Lennon made an annoyed noise. “Crap, we should—”

“Stop!” a voice yelled from behind them.

“—run,” Lennon finished.

She took off, Lennon beside her. They needed a car. Or, at the very least, they needed to lose this officer.

They turned another corner.

She cursed.

There was nothing but open space in front of them. A park, with a dirt walking path, and a few small trees. They needed a crowded street. To get lost in a rush of people.

Maisie pulled her gun out of her waistband. She didn’t want to use it—the sound would only attract attention—but she didn’t have a choice.

She dared a glance over her shoulder. The officer pumped his arms, feet flying over the pavement, his brow lowered in fury. He was gaining on them.

He stopped. He lifted his arm, pointing his Taser at her. His lip curled.

She stopped, and aimed her gun.

She wasn’t fast enough.

The shock rocketed through Maisie’s body like a bolt of lightning. She gasped, and swayed.

The world went black.

LENNON

LENNON DOVE FORWARD to catch Maisie. She landed heavily in his arms, and he grunted as he struggled to keep his balance.

The officer aimed his Taser at Lennon. He winced, bracing for impact.

The jolt hit him. He jerked as the current of electricity passed through him. It was uncomfortable, but it subsided quickly.

The officer frowned, and slowly lowered his Taser. He stared at Lennon.

He reached for the other gun in his pocket.

Shit. That was a real gun, with real bullets.

Lennon dropped Maisie as gently and quickly as he could. He grabbed her gun from the ground. The safety was already off.

He winced and aimed low, for the legs. The first bullet ricocheted off the ground. The officer took quick steps forward, aiming his gun at Lennon’s head. He was approaching fast. Too fast.

Lennon fired again. And again. The officer yelled and hit the ground only a few feet from him, clutching his leg. His gun skittered across the pavement.

Lennon grabbed it, and then used his own gun to whack the officer across the head. He collapsed with a grunt.

“Sorry!” Lennon yelled, reaching down to scoop up Maisie. He shoved both guns in his waistband, barely remembering to put the safety on before he did. Maisie would never let him live it down if he shot himself.

He caught a glimpse of something shiny around the officer’s neck, and he knelt down, pulling it over the man’s head. He put it around his own neck. There was a chance that they could use it to track him, but it was a risk he was going to have to take. Clearly, he couldn’t move through the city without one.

He took off as fast as he could with Maisie in his arms, glancing at the officer behind him. Still motionless. He went back the way they’d come, away from the park with all its dangerous open spaces.