Page 88 of Unlawful Seduction

The two assassins flanked my sides with their vehicles. This had to be handled meticulously. As soon as they were close, I pressed down on the accelerator again, heading directly for them. The game of chicken often caught enemies off guard. This time was no exception.

When I was close, I jerked the vehicle to the side, kicking up a wave of snow against one driver before speeding away. The few seconds of a blind spot was all that was necessary.

I dashed around a tree, slowing just enough to watch the driver careen off the edge of the mountainside.

Half laughing, I wiped my mouth and scanned the area. The other driver had also slowed. Now it was down to one. The odds were better, but I needed the fucker alive. I revved the engine, laughing softly as I adjusted the goggles.

The moment I pressed down on the gas pedal, so did the fucker charging me. We were coming at each other at full speed. We both almost wrecked when we passed.

Pop! Pop! Pop!

Bullets whizzed by. I roared around another group of trees, holding my weapon out. One more pass. That was all I needed.

I went again, this time keeping the weapon pointed directly at the man. When he whipped his weapon into view, I fired off two shots, but not before he managed to fire a single bullet. There was no doubt that at least one of mine was a direct hit, the fucker almost losing control of the vehicle.

Pain tore through me, white hot and gripping my breath. But I kept going, shifting at the last second just as he lifted the weapon again. Only this time, I hit something under the snow and the snowmobile was launched.

It felt like I was flying, the cold air filling my lungs refreshing. As I came down from the deep arc, images of Mallory’s face flashed into the forefront of my mind.

Now she was safe.

CHAPTER 22

Four years later

Mallory

“I cannot believe what you managed to do with your dad’s place.” Hank was beaming from the moment I’d walked up to the counter.

I wondered how long I’d need to live in the house before it became my house. There wasn’t a single person in Stowe who didn’t refer to it as my dad’s house. “Well, it only took me four years to make all the repairs.”

Four years of scrimping, saving, hiring the worst contractors in the world, facing setbacks, higher costs, and delayed shipments. But I’d finally created something I was terribly proud of.

“You did have your hands full.” His eyes were twinkling as he leaned over the counter, presenting Brady with his favorite hard candy pole in spearmint. “How are you doing today, little man?”

Brady giggled and looked up at me, his bright green eyes begging me to say yes. I tried to keep his candy consumption to a minimum, but he had about a hundred aunts and uncles in town, as they liked to call themselves. It was a product of living in a small town, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.

“You can have some of it,” I told him as I bent down, raking my fingers through his hair. “You need a haircut, bud.” I laughed. He was starting to look like a girl.

“Nah. He looks wonderful.” Hank presented the unwrapped candy with a huge smile on his face. “Just the one package of screws today?”

“That’s it. I’m hoping soon I can hold off purchasing anything from you for a little while. Not that I don’t love seeing you, Hank.”

He laughed. “No offense taken, Mal. I’m just glad to see you smiling these days.”

How could I not smile? My practice was doing great. I’d been forced to hire a second veterinarian my first year, two more and additional technicians shortly after that. Now I was in discussions with the bank for a loan to add onto the building. Stowe had increased in popularity significantly over the last few years and with new blood came new pets.

These were the best years of my life. Including with my little man. Brady rocked my world. Literally.

Brady was as happy as could be, zooming around the store within seconds. Sampson tried to follow him, but I held onto his leash. The last thing I needed was for my pup to go wandering the streets. This was my only day off for a couple of weeks and Ihad plans on enjoying finishing a book I’d been trying to read for the last six months.

If the little man would enjoy the new movie I’d purchased for him. I never knew what his mood would be.

A strange sense of sadness and déjà vu hit me. I’d almost overcome the horrible nightmares, constantly thinking I’d seen Beckett in the window or across a parking lot. How many times had I made a fool of myself for chasing after a shadow?

Enough that I’d finally done what I could to exorcise the man from my mind.

And my heart.

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