Page 56 of Reckless Games

Climbing out of the car after them, I move to where Lake is lying in the snow. Cillian has his jacket spread out to keep her from the cold, and he’s on the phone giving directions.

I peel my own jacket off and cover her.

Her cheeks are rosy and her lips quiver with the snow falling overhead. I need to get her in the car, at the very least, out of the cold.

She blinks up at me and curls into my jacket.

“I shouldn’t have left,” she says, teeth chattering.

I shake my head. “I shouldn’t have let you go.”

“Guess we aren’t good at this.” The softest smile ticks her lips, and it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

If I spend the rest of my life drowning in the sight of her, it still won’t be enough.

“I’ll be better for you.” I brush the side of her ice-cold cheek with the back of my hand. “I love you, Lake. And I promise to love you better from here on out.”

Tears once more pool in her eyes, and I brush a rogue one from her cheek.

“I love you too, Adam.” Her voice quivers. “Even if it’s too soon. I love you, and I love the person you make me.”

Her face winces.

“Careful, baby girl.” I tuck my jacket over her as much as I can to warm her. “Help is on its way.”

“How sweet.” A voice comes up behind me, and my back stiffens at the familiar tone.

Lake’s eyes widen as she glances past me, and the entire forest might as well shift with the fear that claims her face.

“The devil fell in love.”

Cillian stops pacing, tucking his phone in his pocket as he looks at the man behind me.

Slowly holding my hands at my sides, I turn, and in the snow, stands Evan Michaelson with a gun pointed directly at me. His face is bloody from the impact of the crash, and his right shoulder hangs lower than his left.

“You did this.”

It’s not a question, the entire scene is clear now. The crash wasn’t an accident. He’s making good on what I assumed was an empty threat. A mistake I won’t make again.

“You think you’re the only one who can take things from people?” Evan steps forward, and I feel Cillian shift, but I hold up a hand to stop him before this escalates, and Lake accidentally ends up in the crossfire.

“What do you want, Evan?”

“You know what I want.”

“I can’t give that to you.”

His business is already mine; we signed the papers last night. And anything else he might ask for, I’d never consider handing him anyway. Not after what he’s done.

He went after my one weakness, and he’s going to pay in blood.

“You really want to play like that?” Evan lowers the gun and now it’s pointed at Lakeyn.

I hear her breath hitch behind me, and I step to the side, blocking Evan’s view.

“I have more than one bullet, and I have no problem going through you first.” Evan laughs.

“You’re not going to do this,” I say, my blood running hot through my veins.

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