The bullet had grazed his shoulder, a searing line of fire that traced a path across his skin and left a trail of heat in its wake. Cole's hand went to the wound, his fingers coming away slick and red. He could feel the warmth of the blood spreading across his shirt, the fabric clinging to his skin. He could see the figure in the broken window, the woman's face pale against the dim light.
Lily was already moving, pulling him behind the cover of a parked car. The concrete was cold beneath his knees, the grit of it pressing into his skin. He could hear the distant sound of footsteps echoing through the empty street, the sound of voices raised in alarm.
"Cole, you're bleeding." Her voice was tight, controlled, but he could hear the fear beneath it.
"I'm fine." The words came out through gr
