Free Hidden Impact by Piper J. Drake

happening fast and she was not keeping up.
    “Keep doing what you’re doing.” Lizzy took out her gun again. “Do as we say, no hesitation. You’re doing fine.”
    There was a sharp rapping at the door to the stairwell in a broken staccato pattern, then Marc came through, followed by Gabe.
    Even in her panic, Maylin realized Gabe had been waiting to be sure all of them had gotten out first. All of them.
    Victoria gripped Maylin’s upper arm. “We’re going now. That wasn’t a lot of noise, but if any of your neighbors got concerned, someone’s going to check your apartment and find the broken glass. Best for everyone if we’re away from here so no one else gets caught up in this.”
    * * *
    Back in the car, the silence was killing Maylin. She’d huddled low in the middle seat of the SUV as they’d left the parking garage and only sat up once Gabe had given the okay.
    They were out of the downtown area and on the highway before anyone spoke.
    “No sign of a tail,” Marc reported from the backseat.
    “Roger that.” Gabe’s acknowledgment came out harsh, angry.
    The entire car was quiet again after that. Maylin watched mile markers go by, the tension inside her winding tighter and tighter. This wasn’t the way they’d come into the city. Maybe Gabe was taking them on a more roundabout way home.
    She couldn’t sit still anymore. Reaching for the big, soft cooler bag she’d packed this morning, she tugged it up onto the seat next to her and started digging inside.
    “Maylin, dear. What are you doing?” Victoria didn’t sound displeased but her tone was gentle, the way one would talk to somebody fragile.
    Maylin wasn’t fragile. She was practical. And silence the whole car ride home was a waste of time.
    She pulled out a sandwich wrapped in wax paper and held it out to Victoria.
    The blonde mercenary blinked. “What?”
    “It’s been hours since any of us ate. I made muffuletta sandwiches just in case we got hungry.” Maylin wiggled the package in front of Victoria. “There’s salami, ham, mozzarella, provolone, and olive salad. I raided the bigger kitchens over on the training side of the complex earlier this morning.”
    “Seriously?” Marc snagged the sandwich out of Maylin’s hand. “I’m starving.”
    Maylin quickly grabbed another wrapped sandwich and handed it to Victoria, who accepted it with a smile. Two more went up front to Lizzy and Gabe. Once everyone had a sandwich, Maylin took out one for herself, unwrapped it halfway and took a bite.
    Savory, salty flavor burst across her tongue as she chewed. The olive salad had just the right punch and she loved the combination of the Italian meats. It wasn’t just a sandwich, it was a meal, and every bite should be packed with flavor and interesting.
    Immediately, the atmosphere in the car edged away from icy tension to more relaxed.
    Gabe paused in eating his sandwich. “Lizzy. Status?”
    “Minor. Just a graze.” Lizzy took a minute to chew and swallow. “Shots came in a low spread across the kitchen. I’m thinking they saw vague movement through the curtains and took a chance they’d hit to injure.”
    “Looks like they’re trying to wound our genius cook here, rather than kill her,” Marc said around a mouthful of bread and olives.
    “Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad whoever it is isn’t trying to kill me, but why?” Maylin took smaller bites in case something one of them said might make her choke. It’d been that kind of day.
    “Couple of reasons come to mind.” Victoria licked olive oil from her bottom lip. “If you’re injured and an ambulance is called, it’d be easy to intercept and snag you before you ever made it to the hospital. No one at your apartment would think to look for you at the hospital for quite a while, am I correct?”
    Victoria was right. Maylin swallowed hard. “Everyone would assume family or friends would meet me at the hospital. None of my neighbors know me well enough to know An-mei’s missing