Page 36 of Allie's Shelter

“On the ship?” Allie couldn’t push out any of the myriad questions racing through her mind. Her throat was too dry, her heart pounding too hard.

“She’s fine, but whoever is running this operation is determined to get back what you’ve stolen.”

“How?” It was the only word she could utter.

“Once we’re inside.”

She looked up at him, but his gaze was still skimming over the lake, the trees, peering into the lengthening shadows. He was looking for the next threat, much as he’d done when they were in the car. Seeing him so edgy out here where they should be safe terrified her.

“Y-you said no one knows about this place.”

“Apparently someone knows too much about how to get to you,” he replied.

She shivered and he draped his jacket over her shoulders as he urged her back toward the house. She felt him on her heels, closer than a shadow and far more substantial, as they walked along the narrow path.

In the quiet of the trees, with only the soft sound of his breath and their footsteps on fallen pine needles, she gathered her thoughts. Aunt Ruth was alive. That was the most important news right now. Ross would ask who she’d told about her aunt’s travels. That was easy: only Nicole. She didn’t make a habit of discussing her personal life with anyone else. It hit her suddenly that Ross had been her best friend, her only confidant through everything until he left. She’d never let anyone else close enough to fill that void.

It was a ridiculous time for a revelation about why her few attempts at personal relationships had failed.

Her thoughts were with her friend. If they’d gotten to Ruth on a ship, surely they’d tracked down Nicole by now. She offered up a silent prayer when bark suddenly exploded from a pine tree. The sting of the debris on her face barely registered before Ross pushed her forward.

“Go! Go!”

Allie sprinted along the path, hearing Ross pounding behind her. She had a flash of her stupid dream and drove herself harder, determined to give him room to escape her problems.

They burst into the yard and from one stride to the next, he was at her side. Gripping her elbow and matching her pace, they were soon inside and safe behind the locked door.

For a long moment, the only sound she could hear was the blood rushing through her ears, then came the rasp of air sawing in and out of her burning lungs. She’d run much greater distances of course, but never in such a panic.

“Away from the windows,” he ordered.

Nodding, Allie complied, following his lead when he started closing the blinds. A series of beeps followed, and she realized he was arming his security system.

“Are we trapped?”

Ross ignored her question, scowling at the cell phone in his palm. Her cell phone. “Check the land line.”

She rushed to the wall and picked it up. “Got a dial tone.”

“Call 9-1-1, but let me report it.”

Allie did as he asked, holding the phone out for him when the dispatcher answered. She listened as he relayed the details, his voice steady and calm, giving no indication he was distressed in any way.

But she watched his face, read a completely different story in his eyes and the furrowed brow. Belatedly, she realized she was watching the seasoned combat veteran doing what was necessary to accomplish the objective.

When her cell phone hummed on the counter she reached for it, but he waved her off and pointed sternly toward the nearest chair. Feeling utterly useless, she took a seat and waited.

Chapter six

Ross finished with the 9-1-1 dispatcher, certain they wouldn’t be able to do anything about the sniper in the woods. That hadn’t been a gang banger looking for extra cash or street cred to jump in. Whoever had taken that shot was using solid intel from an inside source close to the investigation involving Allie.

He couldn’t pinpoint who would betray them.

He knew who it wasn’t, which he supposed was a start. Sheriff Cochran didn’t even know about this place. Eva and Rick were obviously in the clear. The deputy impersonator with the Taser couldn’t have tracked them. She was still with the Feds. His earlier call had confirmed that, if not much else.

Still, someone had managed to track them to this place and set up a kill zone. Based on the direction of the shot, he’d been able to provide solid intel to the deputies who were attempting to flush out the shooter.

“No expense has been spared to shut you up,” he said, turning to Allie at last.