Dangerous Protector (Red Stone Security #14)(38)

“He’s got a gun!” A woman’s terrified scream ripped through the air.

Adrenaline poured through him as he raced toward the woman’s and Tegan’s cries. He had to get to Dillon and Tegan.

When he heard the sound of gunfire, only years of training forced him to slow down as he reached the end of the brick wall. Weapon out and crouching low, he peered around the corner of the building.

For a moment he froze, all the muscles in his body tightening. Tegan and Dillon were huddled behind a tree as a man with a SIG raced toward them.

There was no cover for Aaron, but he was going to take this guy down before he got to Tegan and Dillon. There was no other option.

He’d keep his son and the woman he loved safe.

Suddenly Kali burst out from behind the jungle gym, a rabid, feral warrior that looked nothing like the sweet husky she was. She was racing for the gunman at full speed. The man turned to the left, facing the threat and putting his back to Aaron.

On a burst of speed, Aaron raced for them as Kali lunged at the gunman. Shots rang out as Kali jumped into the air. Everything else around Aaron funneled out as Kali slammed the man to the ground. The SIG went flying so Aaron kicked it out of the way as he reached them.

The man was unmoving under a motionless Kali. Oh God.

There was no time to check on the dog. He needed to secure the threat immediately. Keep Tegan and Dillon safe.

Before he could move, the man kicked out with a snarl, knocking Aaron’s feet from under him. Aaron fell back as the man jerked up, shoving the dog off him.

Blood soaked the man’s hoodie. He lunged at Aaron.

Aaron went on the offensive, slamming his fist against the guy’s jaw. It didn’t slow the * down. With fevered, dark eyes he swung at Aaron.

Aaron ducked his head to the side and rolled to his feet. He didn’t want to kill the guy, but he would if he had to. He aimed his weapon at him. “Don’t f*cking move,” he snarled.

The man was on one knee, calculation in his gaze. He had to have another weapon.

Aaron’s aim was steady. He would absolutely shoot this son of a bitch if he had to. “Go for it. See who gets off a shot first.”

Something like resignation flared in the man’s eyes. He lifted his hands in the air and lay flat on his belly. “I’ve got a gun in my ankle holster and a knife at my back.” Breathing heavily, he turned his face to the side against the grass.

Gone was the fighter from moments before but Aaron wasn’t going to let himself be lulled into a false sense of security. He didn’t bother disarming the guy. He had faith in his abilities to disarm him, but he wasn’t risking it right now. With Dillon and Tegan so close, he wasn’t going to take the chance that the guy would attack when he got Aaron at closer range. Anything could happen in a split second. He’d wait for the cops to get here and do their job.

With his free hand he started to pull his cell phone out of his pocket when Dillon’s scared voice came from behind the tree.

“Dad?”

Another surge of panic pummeled him, but he didn’t take his focus off the man on the ground. “Stay where you are! Everything’s fine. Just stay put.”

“We’re okay and we’re not moving,” Tegan called out, her voice shaky. “Cops are on their way. Should be here in a couple minutes.”

Almost as if on cue, sirens wailed in the distance, the sound of them music to his ears. He just hoped this nightmare was finally over—and that Kali would make it. She hadn’t moved since she’d been shot, but he could hear her labored breathing and she was softly whining. He hated that he couldn’t help her. But he couldn’t take his focus off the gunman, not for a second.





Chapter 12





“She’s going to be okay.” Aaron wrapped an arm around Tegan’s shoulders as they sat in the waiting room of the vet’s office.

Kali was in surgery and Tegan didn’t know what she’d do if her sweet dog didn’t make it. Kali had been her constant companion through the crappiest moments of her life. She was young and sweet and had fought like hell to protect her and Dillon. To lose her after everything they’d gone through, after the rough start she’d had to her life…

Tegan’s throat tightened and she swallowed hard because she didn’t trust herself to respond. Not without having a meltdown anyway.

The front door opened and Tegan jumped. Her nerves were frayed and she couldn’t take any more surprises.

Aaron straightened and stood when Carlito stepped inside.

Tegan was surprised to see him there. Her heart rate stuttered at his grim expression. She shot to her feet, tensing for the worst. “What’s wrong now?”

He blinked. “Nothing. I just…how’s your dog?”

“No news.” She slumped back in the chair, but Aaron remained standing.

“Why are you here?” he asked quietly.

“Good-ish news. Grace lost her deal with the Feds because she lied to them about who was behind the bombing of your car.”

Tegan raised her eyebrows. Now she knew that the man who’d come after them in the park was behind the bombing, not Enzo. She’d recognized him from Chicago, had seen him once talking to Enzo. While she hadn’t known Alec Rossi’s name, she’d known he wasn’t at that park by chance, and had been there for her. “Really, she lost the deal?”