Page 122 of Shattered Sea

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Hayes pulledto a stop in front of the Grangers’ house, and we climbed out of his SUV. It was eerily quiet. Hayes and I shared a look and headed for the front steps.

He lifted his hand to knock on the front door, but with the first strike, the door swung inward. One hand moved to his gun, removing it from his holster, and the other went to his radio, calling for backup and asking them to come in quietly.

Hayes handed me his keys. “Go wait in the SUV. Backup will be here soon.”

Instead of obeying, I slid my gun from my holster. “I’m not letting you go in there alone.” And I sure as hell wasn’t leaving Laiken alone either.

Hayes muttered a curse but turned his focus towards the house. “Stay behind me.”

I did as ordered but my gaze swept over every space I could get my eyes on, hoping to see dark hair and golden skin. Amber eyes that saw to the very core of me.

“Carson County Sheriff’s Department,” Hayes called.

“In here,” a woman’s voice called. “We’re in here.”

We moved into a living room that looked as if a tornado had hit it. Tables and chairs were upended, and a woman hovered over Isaac, her hands pressed to his shoulder. I knew she had to be Kay. Tears streamed down her face. “She shot him. She just shot him.”

“I’ll be okay,” Isaac croaked. “You gotta get the bitch.”

“Who?” Hayes barked.

“Gilly,” he answered. “She’s chasing Laiken and Serena. She’s batshit crazy. Killed all those people.”

Kay only cried harder. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”

“Is he—?” I asked, inclining my head towards the man slumped over in the chair.

“He’s alive,” Kay said. “Just drugged.”

Hayes pulled his radio again. “Holy hell.” He started relaying the situation to his dispatcher, but I was already moving.

“Which direction?” I pressed Isaac and Kay.

“The front door,” he gritted out.

“Jax got a shotgun from the gun safe and went after them,” Kay called as I ran for the front door.

My ribs shook with the force of my heartbeat, and blood roared in my ears. I had to find Laiken. A million horrible scenarios raced through my mind. I never should’ve left her here alone.

Hayes was on my heels in an instant. “I told you to stay behind me.”

“I don’t care what you told me. I have to find Laiken.”

“Don’t be stupid and get yourself killed.”

I opened my mouth to argue when a shot cracked the air. Everything in me locked, then I took off running in the direction of the sound. It seemed to come from the barn and outbuildings.

My lungs burned as I pushed my muscles harder. Hayes matched me, stride for stride. Another shot sounded. Closer. On the side of the barn.

We ran towards the noise. Just as we were about to round the corner, a body slammed into mine. Petite. Dark hair. Golden skin.

Laiken let out a strangled sound.

I yanked her into my arms. “You’re okay. I’ve got you.”

“Gilly. She has a gun. She’s shooting.”

“Get to the barn,” Hayes barked. “Lock yourselves in the office and wait for backup. I’ll give them your location.”


Tags: Catherine Cowles Tattered & Torn Romance