Saylor stayed on his six, constantly looking behind them, as he crept down the corridor. He checked the bathroom, then moved on, stopping at the door to her bedroom.
She tapped him on the shoulder and leaned in close. “I never close the door.”
He nodded, palmed the handle — turned it — when the floor creaked beyond the door. Zain spun, taking her with him as he dove for the bathroom, hitting the tile floor as bullets cut through the air, punching through the wooden door and into the far wall. Footsteps pounded the hallway, a dark figure racing toward them.
Zain rose enough to lay down some cover fire —send the asshole scrambling toward the front entrance — before giving Saylor a quick once-over, then racing after the guy. Chase’s voice sounded above the other noise, not that Zain made out any of the words.
More gunfire ate through the walls and furniture as Zain stayed low, stopping at the corner before darting out. He fired and hit the bastard square in the back of his body armor. The impact launched the guy into the railing, nearly sending him over when a few pieces of wood cracked before he recovered. He unleashed another spray of bullets, then booked it out of sight.
Zain cursed and took off, sprinting for the doorway. He only paused long enough to check for a sniper, then raced down the stairs, taking them two at a time. A lone figure ran along the dock and into the parking lot, turning to fire, again, before picking up speed.
Saylor shadowed Zain as he took cover, then darted out, working to close some of the distance. He lined up the asshole, knocked him down with another hit to his vest. An engine growled in the distance followed by tires skidding around a corner. A black SUV roared into sight a second later, bouncing down the road at some insane speed. A hulking tango leaned out the open window, AR-15 notched into his shoulder.
Zain slowed and grabbed Saylor, shoving her beneath him a second before the asshole opened fire, pinging bullets off the pavement as muzzle flashes illuminated the fog.
A door slammed nearby, then the SUV spun a full one-eighty, kicking up water as the tires slipped alongthe wet surface before finally gaining traction. Smoke poured out from beneath the rubber, more gunfire drowning out the growling engine as it leaped forward, swerving around the corner, then onto the road.
Zain eased up, shaking his head as he helped Saylor to her feet. “Shit, are you okay?”
She brushed off the clothes he’d lent her, glancing at the street. “Considering some asshole just shot up my house and my business, I’m handling it all pretty damn well.”
He ran his hands along her arms, checking for blood. “All that can be fixed. As long as you didn’t get hit. Again.”
“Not sure how anyone could’ve hit me with you acting as my human shield, but no, I’m good.”
“You know I’m protective by nature. When it comes to you…” There wasn’t a sacrifice he wouldn’t make. A price he wouldn’t pay.
Her gaze softened. “You’re lucky I find that trait mostly endearing.” She sighed when sirens wailed in the distance, quickly drawing closer. “Just when I thought I’d avoided the crime scene tape.”
Zain huffed. “They can hang it like streamers for all it matters because there’s not a chance in hell you’re staying here tonight.”
“You think they’ll come back, don’t you?”
“It depends on whether or not they found what they were looking for.”
“I don’t have anything worth stealing other than my boats.”
“For all we know, you pissed off those pirates enough they’re gunning for you simply as payback. But, until we have some answers, you’re with me. Because this doesn’t feel as if it’s anywhere close to over.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
“Hey.”
Saylor blinked, scrubbing her hand across her face as Zain pulled onto the long gravel driveway before stopping next to Chase’s truck. “Talk about déjà vu.”
He reached over and tucked some of her hair behind her ear. “I know you’re exhausted and that the last thing you want to do is rehash what happened…”
“But you and your teammates won’t rest until you’ve formulated a plan.”
“I just don’t want to miss a threat. Leave you vulnerable because I have a hard time believing this is all just a bunch of coincidences.”
She nodded, jumping when a tree branch cracked outside. “It’s not that I don’t appreciate the help, or even mind going over it, it’s just…”
He took her hand in his. “You’re worried this will circle back to theVigilant.”
“I’m worried, I’ll slip into a full-blown PTSDflashback and wake up in the psychiatric ward wearing a straightjacket.”
Zain grinned as he swept his gaze the length of her. “No one’s gonna tie you up but me, sweetheart.”
