aiming lower for softer areas. She fired, and the man howled, going to the ground.
The second man shoved the first aside, firing wildly. Kelsey ducked behind the cabinets. She heard the discharge of Logan’s firearm and her heart leapt into her throat.
No vest.
“Kelsey,” Logan barked.
“Yes.” She leaned out.
The balcony doors were open, shining light on two downed men.
She scrambled to her feet, her gun aimed at the intruders as she glanced at Logan.
He was okay.
He was fine.
He hadn’t gotten shot that she could see.
She said a silent prayer of thanks to the universe.
“You okay?” She moved toward the bodies.
“Fine.”
“They’re both dead,” she said.
“Get ready. We have to get out of here,” he said.
Shots rang out nearby.
The other apartments. Harper, Evan, and Felecia.
“Fuck,” she muttered.
“Kelsey,” Logan snapped.
She had to take care of herself first. She couldn’t help someone else if she got shot full of bullets.
As much as it killed her, she rushed into the bedroom.
Logan was already strapping on a Kevlar vest. She grabbed the bigger, bulker vest and got it on over her clothes, then pulled on her jacket.
“You have a bag?” He tossed the big black duffle over a shoulder.
She hefted her little one. “Just enough.”
“Let’s get the others and go.”
“I’ll follow you.”
More shots.
She prayed the others were putting up a fight, and that they hadn’t been caught unaware.
Logan led the way out of his apartment.
The breezeway was well-lit and empty.
Footsteps pounded the pavement.
Logan swept his arm out, pushing her behind him.
The damn man was going to get himself killed.
“TL?” Harper called out.
“You okay?” Logan’s grip on her relaxed.
“Fine. They got Kelsey.”
She stuck her head out. “I’m here.”
Another shot rang through the night.
Evan and Felecia.
The three of them took off together. Harper in the lead, Logan, then her. She glanced at the closed door of Jamie’s apartment. He was never there, but did they know that? Were there men inside right now?
Logan skidded to a stop in front of her. Kelsey nearly ran into him. She pitched sideways, holding onto his arm.
A shrill, angry sound broke the air. Felecia dove out of the front door of her apartment, swinging a baseball bat at an injured man decked out in black and tactical gear. Felecia smacked the man in the arm and shoulder, shrieking words at the guy that couldn’t possibly be English.
“Holy shit,” Harper gasped.
“What?” She turned, and that was when she saw it.
The task force building was on fire. Flames licked toward the clouds.
“We have to get out of here. Now,” Logan snapped. “Evan, stop her. Harper grab him. We need answers. Now.”
Kelsey’s training kicked in. She went to Felecia, grabbed her arm and pulled her away from the poor soul.
“Keys,” Logan called out.
Kelsey held up her hand and snatched Logan’s Jeep keys out of the air.
“Come on. Come with me.” She pulled a still-vibrating Felecia toward the Jeep.
“That, that horrible man,” Felecia raged. Her accent made her words almost impossible to make out.
Kelsey got both herself and Felecia into the back of the Jeep and the engine on.
“Are you okay?” Kelsey asked.
“Fine. I’m fine,” Felecia spat. She took a deep breath. “How are you? How are the others?”
“Start making calls.” Kelsey shoved her phone at Felecia and watched the others.
Logan and Harper grabbed the injured man and bound his hands and ankles. They dragged him to Harper’s sporty hatchback and tossed him in. A moment later Evan backed out of his apartment, two bags in hand, his gun raised.
Kelsey’s stomach leapt into her throat as she saw the muzzle fire of a gun from the other side of the breezeway.
Logan whirled and fired.
Harper dove behind the wheel of his hatchback while Evan sprinted for the Jeep.
Kelsey rolled down the window, gun up.
Logan and Evan threw themselves into the Jeep. It whipped back as three more men ran out of the shadows.
“Go! Go!” Felecia chanted.
Kelsey fired, and the men scattered.
“What the hell just happened?” She collapsed back onto the seat, her heart racing.
They’d come close. So close tonight.
What the hell was going on?
TUESDAY. LOGAN MULLER’S Apartment. Washington, DC.
Logan kept close to Harper’s car, watching for any shadow or movement. If possible, Logan would have preferred for someone to ride with Harper and keep an eye on their captive. But they’d all been on auto-pilot, just trying to get away.
Logan glanced in the rearview mirror at Felecia and Kelsey. They’d begun calling everyone.
“Is Zora answering?” he asked.
“Not yet.” Kelsey held up a finger. “Tabby? Tabby, it’s Kelsey. Is Jamie there? Are you both okay?”
“Diha and her family are