Page 41

Kelly

When my alarm buzzes, I swipe my phone to silence it. Grinning, heart full of joy, I jump out of bed and text my lover.

Me: Good morning. Love you.

No answer. Damn.

Busting to tell someone my news, I call Gina. “Guess what?”

“You won the lotto?” Her dry humor can’t dampen my enthusiasm.

Everything, from the pile of laundry to the stain on the wall, is absolutely beautiful. “Nope. Scott Hunter is moving up here.”

“What? You barely know him.” Her edgy tone catches me off guard.

I know best friends can get protective, but this reaction feels … off. “I thought you’d be happy for me.”

“What about your daughter? Have you considered how your selfishness will affect her?” Wow. My friend has never been judgmental. Maybe she’s figured I won’t have as much time to hang out with her.

Voice placating, I try to understand. If our roles were reversed, perhaps I’d be worried, too. “Hey, we’ll still be friends.”

“Yeah, I know. Sorry. Listen, I need to go. Bye.” Once she hangs up, I stare at the screen.

God, that was so not what I expected.

Hoping to have more success with my offspring, I open my bedroom door and call down the hall. “You up, hun?”

“Mmm… Yeah… Sort of.” Her bedding rustles, and when her feet pad to the bathroom, I trot downstairs.

With coffee made, peanut butter toast on the table, I pull out her earbuds. “Can we talk for a sec?”

My daughter rolls her eyes. “Ugh. Now?”

I take a deep breath. “Scott is moving to Vermont.”

She grins. “That’s great, Mom. You deserve to be happy.”

A tsunami of relief washes over me until she asks, “Did you tell Uncle Kade yet?”

I blink, surprised. “Not yet, why?”

Shrugging, she swallows. “Mo-ommm. I’m not a kid. I know what’s been going on. Bourdin’s still out there. With an FBI agent nearby, we won’t have to worry so much about you.”

Her offhanded remark gnaws at me. I’m the parent, the one who should be concerned. Long after I drop her off at school, I continue to wonder. How do I turn this around?

DC rush hour over, I message Hunt. No response. Weird—he ought to be at work by now. Maybe he’s just busy.

Pouring myself a cup of coffee, my phone pings. My pulse races as I check the screen, but no joy. It’s my not-so-enthusiastic friend telling me she’s going to stop by in a few. Her attitude better be improved or she’s not staying.

A solid knock later, the door creaks open, and she asks, “Hey Kelly, you alone?”

That’s weird. Who else would be here? “Yeah, come in.”

I stand wearing my best smile. Everyone has difficult mornings. In a couple of minutes, we’ll be hugging and shooting the shit like always.

“Mack? What’s wrong?” My brain freezes when my daughter steps inside. Ghostly pale, hands behind her back, she inches forward.

“Are you sick?” I snatch my cell. Jeremy will need to cover so I can take her to the urgent care doctor.

Before I can dial, Sheriff Laughlin jumps forward, gun raised. “Put your phone and your pistol on the floor, then kick them to me.”

Her cool, overly calm demeanor sets my heart thumping. “G-Gina, what the hell is going on?” As I do her bidding, the crazed woman jams her gun barrel into my girl’s skull so hard she cries out.

Adrenaline slams through me. Hurt my kid? You are dead meat, bitch.

Unaware she’s made the worst mistake of her life, she motions me toward the table. “Put two chairs back to back. Sit with your hands behind you.”

I drag my feet, stalling for time. “You can’t just kill us. They’ll lock you up for life.”

“I can, and I will.” Pupils pinpricks, gaze darting, her tenor rises to a shriek.

“You ruined everything.” As she steps closer, my stomach churns at her sick scent.

She’s high. Even so, if I can keep her talking long enough, a vehicle is sure to arrive at the crossing. When I don’t come out, they’ll come looking for me.

“I want to know. What did I do wrong?”

She paces, her Glock waving wildly in the air. “Why couldn’t you butt out of my business?”

I need to stop her from totally losing it. “Gina, it’s me, Kelly. Tell me what I did.”

She throws her head back, her sharp laugh brittle. “Are you fucking serious right now?”

Fidgeting, I mask the nausea twisting my gut. A whiff of her offensive smell makes it worse.

She wipes her spittle with the back of her hand, then counts on her fingers. “First off, you got Dante killed. Secondly, you arrested John. Now, I’m under all sorts of scrutiny. I had to let him go. Surely you, of all people, can understand.”

“Y-you and B-Bourdin? Together? Knowing what happened to me?” The depth of her betrayal smashes into me, stealing my breath.

“He saved you. Don’t you see? Because of his attack, Robert agreed to keep you out of the woods.” Her warped logic sounds a warning bell in my mind. She’s officially gone looney-tooney.

Digging my nails into my palms, I slow my cadence. “So, tell me, please. How do you see this playing out?”

“Easy. Your daughter here was distraught about your new boyfriend. Before I could stop her, she shot you in the head. Once she turned the gun on me… Well, there was nothing I could do. A terrible tragedy.” Her words snake through the air, coiling around my head.

As this noose of fear tightens, the drumbeat of my heart pounds in my ears. Swallowing over the knot in my throat, I steady my voice. “Forensics, Sheriff. There is no way your story will hold up in court.”

Her face turns crimson as she screams, “I don’t fucking give a shit! I’ve lost everything.”

Sensing our time is up, I squeeze Mack’s hand, twist my neck and mutter, “When I say go, tip to the right.” With any luck, the old chairs’ loose rungs will snap from our weight. This move could buy us a few more precious moments.

My former bestie giggles. Weapon aimed, she curls her index finger around the trigger. “I heard you, you know. It won’t work. Adios, girlfriend. You did this to yourself.”

Time shifts, slows, then halts. I recall the first time I held my baby and how her bright eyes bravely met the world. Missing a front tooth, she charged into kindergarten using the same self-confidence.

Breath hitching, heart aching, I take her hand again. She’ll never grow up, never graduate, never fall in love.

My head turns. In my mind’s eye, I peck her cheek goodbye. “Close your eyes, honey. I love you.” The words scarcely leave my mouth before our door explodes.

As shards of wood burst into the room, our would-be assassin swivels toward the noise. “What the—”

“Now, Mack. Now.” This is it. With my foot to the table’s edge, I shove with all my might.

Gunshots blast. We hit the floor.

A breath later, a familiar voice calls out. “Kell? Mackenzie? Are you hurt?”

Wildlife? What’s he doing here?

Face fierce, his 9 mm drawn, he drops to his knees beside us. “Is anyone else in the building?”

I shake my head no. “But Bourdin… He could be nearby. He and Sheriff Laughlin were a couple. I had no idea.”

My gray matter struggles to catch up to reality. Knife out, he cuts our zip ties, then yanks us into his arms. Safe, we sob into his warmth, absorbing his strength until he gently lifts us to our feet.

Standing, looking over my lover’s shoulder, I wave at my silent, loyal brother, Kade who just arrived. He’s always been there for me. How had I never truly seen him before? After a quick yet firm hug, he nods at my hero.

“C’mere, Mackenzie.” A fatherly arm around my daughter, he leads her outside.

Alone now, sirens wail in the distance. My fingers slide over Scott’s shoulders, lacing behind his neck. Our gazes locked, he brushes his soft lips across mine. I dig my digits into his scalp to trap him in place. Soon, I’m carried away by his kiss.

When we break apart, I gasp in fresh oxygen until my foggy brain clears. “How did you know?”

He shakes his head. “I didn’t. I wanted to surprise you.”

Whoa. If his plane had been delayed, or he’d stopped for coffee… No way, not going there. Slipping on my coat, I blow through my teeth and walk with him into the cold.

Together, we can face anything.