Kade Read Online Free PDF Page A

charm because the gunman finally scrambled back behind the building.
    Bree was trembling and as white as paper when Kade came off the ground and yanked her to her feet. She had been under fire before, but probably not while defenseless. Kade kept watch behind them, but he got them running toward the truck again. He also did some praying that a second gunman wasn’t near his vehicle.
    Kade fired another shot in the direction of the gunman. Maybe it would keep him pinned down long enough for them to escape.
    Maybe.
    He let go of Bree so he could take out his keys, and he pressed the button to unlock the doors. Thankfully, Bree ran without his help, and they made a beeline for the truck.
    Kade saw the gunman again, but he didn’t stop to fire. Instead, he threw open the truck door. Bree did the same on the passenger’s side, and they both dived in.
    “Watch out!” Bree shouted. “He’s coming after us.”
    “I see him,” Kade let her know.
    He lowered the window, just enough to allow himself room to fire another shot. Just enough to keep the gunman at bay for a few more seconds.
    Kade started the engine and slammed his foot on the accelerator. He didn’t exactly make a silent exit out of the parking lot. The tires howled against the asphalt, but Kade figured anyone within a quarter mile had already heard the gunfight and either reported it or run away.
    In this neighborhood, he was betting it was the latter.
    “Keep watch,” he told Bree.
    While he took out his phone, he glanced around to make sure they weren’t being followed. Then, he glanced at Bree.
    Man, she was still way too pale, and she was sucking in air so fast she might hyperventilate. In the four days he had spent with her undercover, he’d never seen her like this, and Kade hoped she could hold herself together for just a little while longer until he could get her out of there and to a doctor.
    Since he didn’t want to spend a lot of time making all the calls he needed, Kade made the one that he knew would get the ball rolling. He pressed in the number for his brother, Lt. Nate Ryland, at San Antonio police headquarters. Nate answered on the first ring because he was no doubt waiting for news about Bree.
    “I found her at the Treetop Motel,” Kade said. That alone would be a bombshell since over the past month they’d had nine false reports of Bree’s location. “But there was a gunman. Caucasian. Brown hair. About six-two. One-seventy. No distinguishing marks.”
    Nate cursed and mumbled something about Kade being a stubborn ass for not waiting for backup. “I’ll get a team out there right away,” Nate assured him, and it was the exact assurance Kade needed. “What about you? Where are you taking her?”
    “The hospital. Not here in San Antonio. I’m driving her to Silver Creek.” Kade didn’t say that too loud, though Bree no doubt heard it, anyway. “Call me if you find anything at the hotel. I’ll let you know when I have answers.”
    “I don’t want to go to a hospital,” Bree said the moment he ended the call. She was trembling, but she had her attention fastened to the side mirror, no doubt checking to see if they were being followed. “I just want to find out what happened to me.”
    So did Kade. But first he had to make sure the gunman wasn’t on their tail. Then the hospital whether she wanted to go there or not.
    While Bree was being checked out by a doctor, he could start the calls and the paperwork. It wouldn’t be pretty. He would have to explain to his boss and his brothers why he hadn’t waited for backup after receiving that anonymous tip about Bree’s location. It probably wasn’t going to fly if he told them that he had a gut feeling that she was in danger.
    And he’d been right.
    Still, gut instincts didn’t look good on paper, and he would get his butt chewed out because of it. Kade figured it would be worth it. After all, he’d gotten Bree out of harm’s way.
    Well, for now.
    “He’s not following