Her heart was racing too fast. “You can’t go in alone.”
Sirens were wailing. Yes, thank goodness. Someone had called the cops—could have been someone from the building, could have been Logan. Logan knew how to get the local officials to instantly jump into action.
“The cops are going to be here any second,” Gunner said as he tilted his head to listen to that approaching wail. “They’re going to scare the shooter off.”
Because most shooters ran at the first sign of cops, except for the shooters who’d staged the attack to bring local enforcement into the danger zone.
In Gunner’s eyes, she saw that same knowledge.
“I have to make sure no one else is at risk.”
Because he was Gunner. And that was just what he did. Sydney nodded grimly. “I won’t be able to give you much cover. He’s too far away.”
Gunner pressed his lips to hers. “I just want you to stay safe.”
Then he was gone. Damn him, he was rushing right out into the open. She lifted up, keeping as shielded as she could, and raised her gun. If she saw the glint of that weapon coming from the northwest, she would—
There was no glint from a weapon. And the sound of gunfire didn’t break the stillness of this morning. Gunner kept to cover as much as he could as he ran toward the building.
No shots were fired.
S
ydney still didn’t relax her guard.
She stayed there, armed, ready to do anything necessary if she saw Gunner get threatened.
Soon the cops were pulling up and rushing toward her, rushing for the building on the northwest corner. Logan had already briefed them. Now it was just a matter of seeing if they could catch the shooter.
She glanced toward the building. Gunner.
* * *
THE JAMES FIRE Building was abandoned, due to be demolished in just a few weeks so that a new apartment complex could be built in its place. Isolated, private, it was the spot that Gunner would have picked himself if he had to take out a target on the street below.
So as he’d led Sydney to his truck, Gunner’s gaze had automatically risen to that building. A reflex act. He’d scanned the windows, then seen the glint—a glint that didn’t belong. He’d pushed Sydney to the ground.
Just in time.
He’d actually felt the bullet rip right past his skin.
Now he was in the building, moving quickly but quietly, just the way his grandfather had taught him. The element of surprise was what he needed. If his prey was still inside, stupidly waiting for another shot...
I’ll get you.
But then Gunner heard the thunder of footsteps. His prey was running down the stairs. If he wanted to escape, the shooter had to take the stairs. The electricity in that place had been cut off weeks ago, and judging from where Gunner had seen that rifle glint, the man would have been up on the tenth floor.
That was a whole lot of stairs to take. And if the man was armed with just that rifle, he wouldn’t be able to aim that thing well as he ran down the stairs.
A grim smile curved Gunner’s lips as he started up the stairs. No rustle of clothing, no tap of his boots, no sound at all. Higher, higher, he climbed.
Those rushing feet came closer and closer.
Then he could see the man, his legs rushing fast down the steps.
“Freeze!” Gunner roared. He wanted this man taken in alive. He wanted to know why he was targeting Sydney—or, more likely—why the guy had been hired to take the shot at her. Would the boss risk getting his hands dirty like this? Out in public, with a limited means of escape? Doubtful, but Gunner would make this man turn on his boss.
The footsteps didn’t stop. Something heavy hit the stairs. A shot fired.