Interrupted Lullaby by Dana R. Lynn

Author:Dana R. Lynn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-11-05T16:00:00+00:00

TEN

“Dan? Dan!” Maggie grabbed at his arms. He pushed her back. She grabbed again and bodily dragged him behind a hot sausage vendor and into an alley. No one appeared to pay any mind to them. The crowd was too busy oohing and ahhing over the dazzling fireworks. Any other time she would have been doing the same. But right now all her attention was focused on the man in front of her. Her heart ached at the lost look on his face. That strong face that was now twisted in anguish.

“Can’t,” he gasped.

“Dan?”

“Can’t get her out. My fault. She’s gonna die. My fault. Should have gotten here faster. Should have...”

“Dan! Snap out of it! No one’s caught! No one’s dying.” Maggie grabbed on to his jacket and shook him, gently at first, then harder when he didn’t react. “Dan! Look at me. Please? It’s me, Maggie.”

At her name, he looked down at her as if seeing her from a distance. He frowned. Then his eyes widened, horrified.

“Maggie?” His arms reached up to grab on to her wrists. She hadn’t realized she was still gripping his jacket. “What happened? Where are we?”

She was reluctant to answer. Some inner feeling told her he knew exactly what had happened, but he was too ashamed to discuss it.

“The fireworks started and you had some sort of, um, I think it was a flashback?” Her sentence ended on a question. She had never encountered a person caught in a flashback before, although she had read about them. “I dragged you into an alley. I don’t think anyone saw us.”

His head flopped forward, rested on the top of her head. He heaved a sigh that stirred her bangs. “I was afraid that would happen. Fireworks are one of my triggers.”

Leaning back so she could see him, she pulled one wrist from his grasp. He lifted his head slightly but stilled when she ran her free hand down the side of his face. It was a tender gesture, one she used to calm the twins when they were upset. When she realized what she had done, she was shocked and started to withdraw her hand. He caught it again. Keeping her hand in his, he started walking down the alley.

She tugged him to a stop. He avoided her eyes.

“Dan, tell me what happened. Please?”

His mouth tightened. He tilted his face so that his expression was hidden, but she was relentless. Bending, she moved so she was in his line of vision. Oh, the poor man. His pain was almost tangible.

“I don’t speak of it. Ever.”

“You need to. Honestly, Dan, I understand the macho image thing. But you’re a cop...you can’t afford for this to happen if you hear a gun shot in the line of duty.”

He reared back. She had struck a nerve. Good. It pained her to hurt him, but he needed to admit that he needed help.

“Fine, but we need to keep moving. Every moment we stand still is a moment more we give the enemy to find us.

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