Page 31 of Lethal Salvation

Chapter 9

Duchess saw the dot a split second before the shot was fired and reacted, throwing her body across Gideon’s and forcing them both to the floor between the coffee table and the couch, her body landing with a jolt against his. Shouted words of warning rang out as bullets pinged around them, the air ringing with the sound of glass shattering.

“Sniper.”

Bás and Hurricane dove behind the outdoor furniture for cover, their instincts kicking in a split second later, as she tried to raise her head and figure out what was happening without getting shot. Lotus and Reaper made it just inside the door and used the column of the walls as cover. Titan was pinned down by the outer wall as they all tried to figure out where the shooter was.

“Reaper, Lotus, get over to the building across the street. I think he has a nest there. Duchess, get Gideon away from any windows.”

As Bás and Hurricane returned fire, Lotus and Reaper ran from the room, heading to try and take out the sniper that had them pinned. Duchess gripped Gideon’s shirt and faced him.

“We need to move. Do exactly what I tell you, okay?”

He nodded, his eyes never leaving her and filled with a trust she’d never seen before.

“When I say run, I want you to stay low and get behind the island in the kitchen.”

“Got it. What about you?”

Duchess pulled her sidearm out from the back of the black jeans she’d changed into and checked the clip. She nodded to Bás. “Give me some cover fire.”

At once Hurricane, Titan—who’d managed to get himself into a better position—and Bás laid down fire.

“I’m right behind you. Go.”

As Gideon scrambled on quick feet toward the kitchen, she and the team covered them and, as quick as it began, the attack stopped. Dragging in a breath, she ran her hands over Gideon checking him for a wound until he gripped her wrists and held her still.

“I’m fine, Nadia.”

A shaky feeling she’d never had after an attack like that made her chest feel tight. Until he wrapped her in his arms and held her against his body and she could feel the fast, reassuring pounding of his heart against her own. His lips against her hair made her want to sob and that was a new reaction too.

Blinking fast, she swallowed and tried to get her emotions under control. She wasn’t by nature an overly emotional person, but she accepted, if only to herself, that Gideon was different.

“Are you okay?”

She nodded as she felt his lips against her hair, his arms tight around her.

A shadow fell over them and she pulled out of his hold and hauled herself to her feet, putting some space between her and Gideon as she looked at Bás.

“You both good?”

Duchess nodded. “Yeah, we’re fine. Is everyone else okay?”

“Yeah, but we need to go. It’s not safe here and there’ll be more coming.”

Duchess turned to Gideon. “Grab what you can’t live without, but not your phone or any electricals.”

Gideon took off and Titan followed him with a nod to her. She knew Titan would make sure he only packed what he needed and was quick. When she was sure he was out of hearing range, she turned to Bás. His brow was slashed low, his jaw locked tight, and anger and energy emanated from every pore.

“This is escalating.”

“I know and I can’t help thinking it’s because we’re getting too close to the head of the snake.”

Duchess inclined her head. “Hansen?”

Joel Hansen was the man who’d started this manhunt and exposed the network. He was ex-CIA and had been a handler for two of the Eidolon women. Sisters who’d been his assets. He’d treated them both abhorrently and had gotten one pregnant and then left her to die when her undercover job went sideways. There was more though, a deep-seated hatred between him and Bás that went back further.

She hadn’t pushed for answers from her boss and friend because everyone had a past, especially in this team, but it was becoming apparent that they’d need to talk, and soon.