Cole(63)

I heard him moving as I did, and figured he was doing the same. Once inside the closet, I felt around on the floor and found some sneakers. Pulling them on, I crawled back out. My heart was trying to pound its way out of my chest as I did.

My hand brushed his once I got to his side, and his own came to my shoulder. He urged me behind him, just a little bit.

“Sir.” A voice spoke from the stairs, through the closed door.

Cole turned swiftly, blocking me, with his gun held out straight. “Don’t move.”

“It’s me. Carl.”

Cole lowered the gun, but kept his arms straight. He rested the gun at his side, pointing to the ground, and took a few steps toward the bedroom’s door. “You okay?”

“I am.” Carl didn’t come into the room or even open the door. “There’s no movement out there. Both barns lost electricity, and the house down the way is out, too.”

“Still.” Cole’s hand came to my shoulder and squeezed lightly. “We should head back to the city. I’ll let Ruby know I didn’t stay the night.”

“Okay. I’ll be in the car, sir.”

Carl left, and this time I could hear him moving down the stairs. After a moment the front door to the barn opened as he left, crossing the yard to the car. Cole waited, watching him go. Once Carl was inside the vehicle and safe, Cole’s hand dropped from my shoulder. “Okay, let’s g—”

Later, I would remember that we were given warning: the lights went out.

Later, I would think how there should’ve been more warning. Like a feeling, or a premonition.

Later, I would realize that there’d been none of those, just the lights. That’d been it.

It was jarring when it happened. And I knew the sound would never leave my mind. I’d hear it over and over again for the rest of my life.

Before Cole finished speaking, I heard the sound of glass shattering mixed with quick pops. The more those pops sounded, the more glass shattered. I froze. Everything in me paused. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t move.

Cole pushed me to the ground, turning himself back to the window. As soon as my face hit the floor, I knew what those pops were. Gunfire. My brain took another beat to catch up. Someone was shooting at us, but no, that wasn’t quite right.

A buzzing sounded in my ear, starting to drown out the repeating shots and glass, but eventually the glass stopped breaking. They had broken everything.

Cole left.

I couldn’t cry out. My throat wasn’t working, but I didn’t want him to go.

In a moment he was back and pressing something into my hand. “Can you shoot?” he asked, hurriedly.

“No.” My hand closed over metal.

He cursed, but lifted my hand. “Sit here. Keep your back to the wall. If someone comes up those stairs, you pull the trigger.” He spoke quietly, but fiercely. “Do not point this gun anywhere except at the stairs. If you do, get your finger off the trigger. Okay?”

I nodded. I had no idea what he was saying.

“Stay alive.” He pressed a hard kiss against my forehead. “And don’t shoot yourself.”

Stop! My brain kicked back into drive, and I grabbed his arm as he started to leave. “Where are you going?”

“Those men aren’t done. Carl came out from this barn. They’re going to look for us. They’re coming.”

They’re coming. His words echoed in my mind. I was still processing that when he was gone. He’d slipped down the stairs before I could say anything. Now that it was just me, I looked at what was in my hand: a gun.

My eyes widened, but that was it. That was my only reaction until everything snapped back into place. When my brain caught up, I knew what was happening. There were men here. Men who’d shot something, and were coming to shoot me.

I scooted back against the wall and bent my knees. Resting my arms on my legs, I held the gun with both hands, and I did what Cole said. I kept it pointed right at the stairs. I couldn’t save Cole. He knew how to save himself, but I’d be damned if I was going to go down quietly. I’d piss my pants later. For now, I was going to stay alive.





COLE



I could see six of them, but that didn’t mean that was it. I watched as six men surrounded Carl’s car and shot out every window. They’d done this before, but with only four shooters. I’d survived that attack, but I knew Carl hadn’t survived this one. And as the six men turned toward the barn, I knew they’d be thorough.

They were coming for me, but I knew they’d find Addison, too. That couldn’t happen.

Addison had given me shoes, but I kept them off on purpose. I padded barefoot down the stairs and through the stalls. I needed to hit them with the element of surprise. I hoped they’d split up to search for us, and after I slipped into one of the geldings’ stalls, keeping a calming hand on the horse, I heard them call softly to each other and knew they’d done just that.