People ran out of the Norcross office. There was more gunfire, then the sound of a car speeding away.

Dad. Oh, God. “My dad.”

“Stay down until it’s safe,” Vander growled.

“Clear.” Rhys’ voice.

Vander leaped off her and pulled her to her feet. “Ace, stay with her.”

Ace wrapped an arm around her waist. Frantically, she peered ahead. Her father was sprawled on the pavement.

“Dad.” She pushed against Ace’s arm, but he was strong and held her in place.

“Just wait, querida.”

Vander and Rhys knelt by her father. Then Rhys rose, cell phone pressed to his ear.

“Ace.” Her voice trembled.

“Hold on.”

She bit her lip, tears burning her eyes. Then, with a rough jolt, she broke free and ran.

Ace’s Portuguese curses echoed behind her.

Vander saw her coming and intercepted her. He caught her against his hard body.

“Vander.” She met his dark gaze. “Let me help him.”

Vander stared at her for a beat, then nodded.

They crouched beside her father. Together, they rolled him over, and bile rose in her throat. There was so much blood.

“Put pressure on his wounds,” Vander ordered.

Vander pulled her dad’s jacket off. She wadded it up and pressed it over the horrible wounds in his chest.

Harlow fought back tears. His blood was warm on her hands. “Hang on, Dad. It’s going to be okay.”

“Ambulance is on the way,” Rhys said.

Vander touched Harlow’s arm. “We’re going to get him to the hospital, Harlow.”

She nodded. “He’s going to be okay, right?”

Vander’s mouth flattened, and a sob caught in her throat.

“I’ll call Easton,” Vander said quietly. “Tell him to meet us at Saint Francis.”

She nodded, tears spilling down her cheeks.

Then Vander gripped the back of her neck and squeezed.

She sniffed, holding on by a thread. She couldn’t lose it.

“Damn glad my brother found a woman with beauty, smarts, and strength,” Vander said.

She bit her lip and nodded.

It wasn’t long before she heard the wail of sirens. She kept the pressure on, and then heard the paramedics talking to Vander, and the rattle of a gurney.

“Move back, Harlow,” Vander said.

She swallowed. “I can’t.” She felt frozen, ice sliding through her veins. She was worried that if she let go, she’d lose her dad.

Vander gripped her shoulders. “Let go, babe. Let them help him.”

She lifted her hands off her father. The paramedics moved in, working fast, and Vander pulled her against his chest.

“I don’t want to fall apart,” she said.

“Then just hold on.”

“I’ll get blood on your shirt.”

“Won’t be the first time I’ve had blood on me.” He stroked a hand down her back. “Come on. Let’s get to the hospital.”

Chapter Twenty-One