Page 102 of Last Chance Christmas

“Well, based on his symptoms, I suspect he ingested something poisonous. But a toxicology report will confirm. I’m going to get his GI contents delivered stat.”

Cole ran his hand down his jaw, then lifted his radio off his shoulder. “Basuto, can we get the food left in Titan’s dog bowl sent to the lab? Titan’s possibly been poisoned.”

“On it,” his boss replied.

“I want to keep him the rest of the night to monitor his vitals, but I’m confident he’ll make a quick recovery.” Brett swung his stethoscope around his neck. “You brought him in right away, and with his stomach pumped, he will heal much faster and have minimal organ damage.”

“Thanks for making us a priority.” Cole shook the man’s hand.

“You got it. I’ll give you an update in the morning.”

Cole pushed open the front door, and an icy blast greeted his face, waking him up faster than the caffeine. Someone had poisoned Titan and almost gotten away with killing him.

He unlocked the car and slid into the seat, resting his head back for a second before he grabbed the radio. “Any update on the burglary?”

“Thief escaped, but we just got done looking at the security camera.” Tazwell’s voice came through. “Whoever it was had their face well hidden.”

Cole blew out a breath.

Of course they had.

“Basuto, can I have a copy of the footage sent to review? I’m heading back to the station now.”

“Ten-four,” Basuto said.

Cole was reaching for the engine start button when cool metal touched his temple.

“I suggest you listen to what I say, or I pull this trigger.”

Cole lifted his gaze to the rearview mirror, and in the glow from the parking lot lights, he stared into Victoria’s eyes.

Ten

The morning light streamed through Kianna’s bathroom window, and birds chirped, but it did nothing to soothe her nerves. She dug her toothbrush harder against her gums and rubbed back and forth. She stared at her reflection in the mirror. The bags under her eyes were proof of the restless night she’d had, unable to shut her mind off after the events of the previous twenty-four hours.

She put her toothbrush back in its holder, then splashed cold water on her face before massaging serum into her pores. Mackey was still AWOL, and Cole had made sure she understood that he was going to finish this case without her. Which was exactly what he was supposed to do as a police officer. As an EMT, catching criminals wasn’t her job.

But she couldn’t just sit around and do nothing. Not after she’d invested so much time tracking down this guy. How would Jaxon’s parents handle the news if Mackey was never caught?

They needed hope.

She needed hope. Not just with Mackey being caught, but with Cole.

Hope.

In his name the nations will put their hope.

Kianna sighed. Forgive me, Lord. I was putting a lot of weight on a fleeting hope. I just thought You might be leading me to Cole. To a guy who would show me there was reason to enjoy the holidays again.

But he’d made it clear she was just another civilian to him. The only reason their paths had collided for a brief moment was because of their careers. Never mind that she’d sensed a bond growing between them. Why had he shared about his family, then?

Kianna worked through the knots in her hair with a comb.

She needed to reorient her mindset.

Christ was her hope. A lasting love that wouldn’t change with time. Even while she still longed to be married.

It’s a good gift from You, Lord. I don’t want to throw that dream away either. Yet not my will but Yours.