Page 48 of Marked for Danger

Not even in death.

Izzy continued to buck and kick her legs, but her efforts were in vain. Valdez was too simply too strong.

He put the knife to the edge of her throat, the paper-thin point piercing her skin on contact. And still, she refused to beg.

I’m sorry Olly. So, so sorry. And Grady…God, I loved you so much. More than you will ever know. Please go on. Be happy. You both deserve to be happy.

Knowing her time on this earth had come to an end, Izzy chose to go out with as much dignity as she could. With her gaze locked on the man hell-bent on ending her life, she jutted her chin and dared him to get on with it.

“What are you waiting for?” she demanded. “You came here to kill me, so just do it. Slice my throat and be done with it.”

Valdez actually pulled the blade away and smiled. “You surprise me, Isobel. I expected you to beg. Most people do, you know.”

“Yeah, well I’m not most people, asshole.”

“No.” He chuckled. “I don’t suppose you are. It’s a shame, really. My buyers would’ve paid top dollar for a piece of ass like you.”

Remembering the phone still on…still in her pocket…she prayed whoever was listening could hear the conversation clearly enough to understand what she was doing.

“Yeah? How much you thinking? What did all those other women bring in? A grand? Five?”

“Try fifty,” Valdez sounded offended. “The women I sell aren’t the pieces of shit I could pick off the streets. I run the most successful trafficking business in the tri-state area. I’ve made millions off the girls I’ve sold. And I’ll make even more after you’re gone.”

A shadow fell over the wall behind Valdez. Izzy saw it, knew exactly what had created it. Valdez, however, was too busy bragging about his illegal dealings to notice.

“What about the drugs and guns?” She did her best to keep him talking. “Those bring in millions, too?”

“More money that you could count in a lifetime. Now I’d love to spend more time with you, but I have places to be. And, as you so generously pointed out, the cops are on headed this way, so—”

“We’re already here, asshole.”

Grady’s imposing form came into view behind Valdez, his department-issued weapon pressed against the back of Dante’s head. Just as Valdez had ordered his men to do to those three murdered boys.

See how you like it, you sick bastard.

“Drop the knife and stand up slowly.”

“How about you drop your gun and I don’t slice her throat.”

“Not asking you again.”

Valdez stared down at her, the look in his eyes telling. A man like that would rather die than go to prison. And even in death, he’d want to keep his reputation intact, which meant..

He’s going to do it. He’s going to kill me.

Izzy knew this was her final chance. If she died fighting, so be it.

She held her breath and counted down in her head. When she got to one, she twisted her head as far away from the knife as she could in hopes of giving Grady a clean shot.

The knife cut into her skin a fraction of a second before a deafening bang filled the room. She expected to feel Valdez’s lifeless body fall on top of hers, but instead he was lifted off by the man who’d just ended his life.

“Izzy!”

“Grady!”

He pulled her to her feet and swallowed her whole in his warm embrace. Their frantic hearts beat together as one, and it was in that moment Izzy knew this man was her future.

“I thought I lost you.” Grady took her mouth in his. “God, I was so scared.”

“I wasn’t going anywhere,” she lied. Not without you by my side.”

***

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