Sienna felt something whiz by her, and she sucked in a quick breath.
Was that a…?
Before the thought could fully form, Devin sprinted from the bedroom, his gun drawn. “Get down!”
She ran toward Colby and threw herself over the child on the floor.
A bullet, she realized.
Someone had shot at her and come inches from hitting her.
Her heart raced out of control.
Colby let out a cry and reached out his arms around her neck, clinging to her. Sienna clung back, praying that he wouldn’t be hurt.
Please, Lord, spare this child. He doesn’t deserve all of this. Protect him.
She found comfort in the realization that whoever was coming after them probably didn’t want to hurt Colby. But this man, no doubt, would kill Sienna in order to take Colby.
She squeezed her eyes shut at the thought.
Something touched her shoulder. A hand. Devin’s hand.
“Are you okay?” he asked, urgency on his face as he stood there with his gun drawn.
She nodded, not really sure if she was okay or not.
“Stay here,” he ordered.
A knot formed in her throat as she watched Devin dart toward the opposite wall—the direction from which the bullet had come. What if the shooter killed Devin as he tried to protect her and Colby? She could hardly stomach the thought.
Put Your hedge of protection around Devin, too, Father. Please end this madness.
How had Sienna’s life felt so normal just yesterday at this time? Other than being unable to connect with Anita, her life had continued as planned. She’d dropped Colby off at the school’s day care. She’d gone to work. Picked up Colby. Gone to dinner with Viviana at a Mexican place they’d been wanting to try out. Colby had loved munching on the free chips and had eaten an entire chicken quesadilla.
And that was the way she liked it. Sienna loved routine and schedules.
Now everything had been shaken.
Colby let out another cry, his little two-year-old mind obviously sensing that danger was near.
“It’s going to be okay,” she whispered.
He buried his head in the crook of her neck and squeezed her harder.
Maybe this was a fluke. A hunter with bad aim.
But as soon as the thought had entered her mind, another bullet cut through the wall.
Sienna sucked back a scream, unsure how this would all end.
And that thought left her feeling off balance.
* * *
Devin peered around the edge of the window, his gun drawn.
Who was out there? And just what were they planning?
Would they stand down? Or shoot until someone died?
That wasn’t acceptable.
Devin’s gaze scanned the woods behind the house. He saw the tall pine trees. The rocky boulders. A swatch of yellow wildflowers.
Was that where the gunman was? In these woods? Lingering behind a tree?
That’s what Devin would guess.
He’d also guess that the man who’d tried to snatch Colby had been hunting for them all night. Maybe he’d found this location. Seen Devin’s car parked behind it and realized this was where they were.
He probably had a scope on his gun now that allowed him to see inside, and he’d spotted them.
But he wasn’t a good shot. Otherwise, Sienna would be injured right now—if not worse.
Devin scanned the woods again, and his gaze stopped on a glare in the distance.
There. There he was.
Devin couldn’t see a face. No, only a shadow.
And the glare must have come from the scope of the gun.
Colby let out another wail behind him, tightening Devin’s nerves even more.
Whoever was doing this should be ashamed. Scaring a child like this should be a crime.
And Devin wouldn’t let anything happen to Colby. Not if it was the last thing he did.
He positioned his gun, lining it up with the glare of the scope. He held his breath before releasing it slowly, deliberately.
And then he pulled the trigger and listened as the sound echoed across the mountains.
The glare disappeared.
Had he hit him?
Devin squinted, trying to see better.
The shadow was moving, he realized.
Moving away from the cabin.
“Stay here!” Devin yelled.
“Devin!” Sienna called.
He paused for long enough to glance back at them as they took shelter behind the kitchen counter. His heart lurched with grief for them and what they were going through.
“Be careful,” Sienna said. “Please.”
He nodded and took off.
He had reservations about leaving Sienna and Colby. But if he left now, he might be able to catch this guy and end this once and for all. That was the best-case scenario.
He stepped outside into the brisk early-summer air, his entire body on alert. Normally, the scent of pines would invigorate him. Right now, it put him on full alert.
Carefully, he kept himself concealed by one of the posts on the porch. He scanned the tree line again.
There! There was the gunman.
The man moved through the woods, going away from the cabin. Around him, birds had stopped chirping.
Devin sprinted from the porch.
Just as he did, another bullet shot through the air, hitting near his feet. His pulse sped, but he kept going.
He reached the area where the man had been hiding and knelt on the ground.
Blood. There was blood here. Not a life-threatening amount, but enough.
Devin had hit the man and injured him. Maybe not enough to stop him from running, but enough to slow him down.
Devin started through the woods, trying to catch him.
But as he took a step, another shot rang out.
This guy didn’t want to be caught.
Devin hunkered down behind a huge, rocky boulder.
Another bullet split into the tree beside him, sending splinters of wood flying through the air.
Devin raised his gun and waited until he spotted the figure clothed in black. When he knew he had the shot, he fired back.
A moan cut through the air.
Devin had hit the man again. If he moved quickly, he could catch him. End this. Get the answers they so desperately sought.
Crouching, he moved from his shelter.
He heard the sound of steps ahead of him. Quickly moving steps.
The man was fleeing.
But before he could make headway, he heard an engine start. His heart rate kicked up a notch, and he took off in a run. Before he reached the man, a door slammed and a car sped away.
Devin took off in a run after it.
But he was too late. The car was gone.
He ran back to the cabin, anxious to check on Sienna and Colby.
He prayed they were okay. He desperately prayed—more desperately than he had in a long, long time. He couldn’t lose someone else entrusted to his care and protection.
* * *
Sienna hunkered down behind the breakfast bar, still bouncing Colby in her arms.
Dear Lord, please help us. Protect Devin. Protect us. Help us figure out this mess—and get through it alive.
Colby let out another cry.
“Shh,” she whispered. “It’s going to be okay, baby boy. It’s going to be okay.”
But nothing felt okay. Nothing.
Images pummeled her. Images of Devin being shot. Being killed. Of the gunman making his way inside to finish Sienna off before snatching Colby away.
Her heart thumped so hard she could feel it in her throat.
No, she had to stay positive. Had to think the best.
Devin was going to get this guy. They’d get some answers. And this would be over.
Yet she had little hope that was true.
She’d heard the bullets. She’d felt the one that had pierced their fortress—the cabin. Had one of those other bullets hit anyone?
She couldn’t stand not knowing.
Why was someone so desperate for this baby?
Even if her theory was true and the man behind this was Colby’s birth father, why go to such desperate measures? Why not just take it to the court?
Unless the man was so dangerous, he knew he didn’t stand a chance there.
She clutched Colby tighter.
The thought hadn’t comforted her. Not by any stretch.
As Colby got quiet for a moment, Sienna listened.
She heard nothing.
What was going on out there?
More than anything she wanted to go to the window. To see for herself. To have an inkling of what was coming.
But she couldn’t risk it.
The minutes ticked by.
She squeezed her eyes shut and said another prayer. Please, protect Devin.
She believed in prayer and how God could change things when His people came before Him. She’d grown up going to church, but her relationship with God had only become real to her in the past year. After Jackson had left her, she’d had no choice but to rely on the fact that God had a better plan for her.
And He had.
Still, she couldn’t stand the thought of something happening to Devin because of her. She never should have gotten him involved. Then again, she’d never asked for his help. He’d volunteered it, and she’d hardly been able to say no.
A moment later, she heard the door open.
Her spine tightened.
Who was it? The gunman?
She pulled Colby closer.
Heard a footfall. Labored breathing. A pause.
“Sienna?” someone called.
Her breath caught. Devin. That was Devin…she thought.
A moment later, a shadow appeared over her. She lifted her gaze, almost afraid to see who was there.
Relief flushed through her.
Devin.
It was Devin.
She nearly turned into a puddle right there on the floor.
Before she could, Devin took her elbow and pulled her to her feet.
“You’re okay,” she muttered.
“I am. But we have to get out of here. Our location has been compromised. Grab Colby’s things and let’s go.”