With everything going on around me, I was about to push to my feet and stumble after the man who'd run off with Talia. Smashing against walls, I tripped and slid down the halls in their wake.
"Wait," I called out. I was pretty sure the knife had either nicked a lung or fractured a rib, because breathing was becoming more and more strenuous.
Someone stepped out of a connecting hall. A gun in his hand.
I sucked in a breath. "DOWN!" I screamed as loud as I could.
The guy holding Talia dropped to his knees immediately.
With the last of my strength, I gathered myself and launched myself between the shooter and Talia. I felt the bullet graze my temple as I fell against her rescuer.
"You've got to get her out of here," I said as I felt him move under me.
"I will." He pushed me off h
