Page 309 of Hell Hath No Fury
WITHOUT PAUSE OR GUILT,
A HUNTING HER NOVELETTE
EDEN SUMMERS
CHAPTER ONE
Anissa
I sit on a stool at a shady bar on the wrong side of town, a glass of cheap Chardonnay cradled in my hands.
I shouldn’t be here. Not on my own. Not without a cell or any way to call for help. But I couldn’t risk Cole tracking me.
He’d be pissed if he found out.
No.He’d be downright murderous.
I take a sip of wine, holding the tart taste against my tongue as the door opens on the opposite side of this flea-riddled establishment.
Nobody else is here. Nobody of consequence, anyway. There’s the bartender in his dirty T-shirt, who pretends to be busy stacking glasses while he stares down the front of my blouse. A drunk guy is slumped in the far corner. A quiet couple are at a table near the back.
I made sure there weren’t any threats when I arrived twenty minutes ago, my gun in my purse for good measure.
The person entering the building walks toward the bar. Towardme. I don’t need to look over my shoulder to confirm who it is. I recognize the cadence of his steps. The confident charisma of his pace.
He slides onto the stool next to mine and raises a finger to the bartender. “Bourbon on the rocks, thanks.”
The perve does the newcomer’s bidding as I sit tall, my heart fluttering in my chest.
“Thanks for coming.” Easton swivels to face me, my once close friend taking liberties by dragging his knee against my outer thigh.
“You didn’t give me much choice. I haven’t heard from you in months, then you reached out saying it was urgent.” I stare at my wine, not making eye contact with the only confidant I knew before my world changed. Before I chose darkness over light, turning my back on the so-called good to negate a life many would claim is evil. “Do you have a death wish?”
“It was your choice to sneak around. God forbid your boyfriend finds out we’re talking.”
I slide my left hand away from my glass and curl my fingers into my palm, trying to be subtle as I hide the ring on my wedding finger.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” He snatches my wrist before I can lower it beneath the bar. “You married him?”
I startle at the contact. I haven’t been touched by another man in months. Nobody would dare. Not if they valued their life.
“We’re engaged.” I drag my hand away, struggling to understand the ache in my chest.
It’s not regret. Or sorrow. But I can’t quite pinpoint the pain throbbing inside me. All I know is that it revolves around my fiancé and how things haven’t been stellar lately.
“Engaged?” Easton grates. “Jesus Christ. You’re really doing this.”
I’ve been doing it for half a year—living with Cole Torian,lovinga professional criminal after leaving behind my career in law enforcement.
“I guess time is of the essence when you’re hooking up with someone whose actions will put you behind bars.” He raises his bourbon, downs the contents, then slams the glass back to the bar.
I wish I could argue his logic, but for the most part he’s right.
One day, Cole will run into someone he can’t bribe, intimidate, or kill. Then he’ll go to prison with me quickly following. And still I don’t regret my decision. Not even when we’ve been arguing non-stop all week.
“What do you want, Easton?” I meet his gaze.
“What do I want?” His light blue eyes plead for understanding. “It’s been six months of radio silence since you turned your back on your career, your life, and me. Was I meant to simply forget about you?”
