Montana SEAL (Brotherhood Protectors #1)(27)
Sadie jerked free, swept her arm wide, connecting with the weapon. Metal clattered against pavement. Her heart hammering against her ribs, she swept the cloth off her head and spun to face her attacker.
Dressed in dark, baggy clothing and wearing a black ski mask, her attacker dove for the gun. With the man between her and the doorway, and not wanting to stick around to take a bullet, Sadie did the only thing she could. She ran.
Racing to the end of the building, she ran around the side and turned toward the street. Footsteps pounded behind her, making her run even faster. If she could make it to the front of the tavern, surely someone would be there to help, or she might make it back inside before being shot dead.
As she rounded the corner, she plowed into a soft, pudgy man. He staggered backward and fell to the ground with a grunt, still holding her, his hands gripping her arms.
Afraid the gun-toting attacker would round the corner at any moment, Sadie yelled, “Let go of me.” She struggled to get free, but couldn’t untangle herself.
* * *
By the time Hank made it to the hallway where the restrooms were located, his gut told him something wasn’t right. The door to the ladies room opened and a woman exited, frowning at him.
“Was there another woman in there with you?” he asked.
Her frown deepened. “No.” She scurried past him and ducked back into the barroom.
Hank shoved the door open to the ladies room. “Sadie?” The room was empty, and every alarm bell inside Hank rang loud and clear. Back in the hallway, he noticed an exit sign over the door at the end. Without hesitating, he rushed toward it and burst out into the night. The alley was empty, but a woman’s voice sounded from around the front of the building.
“Let go of me!”
Dear God, it was Sadie.
Hank sprinted for the front of the building and found Sadie struggling to her feet, the cameraman from earlier that day on his knees, trying to stand.
Closing the distance between them, Hank pulled Sadie into his arms and hugged her briefly and then shoved her behind him. Rage fueling him, he grabbed the collar of the photographer and jerked him to his feet. “Go inside, Sadie, and call 911.”
“But I didn’t—” the man stammered. “I was minding my own—”
Hank’s fists tightened and he half-lifted the guy off his feet.
A hand grabbed his arm, and Sadie said, “Not here.” She pulled him through the entrance to the tavern.
Hank held onto the photographer, dragging him along.
Once inside, Sadie said, “Let go of him, Hank. He didn’t do anything.”
“What do you mean?” Hank snarled at the man. “He tried to hurt you.”
“No, I ran into him, and knocked him over.” Sadie tugged at his arm. “Please, put him down.”
For a moment, Hank glared at the guy then slowly lowered him to his feet. “You better have a good story. What happened?”
“I was about to go into the tavern to find something to eat when I heard someone running around the side of the building. When I turned around, Miss McClain plowed into me, and knocked me on my ass.”
Hank glanced from the man to Sadie.
Sadie nodded. “It’s like he said. Let him go. He did me no harm.”
With a narrow-eyed glare at the man, Hank released the fist he had bunched in the front of the man’s shirt. “Leave, before I change my mind.”
The rotund photographer dove for the exit, the door slamming shut behind him.
Hank turned his attention back to Sadie.
Her face was pale and she trembled.
“Why were you outside?” Hank asked. “I thought you were in the restroom.”
“I was. When I came out, someone threw a scarf or bag over my head, stuck a gun in my back and shoved me out the back door.”
Hank’s gut clenched, and he slid an arm around her waist, cinching her to his side. “I knew I should have gone with you.”
She leaned into him, her arms circling around his neck. “I would never have thought someone would attack me in the tavern.”
“I see I can’t let you out of my sight for even a moment.” He kissed the top of her head. “Let’s report this to the sheriff. They’re going to want a full description of the assailant.”
Sadie shook her head. “It was all a blur. The man wore baggy black clothing, black gloves and a black ski mask. I couldn’t even tell what color his eyes were.” She snorted. “I was too busy running to stop and ask.”
“We have to find out who’s targeting you and put an end to it.”
“You’re telling me? I thought all I had to worry about was paparazzi showing up shooting photos of me. I’d take the photos any day. Bullets can be a little more difficult to overcome.” She leaned her forehead against his chest. “I can’t live like this.”
“Me either.” He tipped her chin up and dropped a kiss onto her lips. “Come on. Let’s talk to Joe and then go home.” Hank led her back to the bar. Joe and Fin surrounded Sadie at the bar. The bartender offered a free round, but no one felt like drinking. Especially, Hank. He’d failed her by not escorting her across the room. In such a short amount of time, she’d been accosted, and nearly kidnapped or shot. What if she hadn’t been able to knock the gun out of the man’s hand? Hank’s heart dropped to the pit of his belly, and he felt ill.