Hidden in Shadows

“Where is it?” he growled into her ear.

“What do you want?”

“Your purse, your money.”

“Let me go!” She struggled against him, but he was too strong and about five inches taller than Krista.

Sirens wailed in the distance.

Her attacker shoved her aside and Krista lost her balance, banging her head on the counter as she fell to the floor.

She opened her eyes and spots cluttered her vision. Stunned and confused, she struggled to sit up and lost the battle. Collapsing against the floor, she focused on taking deep, slow breaths.

“Krista!” Natalie cried.

And the world faded to black.

FIVE

This couldn’t be happening. He’d left her for ten minutes.

Adrenaline rushing through his body, Luke gripped the door handle ready to jump from the chief’s cruiser.

Come on, come on. They couldn’t get to the shop fast enough.

The chief finally pulled into the parking lot and Luke flung open his door.

“Wait for backup,” the chief ordered.

Backup? Small-town law enforcement was no match for the likes of Victor Garcia.

“I got it.” Luke jumped out of the chief’s cruiser and bolted for the restaurant.

He reached inside his jacket and slipped out his Glock. He turned the corner to the back door and froze at the sight of Natalie kneeling over Krista.

No, he wouldn’t accept it. He couldn’t handle the possibility that Krista had been hurt…maybe even killed. His shoulder muscles tensed.

The chief rushed into the doorway, along with another cop.

“Natalie, what happened?” Luke demanded, rushing to Krista’s side.

“Out front, some guy ran out front!” Natalie shouted.

“We’ll check it out,” the chief said.

“Someone call an ambulance,” Natalie pleaded.

“It’s on the way.” Luke shoved his gun inside his jacket. Didn’t want Krista opening her eyes to see Luke hovering over her brandishing a gun.

He kneeled on the other side of Krista and gently gripped her wrist to take her pulse. Her skin was cool to the touch, but her pulse was strong and steady.

Thatta girl.

He noticed a red bump on her forehead.

“What happened?” He glanced at Natalie. She was pale, looked like she was going to pass out herself.

“Natalie, breathe,” Luke ordered. “Krista’s going to be okay.”

She had to be okay.

“Talk to me,” he prompted Natalie.

She sniffled. “Something tripped the alarm and Krista thought the girls were having problems setting it, but we got here and the door was open and the…girls! Where are they?”

Krista moaned. “Why all the shouting?”

The chief kneeled beside them. “How is she?”

“She’s coming around.” Relief settled low in Luke’s gut. He glanced at the chief. “Natalie’s worried about the girls who were working here earlier.”

“I’ll check upstairs and call their mom.”

Krista moaned and blinked her eyes open. Luke had never seen anything more beautiful in his life.

Confusion creased her forehead. “I’m on the floor.”

“That you are.” He placed her hand on her stomach. He’d been holding it while taking her pulse and hadn’t let go.

“What happened?” She touched her forehead where an ugly bruise was already forming.

“You don’t remember?” Luke asked.

“I was at the party and then, no, it’s foggy.”

She automatically reached for her silver charm at her neck. He guessed it was her touchstone.

“Where are the paramedics?” Luke whispered, glancing out the back. He couldn’t stand seeing her hurt like this, lying on the floor and probably suffering from a concussion.

The chief came downstairs. “The Sass girls are home, safe and sound.”

“Thank God,” Natalie said.

“Something tripped the alarm,” Krista said. “I remember now.”

Luke snapped his attention to her. “What else do you remember?”

“The floor, tea and glass everywhere.”