text: Head bowed and eyes closed, Blaine finished her prayer. The heaviness she'd carried in her heart for the past decade lifted. She could almost feel her dad's love and acceptance wrap around her. Now it was time to go.
  
  Blaine glanced into Jack's face. He'd knelt next to her the whole time she'd silently spoken to her dad. "I'm ready."
  
  With her hand in his, Jack stood, drawing her up with him. "Then, let's—"
  
  A loud pop sounded. Tiny pieces of the headstone struck her skin. Jack yanked her behind the stone marker and pushed her head down.
  
  "Jack, what—"
  
  "Somebody just took a shot at us."
  
  "Who?"
  
  "I don't know."
  
  He pressed a single finger to his lips, a sign to stay quiet, then he leaned to look around the side of the headstone. Another bullet hit the marker. More dust and stones met the air. She pressed a hand to her mouth to stop her cry as Jack jerked back.
  
  "We need to get out of here. I'm going to act as your shield, and we're going to run to the church." Jack spoke in a low, calm voice. "The moment we're inside, I want you to grab your purse from the pew and call the police. Then we'll barricade ourselves inside one of the rooms until they get here."
  
  Blaine focused on her breathing. If Jack was calm, she would be too. "Alex is close. He'll be here soon."
  
  Jack slid a pointed look at her. "No bodyguard would allow a shooter to get off two shots before acting. He didn't park that far away."
  
  "Maybe Alex didn't get a chance to act yet."
  
  "Maybe." Jack's expression didn't hold any hope. "But we're not waiting for him. Once we move, we keep going. Stay low and run, got it?"
  
  And he'd act as her shield. She hated the idea, but they didn't have a whole lot of options. She didn't want to risk their babies any more than Jack would. She nodded.
  
  "Good." Jack gave her a quick kiss, then tugged her forward.
  
  Bullet after bullet hit the ground around them. None came close enough to hit them. The thought skipped through her mind. The shooter was playing with them.
  
  Jack opened the door to the church. The moment she was inside, several shots fired in rapid succession. Jack grunted and fell backward. Blood sprayed. Another bullet hit the ground next to him. He jerked his leg, scooching backward, away from the open door.
  
  "Jack!" Blaine took a step toward him.
  
  "Back." The harshly spoken order stopped her from going to his aid. He dragged himself behind the closest gravestone as more bullets hit the spot where he'd just been.
  
  Blaine gripped the inside of the doorframe. She had a perfect view of where Jack crouched behind the stone marker. Blood dripped from his arm, his side, and his thigh. She covered her mouth. "Jack."
  
  With his hand pressed to the wound on his thigh, he focused hardened eyes on her. "Dig your cell out of your purse, call the police, and get yourself somewhere safe. Do it now."
  
  Seven, maybe eight feet separated them. "But you—"
  
  "Leave the door open. I'll get in as soon as I can."
  
  Blaine focused on the blood dripping around his fingers and running down his leg. There shouldn't be that much blood. He was hurt. Because of her. He'd been acting as her shield.
  
  She blinked past the tears blurring her vision and ran into the building, snatching her purse from where she left it and moving closer to the windows, where she could get a signal. The moment her call connected, she gave the operator the details, then disconnected the call without waiting to hear his instructions. Movement caught her eye.
  
  Blaine focused on the bell tower. From this angle, she could just see the open tower, and the shooter standing on the landing near the bells.
  
  Alex aimed his gun in the direction of the cemetery. He didn't have a direct path. Trees blocked his view of where Jack crouched behind the gravestone, but Alex leaned farther out the window. Another shot went off. Blaine flicked her gaze to where Jack crouched behind the tombstone. Another cloud of dust and stone showered over the spot where he hid.
  
  The sense of betrayal choked her. Blaine's harsh breaths fed the anger building within her.
  
  Dropping her purse, she shoved her cell into her pocket and ran across the church to the corridor leading to the bell tower. She had no delusions about taking Alex out. She wasn't a fighter, but there was no way she'd allow this coward to steal the man who'd fight for her.
  
  With her heart in her throat, Blaine made her way to the ringing room. Thick, corded ropes hung from the ceiling of the stone chamber. Dark, grimy marks on the leather grips directed Blaine to the perfect spots to tug on the ropes. She grabbed the first one and yanked, over and over, until the bell clanged hard. In a rush, she tugged on the other ropes, sending all the bells into a piercing clamor, then ran, locking the door to the bell tower and the ringing room behind her.
  
  Her breath came in rough pants. Blaine pushed herself harder, running full-out through the church. She needed to see if her stunt paid off.
  
  A strong arm caught her as she neared the door leading to the cemetery. A scream crawled up her throat. The bloody hand over her mouth stopped her.
  
  "It's me, angel. I got you."
  
  "Jack!" Blaine turned in his arms just as he tumbled forward. She caught him as he fell and dropped to her knees with his weight pressing on her. "Oh God, Jack."
  
  "I'm okay." Jack's voice sounded as strong as ever. He pushed himself off her, landing hard on his ass next to her body. "Got a bullet in my leg. Deep one. Hurts like hell."
  
  "Oh, Jack." She pressed her hand hard over the spot where blood was leaking in steady rivulets from his thigh. Even with the pressure she applied, blood still leaked between her fingers and dribbled down the back of her hand. "You need a doctor."
  
  He waved her words off. "I'll be fine."
  
  Sirens blared in the background, stopping her from telling him he better be fine. Help was on the way. Then she wanted answers. Alex had better have them too, or she'd make him wish he'd never met her. One way or another, she always got her way.