Page 36 of Mountain Defender

Instead of climbing the three stairs, I leap up them in one go.

I hit the kitchen floor and a burst of pain explodes in my leg.

A third bullet smashes into the doorjamb, sending splinters of wood flying.

But we’re inside.

I shove Rory to the ground, then spin around to slam the door shut.

The sound of the deadbolt sliding home brings a flood of relief.

But we’re not fully safe. Not with all the windows giving a clear view into the kitchen.

“Come with me,” I take Rory’s hand and pull her back to her feet. With my free hand, I yank my Sig from its holster and cock the trigger. “We need to get away from the windows.”

“The pantry,” Rory says, her voice wobbling. “Or the basement.”

“Are the Bilco doors locked from inside?”

She nods. “Always.”

The basement it is.

As we rush from the kitchen and down the hallway, I tuck Rory against my side, trying to protect her as best I can with my body.

When we finally get to the basement stairs, Rory stops on the first one. “Wait. There’s a lock.” With shaking fingers, she twists the doorknob until it makes a little click. “The previous owners put it in. I thought it was silly, locking yourself in the basement—” Her voice cracks.

“It’s okay,” I croon, feeling anything but. “Locking the door is smart. Now let’s get down there, and I’ll call the team.”

And the police. But right now, I’d rather have my team.

Once we get to the bottom of the stairs, I hug Rory to me. I’m not sure if I can let her go. Not now. Not ever.

I keep holding her while I make my calls—to a shocked Ronan and an equally startled 911 dispatcher—while she shudders against me. I can tell she’s trying to stay quiet, but tiny, scared noises keep slipping out.

When I hang up the phone, I slide it into my pocket. Then I stroke my hand down Rory’s hair and press my lips to the top of her head. “Help is on the way. And we’re safe down here. No one is going to hurt you. I promise.”

If anyone tries, I’ll kill them. No hesitation.

She lifts her head from my shoulder to look at me with a tearful gaze. “I was scared you’d get shot. You protected me. You—” A sob bursts out.

My heart cracks in two. “Ror. I’m so sorry. This is my fault. I should have?—”

“No.” Her chin goes up. “No. I went outside when you told me to stop. It wasn’t your fault. It was mine.”

Then she buries her face in my shirt again, crying softly.

Shit.

This never should have happened.

CHAPTER 7

RORY

“Areyou sure you don’t mind meeting with everyone at once?”

As Gage shifts his truck into park, he glances over at me, his eyebrows winging into a worried V. “I can ask a couple of the guys to hang back,” he adds, “if that would make you feel more comfortable.”