Page 26 of Winter's Thaw

“Fuck you, fox. I should have done this weeks ago.” She cocked the gun and centered it on his chest.

Before Laura could make a move, Roberta’s husband hurried to his mate’s side.

“Hold on, now, honey. We need to make this look like an animal attack. Or that they died of exposure. Nothing to tie their deaths to us, not with our alibis at home.”

Fake alibis. Laura wanted to end them both and had to remind herself she was a deputy sheriff.

“I vote snow. Let the cold kill ‘em.” One of the idiot raptors, normally behind bars, voice his opinion.

Another agreed. “Yeah. I’m not going down for murder, Roberta. I already have two marks against me.”

“Same,” another said.

Roberta glared them all into silence. “It won’t matter how many bullet holes I shoot into these assholes. We’re going to bury the bodies. No one will ever find them.”

Her mate cheered up. “Oh, well then. That sounds good. Guys, what do you think?”

“This isn’t a democracy, Glen,” Roberta growled.

But the others behind him nodded their agreement.

Laura knew the time had come to shift and take them on. But her clothes were in the way.

Gerald shocked her by stepping behind her and grabbing her shoulders, pinning her in place. “Now hold on, Roberta. Surely, we can make a deal.”

Roberta snorted. “What kind of deal?”

He pushed Laura at her. “The kind where I give you the sheriff’s favorite deputy, as well as dirt on the eagle clan, and you let me go free so I can marry my fiancée—Vanessa Baylor.”

Laura gaped at him. “What?”

“I knew those rumors were true,” Roberta said with glee. “Your mother was talking about her just last week at the council meeting.”

“You’re engaged?” Laura didn’t believe him. There was no way they could have bonded if he’d been planning to be with Vanessa. But she had heard those same rumors, that the matchmaker had declared Vanessa and Gerald potential mates. And Vanessa was a gorgeous, rich, slender woman. A fox from one of the important fox families.

Gerald shrugged. “Sorry. I was horny. You were there. And I just didn’t want the hassle of having to spend my Christmas all alone.”

The others laughed.

Be ready, she heard in her mind, shocked to feel the bond snap in place so that their animal spirits could communicate telepathically.

Gerald?

Finally! You’re hearing me. Yes, I’m lying, you idiot. Vanessa’s obnoxious. Why would I ever want her when I have you? Now get ready while I distract them. Then get your bear back in here to kick some ass.

She schooled her expression to continue to look surprised and angry, not relieved. Hurry up. If you get shot, I’m not going to be happy.

“He’s lying,” Glen suddenly said. “You can smell the mate-bond, can’t you?”

Roberta’s eyes narrowed.

And Gerald attacked.

Chapter Twenty

Gerald had no idea what he was doing. He was a lawyer, not a fighter. He left brawls to others more suited to low-class behavior. But Roberta was so damn annoying, selfish as all get-out, and not at all good at her job as alpha.

Yet one more reason to loathe the woman.

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