Page 16 of Falling for the Delta
He responded with another volley of shots and another window shattered under the onslaught of bullets. Holly swore she felt a shot go right by her head. Dash pulled her harder into him, and she gladly buried her head against his chest once more. The position was awkward, as they were both crouched on the balls of their feet behind the kiosk, but Holly wanted to be ready to run at a moment’s notice, and figured Dash felt the same way.
After a few seconds, to her surprise, Holly heard more gunshots—farther away than they’d been before. And when no more glass broke, she lifted her head and stared at Dash.
“Is he leaving?” she whispered.
Dash nodded. “Stay here,” he ordered.
Holly clutched at him for a moment before forcing herself to let go. This was what Dash did. She had to trust he wasn’t going to go toe-to-toe with a terrorist while he was unarmed.
He was only gone for a few seconds, but it seemed like an eternity.
“Come on,” Dash said, scaring the shit out of Holly when he reappeared next to her. He had his hand out, and Holly took it without hesitation.
“Where’d he go?”
“I’m not sure, but from the direction of the shots, it sounds like he went around the building to the east.”
“Toward my building?” Holly asked anxiously. “Stella said she was going to have a picnic with Magic! We have to do something.”
“What we have to do is stay safe, and make sure everyone inside is safe too,” Dash said firmly. “Magic’s not going to let anything happen to Stella.”
“Promise?” Holly couldn’t help but ask.
“Promise. And for the record, I’m pissed at you,” Dash added as he led her toward the entrance to the PX.
“At me? Why?” Holly asked in surprise.
“Because you put yourself in danger,” Dash said between clenched teeth.
“But…he was going to see you!” Holly protested. “He would’ve shot you for sure.”
She watched as Dash’s nostrils flared and he took a few deep breaths. Then, right there in the middle of the women’s clothing section of the PX, he turned and hauled her into his arms.
The store was eerily quiet, the only sound muffled voices coming from somewhere toward the back of the store.
“I can’t lose you,” Dash said into her hair and he clutched her to him.
What she’d done, and what had almost happened to Dash, began to finally sink in. She shook as she clung to Dash.
“Shhhh, you’re okay. I’ve got you,” he said. “I’m pissed, but also damn proud. You were amazing,” he told her.
“I love you,” Holly blurted. “I know this is crazy but when I realized he was going to see you and probably shoot you, I just acted.”
“Fuck,” Dash muttered.
They stood like that for at least a full minute, simply soaking each other in, reassuring themselves that they were both alive and well.
Then Dash pulled back and stared down at her. “You mean it?”
Holly knew what he was talking about. “Yes. I love you.”
“And I love you. I don’t care how fast it’s been. I think I knew from the first time I saw you.”
“Hey! You guys all right?” a voice called out.
Dash took a deep breath. “Come on, I need to get moving. See what I can do to help. You’ll stay here?”
Holly nodded. “I speak Arabic,” she reminded him unnecessarily. “If I’m needed to translate, just text me and I’ll come running.”
