Page 90 of Montana Heat

But then Kenzie would be dead or close to it by now. That hadn’t even been an option.

“And look,” Alan continued, “all for nothing. That selfish bitch ran off to saveherself.”

As the knife slid into my neck even farther, I couldn’t feel anything but relief that Kenzie had run. I wouldn’t make it, but hopefully she would. That was all that mattered.

“Mackenzie!” Alan yelled. “If you care about your friend at all, you’ll come back here.”

“Don’t do it, City!” No matter what Alan did, I didn’t want her coming back here.

But I couldn’t stop myself from crying out when Alan slammed his knife into my shoulder. The pain and motion of it forced me down to my knees.

“Do you want him to die, Mackenzie?”

“He’ll kill me anyway!” I knew that much was true, but the words got me another burning stab from the fucker.

“I don’t think she’s coming for you,” he said as I attempted to breathe through the pain and gather what remaining strength I had. “I thought she had feelings for you, but I guess I was wrong.”

“Or maybe she’s just too smart to fall for your bullshit.”

“I tell you what. Let’s try a different route.”

I expected another stab, prepped myself not to let out a sound, but it didn’t come.

“Maybe I won’t kill him, Mackenzie. Look what I’ve got—Jada’s little memory drug. How about we make sure that even if he survives, he never remembers anything about you.”

What the fuck? I had no idea what drug he was talking about, but I knew he wasn’t bluffing. I could see the syringe in his other hand.

There was no way I was letting him inject me with that stuff, but I knew I was down to my last reserves of strength. I couldn’t feel my feet at all, and the rest of my body wasn’t in much better shape. That stab with the knife had pretty much rendered my left arm useless.

The guys would hear all the yelling and be on their way. Theywouldn’t be able to help me, but maybe I could buy some time for them to help Kenzie.

“See?” Alan leaned close to my ear and lowered his volume. “I keep trying to tell everyone what a bitch she is, but nobody believes me. She left you to save herself, and now you’re going to pay the price.”

“Fuck. You.” My voice sounded weak even to my own ears.

“I’m going to finish what I started with her. She’s not going to live to tattle on me again.”

I waited for the knife or the syringe, but neither came. Instead, Alan cried out in pain then crashed to the ground beside me, holding his head.

Kenzie swung the large branch at him again, striking him on the head, causing him to fall flat, completely out. “I don’t think so, asshole. You’re never going to lay your hands on me again.”

She dropped the heavy branch and rushed over to put her arms around me.

“You didn’t leave me,” I managed to mutter. The world was going in and out of focus.

“Never.”

It was the last thing I heard as I slumped to the ground.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Kenzie

Two months later

I stared out the window of my Denver office, a view I’d always loved. I’d leased this place three years ago because of the view of the city skyline. The office space had actually been less expensive than the ones across the hall because of that view—notfacing the Rocky Mountains, like most people wanted. Worked great for me because I’d preferred the city view.

But not anymore. Now, I found I didn’t want the city view or the mountain views.

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