Page 173 of Capturing You

She readied the handgun she’d shoved in the pocket of her tracksuit and disengaged the safety. “Then we’ll deal with it.”

“The goal is my truck. Hopefully they left the keys in it.”

“Okay.”

He pulled her in for a quick hug, holding on extra tight. “God, protect us.”

“Amen.”

Gun in hand, he climbed the stairs, and she followed.

As he pushed open the door, he angled back toward her, just in case. Cool, humid air rushed in, and she filled her lungs, which led to a cough. Though the fire was loud, she feared she’d been heard.

No gunshots came.

Maybe Leo and his band of thugs had left after they started the fire.

Forbes got low and stepped outside.

Still, no sign that anybody was looking for them.

“Come on.”

She followed him onto the lawn, and they dashed toward the trees. A gunshot exploded in the darkness.

Forbes went down.

No!

She fell beside him, looking for the shooter. Where was he? Movement in the trees. A man looked back, and in the glow of the fire, she saw his face.

Owen.

Her sister’s boyfriend. Her friend’s nephew.

The man whose voice she’d recognized outside the library. Recognized but refused to believe.

Their eyes met, and though he could’ve shot her, he didn’t. He turned and ran.

Another figure bolted from behind the house to the tree line, a woman with a messy bun.

Who in the world…?

Forbes grunted, and Brooklynn turned her focus to him “Are you all right?”

“Yeah, I-I think.”

“You have to move.” Sirens sounded, distant, but still she looked toward the driveway, hoping someone would come, someone would help.

A figure stood there, silhouetted by the fire.

She blinked. It couldn’t be. It couldn’t.

The woman raised her weapon, aimed straight at Brooklynn. But Lois wouldn’t shoot her. How could she?—?

The crack of a rifle, and the woman jerked back, then collapsed.

Brooklynn’s head snapped around. What…? Who’d shot her?