Finally Home (Home Series) by Ann Vaughn Page A

touched me, he would shoot the first man he saw.  Stay away from the window.  He said he could have taken Colt out when he was in there with Tessa.  Said he had him in his scope.  He knows you," she said to Colt, then shifted her gaze to Mike who was scowling down at her.  "He knows both of you.  Called you by name and mentioned Orion Securities."
    "We need to get her out of here," Coop said.  "Take her to a safe house."
    "I can't just shut my life down," she snapped.  "We have no clue who this guy is.  I can't just go into hiding."
    "You still don't recognize anything about his voice, the things he said?" Mike pressed.
    She shook her head.  "I don't.  I wish I did."
    Mike glanced over to Colt.  "I need a clone on her phone.  If he calls again, I want to hear it.  Lainey, stay in here with Colt.  Do not leave this room.  Coop, Whit, gear up.  Let's go see if we can find him."
    "What?!" Lainey cried, "No!  You can't go out there!"
    "This is what we do.  We'll be fine.  Stay with Colt."
    She placed her hand on his arm, and then screamed when a shot rang out, sending them all scrambling for cover.  Mike covered her with his body, his eyes scanning his men.
    "Everyone OK?"
    "Yeah, Boss, we're good," Colt answered.
    Whit and Coop were already scrambling toward the front door, guns drawn.  Police sirens could be heard approaching.  Lainey knew it was only a matter of time before her dad arrived.  She saw Whit and Coop go out the front door, her heart in her throat.  She glanced over to Colt who was still working on his computer, this time, on the floor under the desk; as much as his big body could fit under it.  She was still on the floor under Mike's body, and he had one arm curled protectively around her head, the other around her ribcage. The hardness of his body, his muscles pressed against her back, sent shivers down her spine.  He tightened his hold and she pressed closer to him, her entire body trembling.
    Mike felt her begin to tremble and tightened his arms around her.  She wasn't crying, which he was thankful for, but she was definitely in shock.  Outside, he heard the police sirens growing louder, then heard Whit and Coop identifying themselves.  He still held Lainey close, shielding her, when the front door burst open.
    "Lainey!" they heard her father yelling.
    "In here!" she called, scrambling up from under Mike when he released her.  She launched herself into her father's arms, who quickly embraced her, then set her back at arms length to study her.
    "You're bleeding, are you hurt?"
    She shook her head, puzzled, then glanced down at her blouse, seeing blood.  Eyes wide, she turned toward Mike, seeing blood running down his arm.
    "Mike!" she cried, rushing to him, to uching his arm.  "You were hit?"
    He glanced down at his bicep.  "It just grazed me."
    "But you're still bleeding.  Take your shirt off, let me see," she said, pushing his jacket off his shoulders, uncaring that Colt and her father were both watching, jaws nearly on the floor.
    "Lainey," Mike said, cupping her chin in his hand and forcing her to meet his gaze.  "I am fine."
    "You're bleeding.  It needs to be bandaged.  Stop being stubborn and let me clean it.  You may need stitches."
    "May as well do it, Boss, she isn't going to stand down," Colt chuckled.
    "That's right, I'm not.  Come up to my bathroom, I have my first aid supplies there."
    Mike scowled at her a minute longer, then gestured for her to lead the way.  Leaving Colt chuckling and her father in stunned silence, they made their way upstairs to her bathroom.  She pulled her vanity chair out and motioned for him to sit while she collected her first aid kit.  He shrugged out of h is shirt and held it in his lap, thankful he had an undershirt on so she wouldn't see his scars.
    Lainey turned back to him, seeing him sitting in her tiny vanity chair, head down.  A slight smile touched her lips, seeing him in the dainty little chair, but she quickly focused