Page 346 of The Trouble With Bad Boys

They emptied her purse and found zero evidence.

“What about your coat?” Digging through the garment, Dominic held up a pen he withdrew from the right pocket.

Shocked, she shook her head. “I’ve never seen that before. That doesn’t belong to me.”

Dominic pulled the pen apart and found a small electronic device hidden inside. “It looks like when that guy tried to abduct you, he left a calling card.”

She swallowed. “Oh, my God.”

“Yeah,” he said, pausing to kiss her forehead for reassurance. “This guy means business.” His calculating mind thought fast. “Do you know how to use a gun?”

She recoiled and shook her head.

“No time like the present,” he said grimly. “You might need that skill before tonight is over.”

“Okay,” she said without hesitation. “Teach me. Detective Rally is sending backup, right?”

“Help is on the way.”

Lara knew in her bones she’d never be safe if they didn’t draw out her attacker. While they still had the chance. “We can’t wait for Rally’s officers to get here.”

Dominic sent her a concerned glance. “My military instincts agree.”

“What if we set up a controlled environment? Draw him into a snare?”

As he rubbed his jaw in contemplation, she could practically hear the gears turning in his mind.

“I could take the tracker and lead him on a chase through the woods,” he suggested.

“No way. He could evade us if the cops arrive before you take him down. Too many escape routes. What if I draw him out, and then hide somewhere we lure him into?” she suggested.

“I could corner him here. I know my house, he doesn’t?—”

“And risk having a fight here, where he would damage your beautiful home? Not my first choice.”

The notch between his eyebrows revealed his distress. “Collateral damage is nothing compared to keeping you safe, Lara.”

She thought for a moment. “How big a risk are you willing to take,” she asked? “What if a small one could guarantee his capture?”

His stubborn chin jutted out. “Not one that puts you in jeopardy.”

“The end justifies the means.” She took a deep breath and said, “I’ll be the bait.”

He sent her a fearsome glower. “No.”

“We need to act fast, Dominic. We could lose our shot at cornering him?—”

“Absolutely not.” His features hardened. “You’re too precious to me. I won’t put you in danger.”

“In case you haven’t noticed…” She swung her hand in an arc above her head to encompass her day. “I’ve been facing danger this entire night. We’ve survived by working together.”

“I won’t allow it.”

She huffed at his overbearing attitude. “Allow it? Seriously? Does that mean you prefer he gets away?” Desperation leaked into her voice. “If he does, he’ll take with him our best shot at pinning this on the real threat—my boss. If we let him go now, I’ll never be free. Always looking over my shoulder. That’s no life.”

“What if something goes wrong?” His eyes flashed with a startling depth of emotion. “I haven’t waited all these years to find you, only to lose you.”

She settled her hand on his chest. “Then we’d better come up with a foolproof plan—and time it with Detective Rally’s arrival.”

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