you tomorrow in the office, Addy. Bye, Lisa.”
Addison stopped her paralegal with a brush on her arm. “Wendall is the number-one suspect at the moment, but nothing is certain. He may not be behind these attacks. Be careful, Rach.”
“I will be. Call if you need anything.” Rachel gave a final wave and left.
Lisa shoved her towel back into her gym bag. “Let’s get out of here. It’s the end of the day for me, and I’m ready to get home to my girls.”
“I don’t blame you.” Addison slung her gym bag over her shoulder. “It’s getting late. Jason is probably outside waiting for me. He’s been sticking close by since the attack at my house.”
The two women meandered through the exercise equipment on the main floor. Addison waved goodbye to Rachel on the treadmill before stepping outside. The crisp air cooled her heated cheeks. She shrugged on her jacket, her gaze swinging toward Jason’s vehicle. The handsome veteran was leaning against his SUV. He pushed off and started crossing the parking lot toward her, a wide smile on his face.
Addison’s heart skipped a beat. Lisa hummed her approval and whispered something about chemistry.
Jason’s gaze flickered to something behind Addison. A flash of panic crossed his face as a roar cut through the quiet afternoon. Addison spun in time to see a truck barreling down on her and Lisa.
Instinctively, Addison shoved her best friend out of the way. Lisa tumbled to the ground, rolling under a van. Addison ran to avoid the oncoming vehicle. The truck’s engine roared as the driver punched the gas. He swerved.
Putting Addison squarely in his path.
Sixteen
Jason counted the distance to Addison in heartbeats, even as his mind absorbed details. One heartbeat. The truck was black with a front grill. Mud covered the license plate and sunlight glinted off the windshield, hiding the driver from view.
Two heartbeats. Jason’s combat boots pounded against the pavement and the pins in his leg protested the impact. His gaze narrowed to Addison. The tilt of her body, the distance until she was free of the truck’s path, the rate at which the vehicle was barreling down on her. Combat skills, buried but not forgotten, took over. They were as instinctive as breathing.
Three heartbeats. Jason hooked his arm around Addison’s waist and then twisted away from the truck’s path, lifting her off her feet. Momentum carried them into a parked sedan. Jason’s body slammed into the unyielding metal door, pain shooting up his elbow, but his grip around Addison’s waist remained firm.
The black truck whizzed past them. Tires squealing, it shot out of the other side of the parking lot and sped toward the highway.
Jason sucked in a breath. White-hot agony vibrated along his side and arm, but he ignored it. His gaze swept the parking lot, searching for any other potential dangers, before settling on the woman in front of him. “Addison, are you hurt?”
She trembled in his arms and blinked, but then her gaze focused on his face. “I’m alive, thanks to you. Are you okay?”
“Fine.” His elbow wasn’t broken, just bruised. Jason had suffered enough injuries to know the difference. He held Addison at arm’s length and scanned her, checking for injuries. Adrenaline could mask pain. But true to her word, she appeared unharmed.
Thank you, God. Even as he gave thanks, Jason mentally berated himself. The truck had approached from the left, and because of the damage to his hearing, Jason hadn’t noticed the vehicle until it was closing in on Addison and Lisa.
“Lisa.” Addison sucked in a breath. She pulled away from Jason and yelled, “Lisa!”
“I’m here. I’m okay.” Lisa leaned heavily on the hood of a nearby van. Her face was contorted with obvious pain. “What just happened?”
“Someone tried to run over us. That’s what.” Addison raced to the other woman’s side. “You’re hurt.”
“It’s nothing serious. Bruised my hip and shoulder when I hit the ground.” She grabbed Addison’s hand. “If you hadn’t pushed me—”
“Let’s not think about that right now. The important thing is no one was seriously hurt.”
Jason assessed Lisa’s injuries. Her clothing was torn, and although she was bleeding from a long scrape on her arm, the wound appeared superficial. “Did you bang your head on the ground, Lisa? Are you having any trouble breathing?”
“I’m fine.” She pushed off the van, waving her hands dismissively. “Really. Don’t fuss over me.”
Rachel came running out of the gym with a cell phone in her hand. “I’ve called 911. They’re sending police and an ambulance.”
Lisa swayed. Jason