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Chapter Forty-Five

S am was in her Jeep; the sun was low in the sky, and she was heading toward the beach. It was her happy place. Her favorite playlist was playing, and she sang with it at the top of her lungs. Life was good.

She thought she might stop by and see if Claire wanted to grab a drink or go for a walk on the beach. Weeks this stressful needed more than one drink, but she was driving, so one it would be.

Mark had a business meeting, and she promised to meet him later for a little R Claire stumbled to the floor, and Hillary was flat on her stomach.

Sam sat on her and grabbed Hillary’s arms behind her back as she was thrashing and screaming obscenities at them.

Joe holstered his gun and ran over to check on Claire, who was barely moving. “Claire, sweetheart, look at me.”

She opened her eyes. And passed out.

He heard sirens in the distance. He picked Claire up and placed her on the sofa.

Sam had tied Hillary’s hands together with the lamp cord and was wrestling her to a chair. The woman was screaming and bucking. A swift punch to Hillary’s jaw and she was out. Sam looked at him, smiled and shook her hand, “that felt good.”

Damn, the woman was lethal. He needed to remember never to piss her off.

His attention returned to his immediate concern.

Claire was still out. He rubbed Claire’s cold hands.

“Hold on, sweetheart. The ambulance will be here in a sec.” He hoped Claire heard him.

Her wrists were cut and bloody. Blood was dripping from her neck.

Thankfully, Hillary didn’t have a chance to go deeper.

He looked down at the woman he loved with all his heart.

She was bruised and bloodied but had still managed to stand up to a crazy woman.

Flashing lights reflected in the mirror of the living room. The police came in, guns drawn, the medics right behind them. It was going to be a long night.