Page 136 of I'm Watching You

Kendall had only just begun to talk. ‘Does it bother you to know she doesn’t approve of what you do?’

‘She’s glad those men are off the street.’

Kendall knew she was playing with fire but the longer she strung him along the better her chances of getting out of this. ‘You killed two boys.Children.She hated that.’

Guilt shadowed his stony features. ‘Every war has collateral damage.’

‘Lindsay will never forgive you for hurting those boys.’

He jerked a gun from his waistband and pointed it directly at her. ‘Shut up!’

She stared into the barrel. All she could seem to think about was that no one was going to miss her when she died. She struggled to keep her voice even and soothing. ‘Lindsay would hate this. She would want you to let me go.’

‘Liar. Lindsay despises you. Your lies and half-truths have ruined Sanctuary.’

He cocked the gun.

‘No!’ she shouted.

He fired.

The bullet struck her in the shoulder and she fell back against the hard floor. Pain seared through her body. Her vision blurred and for a moment she couldn’t breathe. She’d prayed the bullet would kill her outright but realized now death would not come quickly to her.

The Guardian moved toward her. He grabbed a handful of her hair and jerked her head back. ‘Take back all you said about Lindsay.’

The pain dulled her mind. He had the machete in his hand. ‘Monster.’

The Guardian raised the machete over his head. Through the pain she heard the phone ring. She nearly wept with relief as he released her and backed away toward the workbench. He snapped up the phone.

‘It took you long enough to call me back,’ the Guardian growled. ‘Now, who is the woman Lindsay is going to see at Mercy?’

A slight tense pause had Kendall struggling to stay conscious.

‘I don’t care if you’ve lost your stomach for helping me. And I don’t care about your gaming debts anymore. You’re in too deep. Now tell me what you know.’

The Guardian listened, his body tensing as he gripped the receiver tighter. ‘I’ll be there in ten minutes. Be waiting for me in the garage at the regular place.’

The Guardian slammed the phone down and whirled toward Kendall, the only one to absorb his rage. He grabbed a handful of her hair. His eyes were as black as Satan’s.

Pain from her shoulder overwhelmed her. Her world went blank.

Lindsay swung her car around and brought it to a stop in a space close to the elevator. She took a moment to scan the deck to make sure there were no press or shadowy figures. Satisfied that the area was clear, she got out of thecar and locked it with her keyless remote. She crossed quickly to the elevator, punched the button, and tapped her toe as she waited.

Thoughts tumbled through her mind. The Guardian. Richard. Nicole. The abused woman she was about to meet. And even Sam. Where was Sam? He hadn’t called her and that wasn’t like him. She was beginning to think that all this trouble with the Guardian might have scared him off.

There was a time his possible rejection might have hurt her feelings. But not now. If he couldn’t accept her for who she was – the good and the bad – then so be it. She had to give Zack credit. He’d seen the dark side of her past and he hadn’t been scared away.

Lindsay leaned forward to push the already lit elevator button again when she heard footsteps behind her. The sound had her nerves tightening like a bowstring. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest. She jabbed the elevator button again before she turned.

A man appeared from the shadows. He was dressed in a green jumpsuit and was pushing a canvas laundry cart. He touched the bill of hisMinton’s Laundryhat and nodded. ‘Morning.’

Lindsay nodded stiffly, her nerves on alert. With the Guardian’s identity still unknown, she wasn’t taking any chances. The elevator dinged and the doors slid open.

She stepped back. ‘You first.’

The guy shrugged. ‘There’s room for us both.’

‘Thanks. I think I forgot something in my car.’ She backed away from the elevator.

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