Way of the Shadows (Shadow Agents 8)

Thomas yanked her right back.

“Let me go!” she fiercely fought his grip, but her voice was whisper soft. “I have to help them!”

“Don’t you see what he’s doing? The sick freak is using them as bait. He’ll shoot whoever goes out there next.”

“They need help.” She shook her head. “I can’t stay here and watch them die! I won’t!”

Thomas tightened his hold on her. He studied the sheriff’s body, trying to figure out the angle of entry. The trajectory of the bullet. The wind.

His gaze darted to the right. To the trees located there. Higher land. Best elevation. Perfect hunting zone.

He motioned toward Aaron, indicating the target zone. Aaron slipped back and, keeping to cover, began to advance to the right.

“Thomas...he’s dying.”

Yes, the sheriff was, but Thomas couldn’t let her die, too. None of the deputies were going to help because they were too worried about getting shot.

“Give me cover,” Thomas growled to her. “To the northwest.”

“What? Thomas, no, I meant for me—”

He was already gone. He rushed out, kept his body low and dove toward the sheriff.

Gunfire blasted right near his face, missing him by about two inches.

“No!” He heard Noelle scream. Then she was firing back, giving Thomas the cover he so desperately needed. He grabbed the sheriff’s arm and pulled the guy toward the trees. The bullet had sunk into the sheriff’s stomach, and he was bleeding heavily.

“Get him...” the sheriff wheezed. “Shoot the...S...O...B.”

The woman was still lying out there. Sarah Finway. Thomas knew more bullets would fly his way, but he braced himself, lifted his gun and went back toward

her.

Gunfire erupted. There was a rough, choked cry.

Thomas used his body to try and cover the woman, but Sarah—

She’s gone.

He couldn’t find her pulse.

“I’ve got him!”

Thomas’s head whipped up at Aaron’s yell. And, sure enough, Aaron was standing with a bloody man in front of him. Aaron’s gun was at the guy’s temple.

Thomas’s gaze trekked over the man’s face as stunned recognition flooded through him. I know him.

Noelle raced from her cover then. She didn’t go toward the killer. She ran for the sheriff. She fell to her knees and tried to apply pressure to the wound.

The man Aaron held began to laugh. “You think this is the end?” Blood dripped down the side of his face. “You have no clue!”

Aaron’s mouth twisted into a snarl, and he slammed his gun into the side of the man’s head.

The killer fell, and that sick laughter stopped.

Thomas’s attention jumped to Aaron.

The ex-SEAL shrugged. “What? I thought he was about to attack. Sounded like a threat to me.” His shoulders straightened. “Besides, Mercer wants this man brought in...by any means necessary.”