Page 7 of Shadows Relived
A flash of irritation crossed Meaghan’s face. “Of course he did. Let me guess, he wants you to whisk me away to some safe house in D.C.”
Callen slipped his hands into his pockets, hoping to appear less… Well, just less. “He did. He feels he can arrange proper security for you there. Apparently, he’s taking this threat fairly seriously.”
“I’m sure he believes that.” She cocked her head slightly as she crossed her arms over her chest. “And he just had to call you? With all of the triple letter agencies at his fingertips, and you’re the one he decides to send?”
The words stung, but Callen kept his face neutral. “Meaghan, he believes the threats against your family are serious. He just wants to protect you.”
“He just wants to control me, you mean.” A low growl rumbled out of her. “I’m not bowing to his political paranoia, Callen. I have a life here. Responsibilities. I can’t just drop everything because he got spooked by some random threat.”
He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “Look, I know your father isn’t always the most… forthcoming… of people, but if there’s even the slightest chance that these threats are real, you need to take them seriously. Let me getyou to D.C. for a few days, and then come back. Think of it as a quick vacation.”
Meaghan’s eyes flashed with anger. “You lost the the right to tell me what to do or even make suggestions a long time ago. I’m not going with you, so tell dear ol’ Dad nice try but no dice.”
The finality in her voice was like a physical blow. He opened his mouth to argue further, but movement over Meaghan’s shoulder caught his eye. A glint of metal in the afternoon sun, barely visible between two parked cars.
Time seemed to slowdown as Callen’s training kicked in. He lunged forward, wrapping his arms around Meaghan and pulled her to the ground just as a shot rang out. The sound of shattering glass filled the air, followed by screams of panic. Meaghan’s remaining students rushed to her side, huddling against her, all shouting and covering their ears.
“Stay down!” he yelled, covering Meaghan’s body with his own as he scanned the area for the shooter. His heart pounded in his ears, adrenalin coursing through his veins.
Meaghan struggled beneath him, her voice muffled against his chest. “Callen, what?—?”
“Shooter,” he said, his tone clipped, terse as he did a frantic search for the gunman. “We need to get to cover.” He glanced around, assessing their options. People scurried in all directions, teachers grabbing kids and rushing them back inside. However, Meaghan and he—and three little kids—were exposed in the open car loop, but a row of hedges about twenty feet away held hope for cover.
“When I say go, we’re going to make a run for those bushes.” He pointed to where he needed herto go. “Stay low and don’t stop until you’re behind them. Understood?”
“Callen, the kids…”
He gave her a curt nod, gesturing to one of the boys. “Take him with you. I’ll grab the other two.” He then turned to the kindergarteners huddled around Meaghan’s side. “All right, kids. I know you’re scared, but I need you to hang tight. We’re going to get you out of here.”
He swept the young girl and small boy, holding them tight against him as he gave Meaghan a curt nod. Callen tightened his grip on the kids in his care, steeling himself for what was to come. He had to trust Meaghan to get herself and the boy in her care to the bushes. And if she was anything like the Meaghan he remembered, he knew he had nothing to worry about. That didn’t stop him from worrying, however.
“Now!” he shouted, leaping to his feet and pulling the little boy behind him.
They sprinted across the pavement, the girl in his arms pressing her face into his shoulder as she clutched to his shirt. He knew he practically dragged the little boy behind him, but there wasn’t much choice. They were too exposed.
Another shot rang out, the bullet whistling past them and embedding itself in a nearby car. Callen hunkered lower to the ground, willing Meaghan to keep up with him.
Just as they reached the hedges, a third shot echoed through the air, too close for comfort. They dove behind the bushes, Callen setting the little girl back on theground, and putting himself between the kids and the gunman.
“Everyone all right?” he asked, an urgency to his tone as he scanned everyone quickly for injuries.
Meaghan nodded as she slid her hands over the kids, making sure they were all right. “I think so.” She turned to him, grimacing. “Looks like my father was right. I’ll never hear the end of this, you know.”
Callen peered through the foliage, trying to locate the shooter, but to no avail. The car loop had descended into chaos, with parents, teachers, and children running for cover. Two vehicles had crashed into each other, and another had almost ran up on the sidewalk. In the distance, he could hear the wail of approaching sirens, but he knew he couldn’t wait for them to get here. He needed to get Meaghan out of there.
He turned back to Meaghan, his mind already streaming through next steps. “We need to move. Now. My vehicle’s across the street. If we can make it there, we can get out of here.”
Meaghan’s face was pale, but her jaw was set with determination. “Fine. You get Sophie and Willie. I’ll manage with Lucas.” She gave a curt nod. “Lead the way.”
He stared at her for a moment, ready to argue with her. He was there to get her the hell out of there before whoever threatened her father carried out that threat.
She must have known what he was about to say, because she narrowed her eyes as she leaned closer to him. “I am not leaving without the children. Not an option.”
He sucked in a breath, nodding. Well, he had been right. She hadn’t changed.
CHAPTER 5
MEAGHAN’S PULSETHUNDERED IN her ears as she crouched lower behind the hedge, one hand splayed protectively across Sophie’s trembling back while the other reached for Lucas, whose bottom lip quivered beneath a brave facade. Willie had his face buried in Callen’s shirt, sobbing so hard he hiccuped between breaths.
