Page 8 of The Norcross Rescue

“Kristine, sit down,” a man nearby whispered.

“I can’t breathe. I need…I need…”

Brynn looked to her left. A young man and a woman were standing nearby. The woman wore a pretty blue dress and had pale blonde hair. The man had neatly styled dark blonde hair. His worried gaze was on the woman.

One look, and Brynn could tell the woman was a breath away from a panic attack.

“It’s going to be okay.” Brynn took the woman’s hand. “Slow your breathing.”

“I can’t.” Her blue eyes were wide, pupils blown. “It’s not going to be okay.”

Brynn squeezed her fingers. “Look at my face.”

The woman’s eyes met Brynn’s. Brynn gave her an encouraging smile. “It is going to be okay, I promise. What’s your name?”

“K-Kristine.”

“Is this your boyfriend?”

“Fiancé,” Kristine murmured. “Ben.”

Ben swallowed and slid his arm around Kristine. “I work here.”

“Any idea what these guys want?” Brynn whispered.

He shook his head.

Kristine made a small, frightened sound. “No one knows what’s happening. What if they shoot us all?”

“That’s not going to happen. And trust me, the police will be here before you know it.”

Kristine swallowed. “You mean that?”

“I do.” Brynn lowered her voice. “My husband got out. He’ll get help.”

Relief crossed the couple’s faces. Kristine dragged in a shaky breath.

“You’re doing great, Kristine,” Brynn said. “Deep slow breaths. That’s it.”

The woman calmed a little, although her face was still impossibly pale. “Thank you.”

Brynn nodded.

“Hey, no talking!” One of the intruders, wearing a dog mask, shoved the butt of his rifle into Ben’s side.

Kristine cried out and the man moved the gun to hit her.

Brynn grabbed the butt and pushed it away. “She’s scared. Take it easy. She just needs a minute.”

The man lunged forward. “No talking.”

“Leave her alone,” Ben said. “She’s pregnant.”

The man’s dark gaze dropped to Brynn’s stomach and he hesitated. “Just be quiet.”

Suddenly, there was a commotion. Wolf dragged Carolyn out of the office, moving so quickly she almost stumbled and fell. He shoved the woman to her knees in front of the guests, then lifted his gun and pointed it at Carolyn’s chest.

Oh no. Brynn tensed.