Page 141 of Smoke Screen
She stomped again.Again and again and again.
Gun.
It moved into her sight line and she looked down, spotted him raising his arm higher, pointing straight at Phin.
No, no, no.
She flung her right hand out, connecting with Louis’s and shoving his arm sideways, forcing his hold to loosen again just …
A.
Smidge.
Maddy stomped again.
Go.
She lunged, breaking free of his grip, and clawed for the pistol still in his hand.
Boom!
A thundering shot rang out. The bullet hit the table, sending a hunk of wood flying.
All at once, shouts filled the air and everyone leaped, all of them scrambling and closing in on her and Louis.
Phin pounced, shoving Maddy with enough force to knock her straight into a charging Secret Service agent.
He caught her, somehow keeping her—and himself—upright as the other agent guarded President Thompson, whose path to the doorway was blocked.
More yelling, all of it from behind her. She swung back, rage fueling her, sending her blood rocketing because that, that, that…fucker… Louis had held her at gunpoint.
Phin, his face red with the same fury scalding Maddy, slammed Louis against the wall, gripped his wrist and banged it. Hard. Three times.
Whap, whap, whap.
The gun tumbled free, falling to the floor. Cruz, closest to Phin, scooped it up as Zeke and Rohan moved in, ready to assist Phin.
He didn’t need the help and went to work on Louis, pummeling his gut with three quick punches.
Ouch.
The older man slumped over, his body falling into Phin as let out a groan.
Obviously, taking no chances, Phin stepped back and let the man fall to his knees.
“Down!” Phin yelled. “On your stomach!”
Movement.
Maddy swung her head. Louis Three. Rushing Phin, his gaze fixed on his target.
And, oh, that wasnothappening. She’d had enough of these Pierres.
Before Zeke and Rohan could beat her to him, she launched herself at Louis Three, throwing her weight against the much taller young man. They careened into one of the rolling chairs and—shoot—Maddy’s feet tangled with his. The chair flew backward, smacking against the wall, leaving Louis nothing to break his fall.
Going down now.
Maddy braced herself, tried to focus on not stiffening and rolling through the landing. He landed on his side, his elbow taking a hit when Maddy crashed on top of him.
