Free Saving Grace (Serve and Protect Series) by Norah Wilson

well.
    Sniper! Unholstering his weapon, Ray hit the deck, but not before seeing the expression on Tommy’s face, a mixture of shock and accusation. Christ, he thinks I arranged this! A split-second later, Tommy hit the accelerator and shot off, his door swinging shut with the forward momentum.
    Another two or three bullets skipped off the asphalt a few feet away, sending fragments of blacktop flying. Rolling quickly to the left, Ray came up running, zigging and zagging. Behind him, he heard bullets whine off the pavement.
    “Ray!”
    Grace! Would she even know what was happening? The shooter was using a silencer. Would she understand what was unfolding?
    “Get out of here!” he shouted. “There’s a sniper in the school.”
    Another phut sound signaled another bullet digging into the asphalt, entirely too close to his feet. He took three more strides and dove behind a long, low cement planter, one of those commercial jobs the landscapers liked to fill. This time, the bullets made a completely different sound as they sent shards of cement scattering.
    Pressing himself close against the low architecture, he heard the Pathfinder’s engine kick to life. Thank God he’d left the keys in the ignition. And thank God he’d left it pointed toward the parking lot’s only exit. Presuming there was only one sniper, she should be able to get away. Just to make sure, he’d give her some cover.
    Using every inch of the planter to conceal himself, he searched for the suspect. There! Rooftop. He squeezed off a couple of rounds. It was a hard shot, shooting up like that, but he must have come close because the shooter pulled back.
    Ray heard the SUV’s tires squeal. Atta girl. Go Grace. Go now. Except when he glanced her way, he saw she’d pulled a U-turn and was barreling towards him. Christ, what was she thinking?
    A bullet pinged off the sidewalk close enough to send a shard of concrete slicing into his cheek like a hot knife. Swearing, he fired back twice. Then Grace was there, the back door on the driver’s side already opened for him. He rolled out onto the sidewalk and squeezed off three more rounds. Then, launching himself from his knees, he dove into the SUV’s back seat.
    “Go!” he shouted, but Grace didn’t need his instruction. She’d already popped the clutch. The vehicle lunged forward, throwing him against the back of the seat. Seconds later, she pulled another U-turn and sped out the driveway. Tires squealing in protest, she rounded the turn onto the broad avenue and shot off down the hill.

Chapter 5

    G RACE ’ S HEART CRASHED AGAINST her ribs and her knuckles ached from gripping the steering wheel.
    “Okay, don’t slack off until we’re clear of this street.” Ray clambered into the front passenger seat. “We need to get out of here before the cops come.”
    She shot him an incredulous look. “Someone shot at you back there! I’d think you’d be glad to see them.”
    “I’m not so sure about that.”
    New fear sliced into her. “What do you mean?” She glanced at him, and her heart took another bump when she saw him eject the spent clip from his gun and jam another one into place. “I thought we were going to go to the cops.”
    “Circumstances have changed.” He holstered his gun and fastened his seatbelt.
    “Yeah, we’re in immediate danger now. Which is all the more reason to go in.”
    “Take this right coming up.”
    She obeyed automatically, and he guided her through another series of turns until she found herself on the approach to the Merrill Bridge.
    “I thought you just said we weren’t going in.”
    “We’re not. Stay on this street, then turn down King.”
    She did, but as they passed the police station, several cars, their lights flashing and sirens wailing, spilled out of the parking lot and sped north across the bridge. Grace fought down panic. Why was Ray avoiding the police?
    He reached to steady the wheel as the Pathfinder wandered too close to the right lane.