I ran. That was all I could do: run and pray my legs didn’t give out before I reached somewhere safe. My sneakers slapped against the wet ground, the cold water soaking through to my skin, but I couldn’t feel it.

The only thing my body registered was the sound of that bullet. The way it had split the air inches from my ear.

I burst out of the alley and almost ran into a black SUV parked at the curb. The engine growled softly as the passenger door swung open.

“Get in!”

I stood frozen for a moment as the rain lashed at my face, stinging my eyes. I...