Page 36 of Last Chance Christmas

Rescued Trust

Michelle Aleckson

He’s risking his career to save her. She’s risking her life to trust him.

Officer Anthony Thomas has spent years crafting the perfect image—until one mistake threatens to destroy his career. Now he's stuck on protection duty for a woman who'd rather face a serial killer alone than accept his help.

Firefighter Della Nixon survived once, but the scars run deeper than anyone knows. When the sadistic killer escapes prison with revenge on his mind, Della's past comes roaring back—along with a devastating secret that could destroy everything she's fought to rebuild.

But the killer knows Della's darkest secret—the lie that put him behind bars. Now he's determined to expose her truth to the world, even if it means burning down everything in his path.

With a blizzard closing in, can they outrun a killer and face the secrets that could destroy them both?

One

One failure was all it took to destroy an image Officer Anthony Thomas had spent years trying to build. With a chance at redemption in his grasp, they wanted to pull him off the search for the escaped prisoners? How else was he supposed to rebuild the reputation he’d lost and prove he had what it took for a promotion?

He shook off the rain as he stepped under the tent canopy. The flimsy shelter was better than nothing against the incessant downpour, but the dropping temperatures would wreak havoc on the manhunt. First the flooding. Now ice. Hopefully whatever the sergeant wanted wouldn’t take long so he could get back to it.

Anthony snagged a disposable cup and filled it with coffee from the plastic carafe. “What did you need, Sarge?”

Sergeant Aiden Donaldson looked up from the plastic tabletop scattered with maps and grids. “Ah, Thomas. Need you to head to the firehouse. You’re on protective detail.” His gaze fell back to the maps.

“But we have two more prisoners out?—”

“Save it. Not my decision.” He let out a long sigh, gave a slight shake of his head. “I do what I’m told, same as you.”

Anthony barely caught the grumbled words.

“These are dangerous criminals. Mackey? Vaynes? And I’m supposed to go babysit someone?”

Sergeant Donaldson stood straight. “Our job is to protect and serve. That’s what you’ll be doing.”

Anthony swallowed the bitter coffee. After he’d let Sosa get away, he didn’t really have a chance at convincing his superior of anything. Not that anyone had said anything. But if they were pulling him off the hunt, the message was loud and clear.

Maybe if he put in a little time making nice with whatever big shot claimed they needed protection, he could get back to doing real police work and finding the convicts. The kind of work that would show he was detective material.

He unclenched his jaw. “Who am I protecting?”

“Della Nixon. Firefighter. Know her?”

Anthony barely kept his jaw from dropping. “In passing.”

She was newer to the Truck 14 crew. The stunning firefighter definitely caught his eye when they were on scenes together. Dark, olive-toned skin, big brown eyes, and midnight-black hair that always looked silky, even after being smashed under a helmet for hours…Of course he noticed her.

The first time he’d seen her, he’d tried to introduce himself and stumbled over his own name and walked away. Which was probably for the best. She clammed up whenever he was there. And he wasn’t one to stick around where he wasn’t wanted. “Why does she need protection?”

“She testified against one of our escaped prisoners. Jason Vaynes.”

“The serial killer?”

“That’s the one. Apparently, even before he escaped, she was receiving threatening notes. I’m not convinced they’re from him, but now that he’s on the loose, the chief wants someone on protective detail twenty-four seven. That’s you.”

“Aw, come on, Sarge. Why me? You know I’m better suited to chasing down Vaynes and Mackey out here. I should be?—”

“Do you understand your assignment, Officer?” Sergeant Donaldson folded his arms. A tilt of the head and narrowing of the eyes, and Anthony’s appeal died on his tongue. He knew that look.

This was what he got for screwing up. For letting Sosa get away.