Page 140 of Sheltering You

“You see anything?”

“Just flashes,” Sam said. “Nobody’s gotten through.”

“Good, good.” Derrick didn’t want those guys anywhere near Jasmine or all the women and kids in this house. Truth be told, he didn’t want them near his brothers, either.

Grant’s plan was working. God willing, any second, Khalid and his men would turn tail and run.

“I got a call.” Jasmine’s voice on the walkie-talkie had Derrick jolting. “It was Khalid.”

“What!” His shocked response was lost as everyone else reacted.

“Quiet, everyone,” Grant commanded. Then, “What did he say exactly?”

Jasmine explained what the terrorist had dictated she do.

“He didn’t explain the distraction?” Grant asked.

“No.”

“Okay.” Grant acted like this was no big deal. Just another day at the office. “Stand by.”

Stand by?

Derrick was supposed to just…do nothing? Fat chance.

He pressed the button on his walkie-talkie. “Let me go out there, Grant. I’ll surprise him.”

“Stay where you are. Be ready for that distraction.”

He glared at the walkie-talkie as if Grant could see him, then called, “Sam, trade places with me.”

If they switched places, Derrick could easily slip down the stairs and meet Khalid beneath the patio himself.

“Not a chance,” Sam said.

“If she tries to go out⁠—”

“I’ll stop her. Don’t worry.”

But Khalid was so close.

“They’re coming over the cliff!” Dad’s shout had Derrick peering through the darkness, but all he could see was the dark patio and the railing. He couldn’t see the yard between the house and the cliff or any men who might be coming that way.

A gunshot echoed from upstairs. Then another. And another.

What was happening?

“From the dock?” Grant yelled. “How’d they get⁠—?”

“Up the stairs.” Dad’s voice, frantic a moment ago, was calm now. After a pause and a couple of gunshots, Dad continued. “Black boats, black clothes. Black water. Didn’t see ’em.”

“Shoot on sight,” Grant said, all business.

“We’re trying!” That was Leila, and unlike Dad, she sounded terrified. “There’re too many!”

“You’re doing great, hon,” Dad said. “Take your time. Line up your shots.”

“You’ve got this, sweetheart.” Michael was calm as could be. “You guys are doing great. Stop as many as you can. Derrick and Sam will get anyone who makes it by you.”