It was Logan’s.
Fear for the man she loved had her turning the knob and opening the door. As silently as she could, she’d made it midway down the stairs when she heard Logan yell for someone to stop just before her back door slammed shut.
First once, and then again, a few seconds later.
Unable to keep from it, she moved as fast as she could through her living room and kitchen while also trying not to bump into a million things or trip.
After what felt like hours, she finally,finallymade it to the back door.
Not wanting to just barge outside, she looked through the storm door’s screen to her brick patio and modest back yard. At first, she didn’t see anything, but then—
Logan!
Natalie spotted her fierce warrior as he came out from behind the evergreens lining her property’s southern border. Even from here, even with nothing more than the moon to light up his face, she could tell the man was pissed.
No, not pissed.
Murderous.
And there was blood running down the length of his arm.
No!
Natalie swung open the door. Logan’s deadly gaze found hers. She opened her mouth to holler for him. She needed to know how bad he’d been hurt.
But before she could say any of those things, something shifted from behind her. At that exact same moment, Logan went from wearing a look of utter vengeance to one of complete shock and terror.
What the…
“Behind you!” Logan yelled as he took off toward her in a dead sprint.
The warning came a heartbeat too late.
Natalie had just started to turn to see the threat for herself, but the gun-wielding fist flying toward her face kept her from seeing anything other than a bright flash of light followed by her rapidly approaching kitchen floor.
“Natalie!”
She could hear Logan screaming her name, though it sounded off, thanks to the incessant ringing in her throbbing head. With tiny white stars flickering in and out of her vision and warm blood dripping down along her to her jaw, it was all she could do to stay conscious.
“Don’t youfuckingtouch her!” Logan’s growled threat sounded closer now.
So close, and yet…
“No!”
A meaty hand wrapped around her upper arm, the man it belonged to nearly pulling her shoulder out of the socket as he jerked her to her feet.
“Get up!” her attacker barked.
Something cold and hard was pressed painfully against her uninjured temple. With her thoughts having to work their way through a fog of pain and dizziness, it took Natalie a full two seconds to realize what it was.
A gun.
No!
“Stay back or I’ll shoot!” The man using her as a human shield promised.
The voice sounded familiar. How did she…