Yael had watched in horror as flames formed a wall behind Laura. Then the video feed died, no doubt killed by the fire, which melted the wires and fried the computer circuits.

Her earpiece let out a loud screech and she yanked it out of her ear. Damn. Either the fire had melted something important or EG had enabled some sort of device designed to block law enforcement communication.

“Dammit.”

What had happened? Shane had found Laura, but was she all right? Was Shane?

The thought of something happening to him made her want to scream. She’d seen EG in action before. She’d watched a member of HRT’s elite team die the last time they’d tried to apprehend the guy because they’d underestimated his hateful cunning.

The idea of losing Shane hit her with the force of a sledgehammer. She’d been so busy trying to protect herself from the danger of falling for him that she hadn’t realized it was already too late. She cared about him more than she’d cared about anyone in a very long time.

She should have told him. Who cared if he ran screaming in the other direction? At least that would be an honest reaction. At least she’d have been brave for once in her life.

Her computer was useless right now. The feed dead. There was nothing left for her to track. But Ethan Grice, the self-styled Evi1Geni-us, was nearby and he was probably pissed, and he was definitely dangerous. She remembered him firing the assault rifle at her a couple of nights ago. Unlike Alex’s SUV, this vehicle wasn’t bulletproof.

She glanced at the school, the scene of all her worst nightmares.

She didn’t want to ever feel as helpless as she had on that day fifteen years ago. She didn’t want to be a sitting duck, too scared to defend herself.

Her hand shook as she slipped it into the seat pocket and retrieved Shane’s parting gift. The weapon was heavy and lethal-looking. Gore rose up in her throat until she eased the sensation with another firm swallow and deep calming breath.

It was a tool. Nothing more.

She slipped the handgun into the waistband at the back of her jeans, feeling unnerved from the touch of the cool resin. She leaned forward and scooped the electronic key fob from the console so, even with the engine running, if anyone attempted to steal the car they wouldn’t get far. She opened the door and got a fierce face full of winter as she struggled against the blustery wind.

She locked the door behind her and stuffed the fob into her jeans pocket.

If EG escaped because of her inaction, she would never forgive herself. If he hurt any of her friends, especially the man she’d stupidly gone and fallen for, well, she couldn’t bear to think about it.