Page 26 of Her Elusive Cowboy Billionaire

The performers took their second bow.

Meri jumped up and took Alexandra’s hand.“Let’s go, sweetie.We have to beat Uncle Chase back to the car or we don’t get ice cream on the way home.”

Chase squeezed her shoulder but didn’t take his gaze off the man.

Meri heard a sharp crack that echoed around the arena and felt a burning pain on the left side of her back.

People were running towards her, screaming about the shooter.

Someone had shot her.But she mustn’t let Alexandra know.Using her right hand, Meri grabbed the child’s left hand and continued up the stairs toward the exit.

The people in her section scrambled out of their seats, heading for the exits.

The show sounded like it ended suddenly.

Meri had been to the ice show many times and now knew it by heart.They could bring Alexandra another time, but now she had to get her out of here.

Her back no longer burned, but instead, she felt pain.She wrapped her left arm around her stomach to ease the pain.

Isaac snatched up Alexandra.“We need to hurry, before that madman comes after you.Chase will hold him off as much as possible.We need to get out of here first.”He held Alexandra in his left arm and put his right arm around Meri.She was glad of the support because she wasn’t sure she could make it otherwise.

The screams of panic sounded all around her.The floor shook as the show goers ran for the exits.

Isaac effortlessly carried Alexandra and practically carried Meri.By the time they reached the limo, Isaac had to buckle Alexandra into her car seat since Meri was incapable of doing it.

Meri slid into her seat next to the door.She needed to lean against the side.Luckily, the seats in the limo were black leather and her blood didn’t show on them.

“Meri?”Alexandra’s little voice quavered.“Why’re you leaning against the door?Are you tired?”

“Yes, sweetie.That’s it, I’m tired.”

Isaac climbed in, buckled up and then turned to look at Meri.“I’ll drive around to the front of the building and wait for Chase.”

As if he’d heard his name, Chase bustled into the car.

Meri struggled to keep her eyes open.“How’d you find us?”

“I was close enough not to be left behind.There are only so many places that you can park a limo, and I followed you out after making sure he didn’t follow.The crowd swallowed him up.How he got in, how he knew we would be there and where we were, I may never know.To the warehouse, Isaac.I’ll call the doctor and have him meet us there.”

“Yes, sir.”

Meri wondered why he was taking her to a warehouse and what doctor did he have on call?Who has a doctor on call, anyway?

“Uncle Chase.Meri’s sleepy.”

He smiled at his niece.“So she is.”He pulled his phone out of his pocket and pressed a button.“Yes, be at the warehouse in ten minutes scrubbed for surgery.A gunshot wound.”

He listened.

“I know we haven’t had one in a while, but I don’t want the police to know about this right now.I’ll explain later.”

He listened again,

“Thanks.See you soon.”He pressed to disconnect and turned to Meri.“You hanging in there?We’ll be with the doctor soon and get you to feeling better.”

People were jamming the parking lot as they tried to get out.Running in front of the limo and other cars to get to their own.Finally, after ten minutes in the crush of traffic, the limo sped up.Once they exited the parking lot, they reached the warehouse in just ten minutes.

Meri could only feel the pain, but she was so sleepy.She didn’t care where they were going.Chase would take care of her.