Page 49 of Too Much Heat

He threw his jeans on in deference to all the people who were staying here. Boy, would he like to move Lara and Sammy to his house. For one thing, it had a lot better security up on a hill on a private road.

As he entered the kitchen, he smiled at the thought of her inhisbed. He poured the wine and picked up the two glasses.

Something shattered behind him.

He circled around fast to see the door open.

And came face to face with his stalker.

“Put those down.” Her voice was hoarse but he recognized it.

“What are you doing, Diana?”

“Time for payback.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t save the twins.”

For a minute, pain made her face droop. Then a blank mask replaced the reaction. “Too late for sorry.”

“Are you going to kill me?”

“What do you think?”

Behind her he saw Lara, dressed in a robe. She must have heard the commotion, come downstairs and gone out the front door.

He forced himself not to react. “I think you’re still grieving. I know I am, for my brother.”

“You didn’t save him either.”

“I—”

Lara pounced. She hit Diana on the head with a statue of a firefighter that Sammy had given her when she graduated the academy.

Diana fell to the floor. Quickly, Joe kicked the gun to the other side of the room. Fear, which had sprung like a snake, still pumped through him. He crossed to Lara. She’d set down the statue.

He grasped her arms. “Don’t ever, ever, do that again.”

She shook back her hair and raised her chin. “Are you kidding me? I’ll save your life anytime I can. Now shut up and hold me.”

* * *

Relieved that the stalking was over, Joe and Lara arrived at Westwood Memorial once again. Will had been shot outside while he was guarding her and Joe. They knew no more than that. Lara swallowed back the panic still racing through her.

Sensing her feelings, he leaned over and whispered, “I’m right here, sweetheart.”

“Do you feel guilty?”

“No. Only regret. Will’s my friend, like Jackson.”

Just then, Jackson entered the waiting area. “Hey, guys. Katie called us. We came down to wait with you.”

Joe smiled at Jackson. “Thanks, buddy.”

“How’s Katie?”

“Probably terrified.”

“Not so much.” Katie had come out of the treatment area. “He’s doing okay. Because it was dark out and that woman wasn’t up close, the bullet went right through his shoulder.”

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