Standby (Open Skies Book 4) by Becca Jameson (popular e readers .TXT) 📕

with relief. Or maybe she was dead and dreaming that he’d come for her.

“Yes. Sweetheart. It’s me. You’re safe.” He pulled her close and then kissed her forehead before holding her back a few inches with his hands on her shoulders. “I need you to wait for me right here. Don’t move.”

“Why? Let’s get out of here. He’s crazy, Jake.”

“I know, but he can’t get away with this. We have to stop him.”

She shook her head, frantic. “No. Please. Let’s just go.”

Someone shouted, and then a gun went off.

Shayla screamed.

Jake pulled her into the trees, yanked her down low, and gripped her face. “Stay right here. Do not move unless your life depends on it. Got it?”

“Yes.”

He released her and took off running toward the cabin. She realized she could see better now that her eyes had adjusted to the darkness. The cabin was lit slightly from the fireplace. Smoke was coming out of the door and the broken window. There was a commotion inside. More than one person. Not just Hawke.

Jake was running toward the cabin, so he wasn’t the other one inside. Finally, she realized he hadn’t come here alone.

She dropped to her knees on the cold ground and watched in horror as Jake entered the cabin. Another shot rang out, startling her so badly she fell backward. She scrambled to her feet, thinking she needed to help Jake. What if he was shot?

She took two steps and then stopped herself. He’d told her not to move. There were still people flashing in front of the window. She could see them. Maybe no one had been shot.

Flashing lights coming from behind her made her jerk around to look over her shoulder. Police. Two cars. No sirens. She’d never been more relieved to see a cop car.

They came to a stop a few yards from her, four people exiting with their guns drawn.

“I’m over here,” she shouted, hoping they would hear her and not accidentally shoot her.

Two men turned toward her. “Shayla Cosman?”

“Yes,” she yelled back as she stepped into their line of sight. She pointed at the cabin. “My boyfriend and another man went inside. There were shots. Two of them.” She was rambling, frantic.

“Okay. Get in the squad car, ma’am.” They rushed by her, and she took a step closer to the vehicle but didn’t enter it. There was no way she could climb in and sit still while Jake was in the cabin fighting with Hawke.

“Hands in the air,” one of the cops shouted as he reached the door. “Put your fucking hands in the air,” he screamed louder.

There were several seconds of silence, and then another shot was fired.

Shayla jumped, panic climbing up her spine. “No,” she screamed as she ran toward the cabin. She would never be able to live with herself if Jake was shot. All she could picture was Hawke, surrounded and trapped, shooting Jake.

“Stay back, ma’am,” one of the cops yelled.

But she kept running. She needed to see Jake. Make sure he was okay. “Jake,” she screamed as she approached the cabin.

One of the cops reached out and grabbed her, holding her as she fought to get free. “No,” she yelled.

Two cops rushed into the smoky cabin. The third one remained at the entrance, gun drawn.

“Stay the fuck down,” she heard someone yell. “Down! Hands behind your back where I can see them.”

Her heart raced as she prayed Hawke hadn’t shot anyone.

Suddenly, Jake stepped outside, scanned the area, and then jogged the last few feet toward her until he finally had her in his arms.

She started crying hysterically, jerking against his grip. “You’re okay?”

“Yes. I’m fine.” He didn’t release her.

“But there were shots. I was scared out of my mind.”

“I’m not hit.” He gave her a shake. “Shayla. I’m okay. Look at me.”

She leaned back, tears making it hard for her to see.

“I need you to stay outside, sweetheart. Please. Let me go see to Hatch.”

“Jason? Is that who’s with you?”

“Yes.”

Her eyes went wide. “Did he get shot?”

“Just a graze on his arms. He’ll be fine. Didn’t even slow down.”

“And Hawke?”

“The police have him in cuffs. He can’t hurt you now. I don’t want you anywhere near him though. I want you to stay here.”

She nodded. “Okay.”

“I’ll be right back. There’s an officer two feet away. Nothing is going to happen to you. It’s over.”

“Okay. Okay.” Her voice was a whisper, but she stiffened her spine so he would know she was fine.

He went back inside.

She stood there shivering, the cold finally getting to her now that she wasn’t in a panic to escape.

“Ma’am?” the officer closest to her said. “Why don’t you get in the cruiser? It’s still running. It’s warm.”

“I should wait for Jake.”

“He’ll be out in a moment. You’re freezing.”

She nodded and glanced at the cabin. Her knees were about to give out. The officer was right. There was nothing she could do anyway, and going inside the cabin was out of the question.

She backed up and then turned and headed for the first police car. The only other car around had to be Hawke’s. How did Jake and Jason get here? She winced as she climbed into the back seat of the cruiser. Her backside hurt.

It seemed like forever before anyone came out of the cabin, and she was relieved to see Jake with Jason next to him. Jake glanced around. The cop next to the door pointed toward Shayla, and Jake nodded and made his way toward her. When he reached her door, he opened it and climbed in as she scooted across the back seat, wincing again.

He pulled her against his chest. “Scared me to death, sweetheart.”

“Me too.”

He chuckled. “I bet.”

She glanced out the window in time to see two of the cops dragging a reluctant Hawke toward the other squad car.

Hawke looked in her direction as he passed, his face one of rage and revenge. She could swear he would kill her right now if he had the chance.

She shuddered as he moved out