Page 88 of Colton Family Bodyguard (Coltons of Mustang Valley)

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Most of the police had gone and the bar had returned to its usual business. Hazel couldn’t wait to get out of her disguise. She went to the bathroom before she and Callum would go home. Finishing up, she washed her hands at the sink. They could retrieve Evie soon. When she lifted her head, she saw Carolyn’s reflection in the mirror and she had a gun.

Seriously? Hazel’s disbelief buffered the slight gasp of shock and fear.

The same night? “How did you know we were here?”

“Easy. I knew you were looking for that Blurge man’s killer and Patsy told me you were going to be here one of these nights.”

Damn that assistant.

“If you don’t come quietly, I’ll shoot you. It’s what I’ve dreamed of doing ever since you left my restaurant. I knew I could never make it without a chef like you and I knew I’d have a hard time replacing you.”

“Carolyn, you don’t have to do this. I told you I was sorry. I never meant for any of that to happen.”

“It’s too late for all of that. I thought I could forgive you but I can’t. Now get moving.”

Hazel hesitated. If she went with this crazy woman, she would probably end up dead before morning. She had to find a way to alert Callum.

Callum.

What would this do to him? And what about Evie?

More determined than ever, Hazel started toward the bathroom exit. Carolyn jabbed her gun against Hazel’s ribs, concealing the gun with the oversized sweatshirt she wore.

Would anyone find an oversized sweatshirt odd? Arizona was hot, but it was early spring and nighttime, when it got colder.

Outside the bathroom, Hazel stalled. Just as she suspected, Callum stood where he could see the bathroom. And he spotted her right away.

“Get going!” Carolyn jabbed her and forced her to hurry to the back door, which had been propped open to allow airflow.

They passed the kitchen entrance, where heat poured out through the narrow doorway along with the sounds of frying food and workers having a lighthearted night.

Hazel dared not look back to see where Callum was. Carolyn forced her through the back door, and to Hazel’s horror, she had her SUV parked right outside and the driver’s side door was open. Carolyn had planned to make Hazel drive, presumably with a gun pointed at her in case she tried to escape or attract attention.

Did a dive bar like this have cameras? Not likely.

Hazel knew she had to do something. She could not get in that vehicle before Callum caught up to them.

Relying—desperately—on what she had heard about self-defense, she dropped all her weight straight down. Carolyn wasn’t a big woman. Hazel felt her former boss stumble and rake at her clothes, to no avail. She stepped back to maintain her balance. It was enough for Hazel to scramble away, looking for cover.

She didn’t have to panic long. Callum emerged from the back door, smacking Carolyn’s head with the butt of his pistol, and she fell like a rag doll. He kicked her gun away and rushed over to Hazel.

“Are you all right?” He was breathless and his eyes were wild with fear.

She just grabbed his face with both hands and kissed him hard once. “Yes. I am, Callum. I love you.” She kissed him hard again and then stopped herself.

What had she said? The words had tumbled out.

Heat hardened his eyes from frantic concern. Was the tension sexual—or maybe loving? But it appeared only for an instant.

“Go inside and get the police,” he said.

She did as he asked. But as she ran into the bar and to the front, the glow of warmth she had seen in him crept into her in a different way. He’d caught the feeling and shut it off.

He wasn’t ready for this, for her to have blurted out words of love.

Outside, she found the officers and told them about Carolyn. They instructed her to wait. She’d have to give a statement and so would Callum.

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