Blood roared in my ears as I took Wren down, rolling us toward the couch and cover.
Shadow let out a series of loud barks.
“Shadow, bed,” I bellowed.
The dog ran to the crate that housed her bed. It would give her cover. Protection.
My hand slid to the holster at the small of my back, pulling my weapon. My gaze jumped from the trees to Wren, moving back and forth as I tried to assess as much of the situation as I could in brief snapshots. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
Wren blinked up at me, stunned. “I-I think I’m fine.”
My free hand skimmed over her body, looking for any signs of injury. When I found none, I pulled my phone from my pocket and hit Lawson’s contact.
“No updates yet, Holt. I told you I’d call when—”
“Someone just shot at me and Wren at the cabin. Rifle shot. Northwest side of the yard.” The faint sound of an all-terrain vehicle starting up carried on the air. “Look for an ATV. I can hear the engine.”
Lawson was already moving, barking orders to someone. “Are you and Wren hit? You okay?”
The slight hint of panic reminded me just how much my brother loved me. “We’re both fine. Can’t say the same for her window.”
“Keep cover until we get there.”
“You got it.”
I disconnected the call and looked down at Wren. She wasn’t moving. Her eyes were wide, her gaze shifting too quickly as it scanned my body.
“Wren? Talk to me.”
Her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out.
I laid my gun on the floor within easy reach and began feeling each of Wren’s limbs, trying to lift her to check her back. Had she been hit, and I hadn’t realized it?
The moment I tried to get her into a sitting position, Wren threw herself at me. She held on with everything she had, her legs wrapped around my waist, arms gripping me like a vise. A sob tore free from her throat.
“Cricket.” I leaned back against the couch, taking her with me. “We’re okay.”
“You dove in front of a bullet.” The words were barely discernable through hiccupped sobs.
“I dove for you. I will every time.”
Her head shook back and forth frantically. “You can’t. Promise me. You can’t.”
Wren chanted the words over and over as if she could will the vow from me.
“I can’t promise you that.”
Her fist thumped against my back. “Why?”
“Because I love you too damn much.”
Wren only cried harder. “I-I can’t lose you, Holt. Don’t make me lose you.”
I held her tighter, rocking back and forth. “You’re not going to lose me. I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere.”
Wren’s hands fisted in my shirt as the sound of sirens filled the air.
“See? The cops are coming. Whoever this was is long gone.”
“They could come back,” she whispered. “They could be faster next time.”
She had a point there. I’d be calling Cain tonight to see what their company had for bulletproof glass. Maybe something with a tint that you couldn’t see through.
“We’re gonna stay safe. I promise.” Because we had no other option. I wouldn’t lose Wren now. Not when I’d held her in my arms again. Not when I knew now what it meant to lose myself in her—with her. Not when I was finally home.
Three police department vehicles came to a screeching halt outside the cabin. Lawson was the first out of his SUV, running for the house. Nash was hot on his heels, the other officers right behind.
“We need to let them in, Cricket.”
Wren simply clung to me.
So, I got up with her still in my arms. She held on tight, her face burrowed in the crook of my neck.
“Holt?” Lawson called.
“Coming.” I picked up my weapon, holstering it and starting for the door. I unlocked it and stepped back. “I’ve got my weapon at the small of my back.”
I didn’t say it for Lawson and Nash, they’d assume I was armed after everything that had gone down the past few days. I said it as a courtesy for the officers behind them.
Concern creased Nash’s face as he took in the scene, noticing Wren, who still held on to me for dear life. “Is she okay?”
I gave my head a small shake. “She’s not injured.” But Wren was far from okay.
“Why don’t we get you sitting down?” Law said and then instructed the other officers to begin working the perimeter and searching for the shooter’s nest.
Moving into the living room, I lowered myself to the couch and positioned Wren so she could curl up in my lap.
Lawson crouched so he could make eye contact with Wren. “You sure you’re okay?”
She nodded, starting to come back to herself as she took in Lawson. “I’m okay.”
The words were barely audible, but she sat up. Wren started to slide off my lap, but I kept her close, my arm wrapped around her. Instead of fighting me, she snuggled against my side.
“Walk us through what happened,” Lawson said.
I held Wren tighter, not wanting her to have to hear this after living through it, but also not able to let her go. “We were standing by the island, and I saw a glint on the window. I knew it wasn’t the sun—it was coming from the wrong direction. Instinct took over. I took Wren down and rolled her. The window shattered. A minute later, I heard an ATV while on the phone with you.”
“You’re sure it was an ATV?” Nash asked.
“Could’ve been a dirt bike, I guess. It wasn’t a car, truck, or SUV, though. Different engine.”
Lawson nodded, making a note in his phone. “We’ve got all available officers looking.”
Nash strode to the wall opposite the new opening where the window had been. “There’s your bullet.”
Wren swallowed hard. “This could’ve been so bad.”
I leaned into her, resting my forehead against her temple. “We’re okay.”
She shuddered, and I held her closer.
Lawson cleared his throat. “I texted Jude and asked him to bring over some plywood to board up the window. We can get some new glass ordered, and everything will be back to normal before you know it.”
“Thanks. I’m actually going to talk to a friend about some specialty glass,” I said.
Wren twisted to face me. Relief washed through me as I took in her expression. All wary skepticism. “What kind of special?”
“Something that will keep people from being able to easily see inside.”
“And something impossible to shoot through,” Nash muttered under his breath.
Wren let out a sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Is it going to launch rockets in a counterattack, too?”
Lawson couldn’t contain his chuckle. “If Holt has anything to say about it, I’m sure there will be an entire missile defense system.”
“You know it’s rude to gang up on someone,” I huffed.
She leaned into me, her mouth curving as she pressed it against my arm. “You might be a tad overzealous.”
If my girl was giving me a hard time, she was coming back to herself. My breaths came a little easier. “You say overzealous. I say prepared.”
An officer knocked on the open door and strode inside. “We found the shooter’s nest. There are tracks from an ATV, but no one has seen any sign of the vehicle.”
Lawson glanced my way. “Good ears.” He turned back to the officer I didn’t recognize. “The crime scene techs are on their way from county. They should be here in another thirty minutes to process the evidence there and in the house.”
I met my brother’s gaze. “Have you zeroed in on any suspects?”
He shook his head. “Not yet. Still talking to people.”
I glanced at Wren and then back to Lawson. “I saw Joe in town earlier today. He was wearing a black hoodie.”
Wren stiffened next to me. “Holt—”
I squeezed her hand. “I’m not saying he did this, but they need to talk to him.”
“I’m going to,” Lawson assured me and then turned in Wren’s direction. “I’ll go as easy as I can on him, but Joe’s connected to the shooting ten years ago. A lot of people are. I’m going to talk to every single one.”
“I hate this,” Wren whispered so that only I could hear.
“I’m sorry, Cricket.”
She shook her head. “I know they need to do it and that they’re only trying to help, but I hate the idea of analyzing everyone in our community. I hate the idea of strangers pulling apart my home, looking for pieces of whoever this is.”
Shadow nosed her way out of the crate, and I motioned her to come to Wren’s side. The dog nuzzled her owner’s hand, and Wren started petting her.
“We’ll make this place your home again.”
She blinked up at me, unshed tears gathering in her eyes. “It’s been my sanctuary for so long. I’ve always felt safe here.”
Fury lit somewhere deep inside me. That someone would terrorize Wren after everything she’d been through… That they’d try to destroy the haven she’d work so hard to build for herself.
“We’ll make you safe here again. Whatever it takes.”
