Page 34 of Last Chance Christmas

Olivia saw it coming. Time seemed to slow down. She moved behind Izan, dragging his arm around because pulling was easier than suddenly pushing against all that strength. She needed him out of the line of fire.

They spun around together and landed on the floor, gunshots overhead. A steady beat of two…three…four shots. Alonzo stopped firing.

The ringing in her ears quit, the smell of gunpowder in the air. Alonzo was chuckling. “That was impressive.”

Hmm. Not as impressive as what she was going to do next.

The entire plan had been foiled. All her attempts to shake her head and silently order Ainsley and Izan’s young-adult-aged brothers to stay in their seats and not intervene were hanging by a thread.

She scrambled out from under Izan and stood. “You aren’t taking that young woman anywhere.”

Olivia should’ve worn her vest for this date. She should’ve been carrying her gun.

Now she had to rely on backup to solve a problem she could’ve solved on her own. But wasn’t that the point of being a police officer? She didn’t have to do anything alone.

Alonzo’s eyes narrowed.

Ainsley’s expression shifted as well, but in an entirely different way. Olivia clocked the slight movement as she adjusted her stance and then twisted. Ainsley rammed her elbow back into Alonzo’s side, hammering his abdomen so that he doubled over. She brought her elbow up again and slammed it down onto his back.

Olivia raced to him and grabbed his gun.

But Alonzo was already scrambling up. He ran at her, but one of the boys stuck his leg out and tripped him. He fell onto Olivia, and her back hit the carpet of the church aisle. The gun dropped from her hand.

Alonzo reached for it.

Izan dove on him, dragging him to his feet. Izan pulled his fist back and hammered Alonzo in the face with a punch that sent the guy spinning around.

The door slammed open, and a crowd of boots pounded into the room. So many it sounded like thunder. Like the sound of backup. “Police! Hands on your head!”

Olivia lay back on the carpet and just breathed.

Ainsley slumped down into a seat on the end of the pew, hand on her chest. Breathing hard. Her face pale.

Officers ran by Olivia, and she shifted to the side so she didn’t get stepped on. Alonzo was secured and cuffed.

She sat up, her head swimming. Okay, fine. It was pounding.

“You good, Tazwell?” That was Lieutenant Basuto. He stood over her, a disapproving expression on his face.

She lifted both hands. “I didn’t do anything.”

He shook his head, then held out his hand. “You need an ambulance?”

“No.” She grabbed his wrist, and he helped her to her feet. Basuto let go, and she glanced at Izan. “Good?”

“I am now.” He touched his chest and let out a long breath.

The cops led Alonzo back down the aisle, clearing out of the church. Olivia held out her hand, and Izan took it. She tugged him over to the row behind Ainsley and they sat. “Are you okay?”

His sister nodded. The other family members gathered around.

Someone yelled, “Ains!”

Ainsley shot up out of the seat and ran down the aisle to meet Junior, racing in with a haggard look on his face. His arm still in a sling. He hugged Ainsley, looking as relieved as Olivia felt that this was over.

Olivia chuckled. “I’m fine too. Thanks for asking.”

Izan put his arm around her, and she leaned her head on his shoulder, not quite feeling like she could sit still. “Adrenaline,” she said on a breathy exhale.