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David Henderson had to die.

I wasn’t naïve enough to believe I could bring him down single-handed.

I couldn’t do this alone; the man had his fingers stuck in too many cookie jars.

This world was littered with dirty cops and corrupt courtrooms, and David Henderson was on a first name basis with every last one.

Intelligent play was the only play in this game of cat and mouse.

That was the only way to beat him.

To flush him out, I would have to become a ghost.

In order to do that, I needed a pack.

I could only pray that I had backed the right horse in falling in with Mortico Gonzalez and his crew.

Running errands for a gangster wasn’t ideal, but it was all I had in my arsenal.

And I would do it gladly if it meantshewas safe.

I would take the whole damn world down to make that happen.

****

Chapter Thirteen

Hope

I woke when dawn broke this morning, bringing with it a stream of sunlight through Hunter's ginormous bedroom window, and just laid on my side for hours, watching him sleep. He was magnificently naked and disappointingly face down on the mattress, with a pillow tucked under his arm, face turned towards me.

All my life I had been surrounded by strong men.

I had been raised by the strongest man I had ever known, and, because of that, I had in turn, grown into what I hoped was a strong, independent female.

But sometimes Iwantedto fall apart.

I wanted to wilt and crumble.

Sometimes I wanted to befragile.

And then other days, I wanted to throw on a cape and take on the world.

I could be that way with Hunter.

He accepted all sides of my heart – every version of me.

And I wanted to be with him.

A man so strong and self-assured.

A man who would pick me up when I faltered and wavered.

A man who I could lean on when I was feeling weak and tired.

A man who would walk through fire for me, then throw me an alibi, and drive the getaway car I needed when it was time to escape.

The strength inside of him was tempting to a woman like me.

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