The Girl Next Door (Shadow Agents 6)

And her bedroom window was wide open.

“I came out the front,” Thomas continued doggedly. “I was with you, but whoever did this, he’s getting away.”

Thomas started to advance toward them.

Dylan fired his weapon.

* * *

THE RINGING PHONE woke Cooper, yanking him from a dream. He’d been running in that dream, desperately trying to get close to Gabrielle.

The loud ringing came again, and his eyes snapped open. The dream vanished.

Gabrielle was in his arms. Safe.

And the phone wasn’t stopping.

“Cooper?” Her voice was husky, sexy. “Has something happened?”

A call at this hour had to mean something had gone wrong. He grabbed for the phone. “Marshall.”

There was a murmur of voices. Then, “Rachel’s hurt. The rogue went after her. Her.” Dylan’s voice shook.

“She’s alive.” Cooper worried his clenched grip would shatter the phone. But Dylan had said hurt, not dead.

“Barely,” was Dylan’s low whisper. “We’re in the ER, and I’m not leaving her. I found Thomas Anthony at her place.”

The Dragon?

“She’s bad,” Dylan told him, and Cooper heard the pain and fear in the other man’s voice. “I’m not sure she’ll make it—”

“I’m on my way,” Cooper promised.

“No! Don’t come here—get to the EOD. Mercer took Thomas in for questioning after I shot the bastard.”

Wait—Dylan had shot him?

“Get to the EOD.” Dylan’s voice grated over the line. “Find out the truth. Thomas swore he was innocent—”

But obviously Dylan hadn’t bought that story, or he wouldn’t have shot the guy.

“Prove his innocence or prove his guilt,” Dylan ordered.

Cooper looked to the left. He found Gabrielle’s wide eyes on him. “I will.” He ended the call and just stared at Gabrielle for a moment.

“What is it?” Worry shone in her eyes.

Cooper swallowed. “We were wrong about you being the next target. The rogue attacked Rachel.”

She inhaled on a sharp gasp.

“She’s alive, but Dylan said she’s badly hurt.” He didn’t tell her that Dylan wasn’t sure if Rachel would survive.

She has to survive.

If she didn’t, Cooper wasn’t sure how Dylan would react.

He climbed from the bed and grabbed his clothes. “There’s a suspect in custody at the EOD. I’m going down for an interrogation.”