloise. His gaze was focused on the SUV. It appeared empty.
Where were Elly and Grayson? He searched frantically for them and for the shooter.
Had they both been killed?
No, please, Lord Jesus, no! Don’t take Elly from me!
His heart thundered in his chest as he ran toward the SUV in a crouch. At some level, he was aware that the other team members had come running at the sound of gunfire too. They had spread out, surrounding the SUV. But he’d gotten there first. He cautiously crab-walked around the back of the vehicle to reach the other side.
Two people were lying on the ground. It took him a minute to realize that Elly was on top of Grayson as if protecting him.
What in the world? It should have been the other way around!
Even as he crept closer, Grayson shook Elly off, causing her to slide onto the ground. In a quick movement, he rolled and crawled over her. When Elly grimaced as if in pain, he couldn’t stand it.
“What happened? Is she hit?”
“I don’t know,” Grayson said, clearly upset and frustrated. “She plowed into me, catching me off guard just as the shot rang out.”
For not being a cop, Elly sure had Finnegan cop instincts. It was both admirable and infuriating.
“I’m fine.” Elly’s strained voice belied her words. But at least she was able to talk. That was slightly reassuring.
“Where’s the shooter?” He directed the question at Grayson or one of the other teammates, but it was Elly who answered.
“I saw movement from the light-green house behind us.” Her voice was muffled. “I didn’t see his face though.”
“Backup has arrived,” Brock shouted. “We’ll find him!”
Joe was torn between checking Elly and searching for the shooter. With Grayson covering Elly, he forced himself to join the hunt.
