Under Fire
1165 Words
Naomi hit the ground hard as Jaxon wrapped his body around hers.
Another gunshot echoed across the estate.
The bullet shattered one of the terrace lights, sending broken glass raining onto the stone floor.
“Stay down,” Jaxon ordered.
“I can’t breathe,” Naomi whispered.
“I know.”
His voice remained calm despite the danger.
“But don’t move.”
Inside the mansion, alarms began blaring.
Security guards rushed in every direction.
Arthur’s voice thundered through the communication system.
“Lock every entrance!”
“No one leaves the property!”
The sound of running footsteps filled the house.
Jaxon slowly lifted his head just enough to look over the stone railing.
“I can’t see him.”
Naomi clutched the front of his sweater.
“Is he gone?”
“I don’t know.”
Another shot rang out.
The bullet struck the flower pot behind them, sending dirt and pieces of ceramic flying.
Jaxon immediately pulled Naomi closer.
Her face pressed against his chest.
She could hear his heartbeat.
Fast.
Steady.
Strong.
He wasn’t calm.
He was hiding it.
Arthur appeared at the terrace door with four armed security guards.
“Sir!”
Jaxon looked up.
“The shooter?”
“He escaped through the east garden.”
Arthur looked toward Naomi.
“Are you hurt?”
She slowly shook her head.
“No.”
Jaxon carefully helped her to her feet.
His hands remained on her shoulders.
“Are you sure?”
“I’m fine.”
He looked into her eyes, searching for any sign of injury.
Only after he was satisfied did he finally let go.
Arthur frowned.
“The police are already on their way.”
Jaxon looked toward the dark garden.
“He knew exactly where we were standing.”
Arthur’s expression hardened.
“You think someone inside the estate told him?”
“I don’t know.”
“But he didn’t miss by accident.”
Naomi wrapped her arms around herself.
“I almost got you killed.”
Jaxon turned immediately.
“No.”
“If I hadn’t stepped outside…”
“You saved my life.”
She stared at him.
“What?”
“The first shot was aimed at me.”
She frowned.
“How do you know?”
“I saw the angle.”
He looked toward the broken railing.
“If you hadn’t asked me that question…”
His voice trailed off.
“I would’ve still been standing.”
Naomi’s face turned pale.
“So…”
“The shooter wanted you.”
“No.”
“He wanted me.”
She looked at him in disbelief.
“And you still think it’s safe for me to stay here?”
“I think it’s safer than anywhere else.”
Police sirens echoed outside the estate.
Within minutes, Detective Rachel Morgan hurried onto the terrace.
She examined the shattered lights and bullet marks.
“Everyone okay?”
Arthur nodded.
“No injuries.”
Rachel crouched beside one of the bullets lodged in the wall.
“This wasn’t random.”
She carefully removed it.
“My team will run ballistics.”
Jaxon folded his arms.
“What are the chances we’ll find something?”
Rachel stood.
“If we’re lucky.”
Her phone rang.
She answered quickly.
“Rachel.”
She listened for several seconds.
“What?”
Her expression changed.
“I’ll be right there.”
She ended the call.
“What happened?” Jaxon asked.
Rachel looked directly at Naomi.
“My officers were checking your apartment.”
Naomi’s stomach tightened.
“And?”
“They found someone inside.”
Her heart skipped.
“Who?”
“The apartment had been completely searched.”
Naomi couldn’t breathe.
“My apartment?”
Rachel nodded.
“Everything was thrown across the floor.”
Naomi grabbed Jaxon’s arm.
“Ethan.”
Jaxon looked at her.
“My brother.”
“He was home.”
Rachel quickly shook her head.
“He wasn’t there.”
Naomi released a shaky breath.
“He went to his friend’s house after dinner.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“Thank God.”
Rachel continued.
“Whoever broke in wasn’t looking for money.”
“Then what?”
“They ignored your television.”
“Your laptop.”
“Even the cash we found in a kitchen drawer.”
Naomi frowned.
“What did they take?”
Rachel looked down at her notes.
“Only one thing.”
“What?”
“A family photograph.”
Naomi froze.
“A photograph?”
Rachel nodded.
“The frame was empty.”
Naomi tried to remember.
It was the only picture she had of herself, Ethan, and their late mother.
Why would anyone steal that?
Jaxon noticed the confusion on her face.
“Does the photograph have any value?”
“No.”
“It was just…”
Her voice cracked.
“It was taken before my mom died.”
Silence filled the terrace.
Rachel closed her notebook.
“Which tells me whoever broke into your apartment wasn’t looking for valuables.”
“They were looking for information.”
Naomi looked at Jaxon.
“I don’t understand.”
“Neither do I.”
Arthur’s phone vibrated.
He answered.
“Yes?”
He listened carefully before looking at Jaxon.
“The forensic team found footprints near the east wall.”
“Anything useful?”
“They belong to expensive Italian dress shoes.”
Rachel frowned.
“A professional.”
Arthur nodded.
“Definitely not an amateur.”
Naomi suddenly remembered something.
“The man at the restaurant.”
Everyone looked at her.
“The waiter who bumped into me.”
Jaxon’s eyes narrowed.
“The one who caused you to spill the wine?”
She nodded.
“I never saw his face.”
Arthur immediately turned to Rachel.
“Get the restaurant’s security footage.”
Rachel was already dialing her team.
“On it.”
For the first time since the shooting, hope flickered across Jaxon’s face.
“If that wasn’t an accident…”
Naomi finished the sentence.
“Then someone chose me before we even met.”
The realization sent a chill through everyone.
This had never been about a fake marriage.
Someone had been watching Naomi long before Jaxon offered her the contract.
Arthur’s phone rang again.
He answered immediately.
His face drained of color.
“Sir…”
Jaxon frowned.
“What is it?”
Arthur swallowed.
“The restaurant manager just identified the waiter.”
“Who is he?”
Arthur looked at Naomi.
“He doesn’t exist.”
“What?”
“The restaurant has never employed anyone by that name.”
The room fell silent.
Rachel slowly lowered her phone.
“A fake employee.”
Jaxon’s jaw clenched.
“Which means…”
Arthur nodded grimly.
“Someone planned your meeting with Naomi from the very beginning.”
Naomi felt the ground shift beneath her.
She hadn’t accidentally spilled wine on Jaxon Hayes.
Someone had orchestrated the entire encounter.
But why?
- Writer
