Sharpshooter (Shadow Agents 3)

“You haven’t told her,” Cale murmured.

No, not yet, he hadn’t.

“Better update her on the way,” Cale said, “because Logan wants us all in for a briefing in an hour.”

Figured.

Sydney’s smile faltered. “Gunner? What’s going on?”

He exhaled slowly. He’d never sugarcoated when it came to a mission. Of the Shadow Agents, Sydney was the best at gathering intel. There was nothing that woman couldn’t get a computer to tell her, so Gunner knew that Logan would want her in the office, working with the other techs to recover data and try to pick up a trail on the hacker.

So he just told her the plain truth. “The EOD may have been compromised.”

Her eyes widened.

“And it looks like the breach came from the inside.”

* * *

SYDNEY HURRIED OUT of Gunner’s building, her steps too fast, but adrenaline was pulsing through her. First the arson at her house, and now someone had hacked into her file? Definitely a personal attack, and she wasn’t about to stand by and do nothing.

She was going hunting.

“I’ll follow you,” Cale said as he exited the building after them. Sure enough, she saw his car waiting a few feet down the road. Cale and his cars. The man loved the classic rides. His vintage Mustang was parked at the edge of the street. Gunner’s truck waited in his reserved spot. Being a special agent did have its perks, and having your vehicle close by in case of a government emergency, well, that was important.

Sydney nodded. “Thanks, Cale, I’ll see you at the—”

Gunner slammed into her. Sydney’s breath was knocked from her body as she tumbled toward the ground. Gunner twisted, trying to cushion her as she fell, and in that split second she just wondered...what the—

A loud crack sounded.

Gunfire.

She reached for her own weapon, a weapon she’d taken from Gunner’s stash in the condo. Gunner had taken her down behind the truck, giving them cover behind that vehicle. As she pushed up into a crouch, his hands flew over her.

“Are you hurt?” he demanded.

Sydney gave a quick shake of her head. Not hurt, just mad.

Another hit? In less than twenty-four hours?

Gunner yanked out his phone. An instant later he was saying, “Logan, get a team on my street now. A shot was just fired.” His gaze glittered as it held hers. “It came from the northwest corner, the James Fire Building. I saw the damn glint of light right before the bullet came at Sydney.”

Gunner was a sharpshooter, one of the best she’d ever seen, so of course he’d know where that shot originated.

“Cale’s clearing civilians now, and you get that team here ASAP.” He shoved the phone back into his pocket and yanked out the gun that had been holstered beneath his jacket. They’d both left the condo armed, just in case. When you knew you were being targeted, you never went anywhere without a weapon at your side.

“I want you to stay down,” Gunner told her. “Stay behind this truck until backup arrives.”

She knew what he was planning, and it was not going to fly with her. “While what? You race up to that building and face the shooter on your own?”

“I can’t let him take any more shots! Civilians could be at risk.”

The street had been nearly deserted when they came out. Just a young couple, walking down the sidewalk. Cale had gotten them clear, but what if someone else came out?

“You need cover,” she told him. “I can provide it for you.”

He shook his head. “You’re the target, and I’m not letting him take another shot at you.” His gaze dropped to her stomach. “Neither of you.”