Acquiring Trouble

across the street with a gun in his hand. He had to have been hiding behind a parked car when he took the shot at Cole. After missing he went all in.
    As Miles reached for Morgan, Cole was already grabbing Paige. Pierce leaned over and grabbed Miss Violet as their father lunged in front of their mother. Pulling and pushing simultaneously , everyone went crashing to the floor as the back of Cole’ s chair splintered with a direct hit.
    “What the hell happened ?” Miles heard Morgan mumble from where her face was smashed against the floor. He was sprawled completely over her, protecting her from the onslaught. H is large body on top of hers made it hard for her to breathe.
    “We’re being shot at!” Miles told her as he looked around to make sure no one had been hit. The rest of the diners were under their tables except for Miss Lily’s old neighbor, Edna, who was digging around in her purse.
    “Sorry about that Miss Violet,” Pierce said as he smiled down at Miss Violet sprawled on the floor. Her ever - present spatula was still in her hand.
    “Oh, don’t be sorry, dear. Y’all may want to go out the back door.”
    Miles vaulted up, pulling Morgan with him. Bullets sha ttered the window as the man walked calmly toward them firing. “Run low to the ground, quick ly !”
    Cole pulled his gun from his holster, “Pierce, take care of your sister!” He aimed his weapon and fired off some shots causing the man to lunge back behind a parked car across the street from the c afé.
    Jake was already pushing Marcy out the back door as Miles and Morgan reached the kitchen. Miles, Morgan, Pierce , and Paige slammed through th e back door seconds behind his parents. No one spoke until the door flew open and Cole burst out.
    “Oh thank G od!” Paige flung her arms around her husband. “What was that all about? Why are we being shot at?”
    “It doesn’t make sense. That was William Brady, Top Producers ’ head of security . He should be shooting at me , not you ,” Morgan said as she tried to steady her breath.
    “No, it does make sense. They must’ve been watching us be cause they shot at me —t he one with all the evidence in his pocket , ” Cole said as he patted the flash drive containing the proof needed to bring Top Produ cers and David Washington down.
    “W hat do we do now?” Marcy asked.
    “ He wants us, not you all. Cole, Morgan , and I are all that matter to him. W e need to split up.” Miles felt the familiar hardness come over him as if it were a second skin. This wasn’t the Middle East mountains , this was his hometown and he definitely had home - court advantage. “How many guns do you have?” Miles asked Cole before explaining his plan.
    “Only this one, sorry.” Cole pulled out second magazine and shoved it into place.
    “It’s okay, I don’t need one.” And he didn’t. He’d done a lot worse than take out a single armed man with nothing but his hands. “We’ll go around the side of the building and then split. Mom —y ou, D ad, Pierce , and Paige run behind these buildings and hide.   I’ll go with Morgan to the right.” Miles laid out his plan as he did to his troops, only this time his heart was involved.
    “ If you provide a distraction , I can get across the street. I should be able to get a clear shot off if I can flank him. I’m sure Noodle and Dinky will be here a ny second now.” Cole nodded to ward the small all e y on the far side of the c afé. “I can c ome out there and surprise him. ”
    “Wait.” Marcy held up her hands. “You’re going to use Miles and Morgan as bait ?”
    “That’s exactly what we’re going to do.” Miles turned to his mother and saw that her face had mana ged to go another shade whiter.
    “No. I won’t allow it, ” h er voice quivered as tears sprang to her eyes.
    “It’s okay Mrs. Davies. This is my mess. I’ll do it alone. You all get to safety. Please,” Morgan begged. She looked at him and Miles felt a whole other level of hardness he had never known come over him. He knew without a doubt he would die for this woman and there was no way he’d let harm come to her . The resolve he had in battle was noth ing to what he was feeling now.
    “No. You’ll go and I’ll be your cover. Everyone, move now!” Miles grabbed Morgan’s hand and dragged her toward the side street as he watched Cole sprint toward the small all e y. “Make sure you give me a couple of minutes, no more than three!” Miles just nodded to