Page 10 of Allie's Shelter

Still, she shivered, thinking of what could’ve happened had her aunt been home last night. But she hadn’t been. Allie had only used the house on the lake because her aunt was gone.

The oppressive weight that was becoming a constant companion settled on her shoulders again. She couldn’t decide on a plan of action that didn’t wind up with innocent people getting caught in the line of fire.

Ross’s phone sounded, jerking her out of her reverie. The water shut off a moment later and his deep voice barked out single syllable replies. She glanced down at the cooling biscuits and gravy. She’d managed only a few bites while she’d been lost in thought.

Shoveling another scoop of her favorite food into her mouth, she nearly choked when a sharp rap on the door made her jump. “Deputy Parker for Miz Williams.”

Allie got up to answer the brusque female voice on the other side of the door, then hesitated. “Just a second,” she called. She looked through the peep-hole and recognized the local Haleswood uniform. While her legal troubles weren’t his problem, Allie discovered she didn’t want to open this door without Ross beside her.

“Oh, be a big girl,” she whispered to herself.

She reached out and flipped the deadbolt, only to have the room spin by in a blur. Ross, heavy, hot, and damp from the shower sandwiched her between his chest and the hard wall behind the door.

She didn’t have time to either enjoy the sensation or protest as the door flew toward them and the woman lunged into the room, leading with a charged Taser.

Ross’s big hands on her shoulders held Allie in place as he kicked the legs out from under the deputy. She wanted to argue, to warn him, even as a thousand questions raced through her mind. The uniform was local, but why would Sheriff Cochran tell anyone to use force? She knew Bradley wanted the data back, but bribing a local deputy seemed extreme.

She cried a warning as the Taser fired, barely missing Ross as he drove a fist into the deputy’s gut and left the woman gasping for air.

“The door!”

She slammed it shut.

“The clock!” He barked. “The cord,” he clarified when she didn’t move. Flipping the deputy to her stomach he wrenched the woman’s hands behind her back.

“You can’t do that,” Allie said, her heart pounding. His face was dark with a determination that unnerved her and she worried about what he might do. “I’ll call the sheriff.”

“In a minute. I need the cord!” With a knee on the woman’s kidneys, he signaled Allie to hurry.

She rushed forward with the clock radio, startled as he used the power cord to cinch the deputy’s hands.

“Lock the door,” he snapped. “And don’t open it again unless I say so.” He stood up and retrieved the Taser.

“This isn’t the end,” the woman stuttered as her breath returned. “You won’t—”

Allie jumped when Ross zapped the deputy with the Taser.

“Ross, that’s an officer of the law.”

“No, she isn’t.” Ross walked back to the bathroom, pulled on a gray company tee, and buttoned his jeans.

Allie tried not to regret the loss of that amazing view of his chest. Or that she knew he wasn’t wearing anything under the worn denim.

Shocked, she caught only a few words as he made a call. It sounded like he spoke directly to Sheriff Cochran.

There was a lengthy silence in which she could only listen to the fake deputy groan. Determined to be proactive, Allie studied her face, wondering if she’d seen the woman before. Probably not, though she looked vaguely familiar. Most likely Allie was simply too paranoid after being chased out of her job and away from the life and career she’d worked so hard to achieve.

“Okay, we’re out of here.”

“What?” Where would they go? Correction, where would she go? Sheriff’s orders or not, she couldn’t let Ross keep fighting her battles and dragging her around town. Not when she felt like he was holding back something important about his purpose in Haleswood. Guilt niggled at her. She hadn’t been completely honest with him either.

“We have to leave. Unless you want to stick around and be a sitting duck for whoever is next in line.”

“In line?”

He shook his head as if he couldn’t believe she was so dense. “To take you out.”

“No.” Her hands were shaking and she had to make an effort to keep her voice steady. “No, I don’t want that.”

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