She was doing a very good job of shutting me down. Too bad for her that soon she wouldn’t be able to ignore me or my needs. “Your hand was bruised. Had you been beating the victim, holding him hostage in some dirty little warehouse? Perhaps using him as a punching bag until your patience grew thin. Then you decided to cut him into pieces, creating an artful picture with them?”
“I assure you that if I’d killed the man, his body would have never been found, Ms. Devereaux. I’m many things but not without a lack of attention to detail. Very important in my world.”
“Then what were you doing? Will I hear about another body?”
My God, she was pushing me to points no other woman had done before. The thoughts I had and the filthy things I wanted to do to her would certainly land me in jail. “If you’d like to know and can handle the truth, I’ll be glad to share the vivid details.”
“Keep trying to intimidate me, Mr. Prince, and I’ll ensure the death penalty is on the table.”
Now I laughed. “I do so adore a woman with guts. Since you asked so nicely, I’ll be happy to tell you that on the day we met, which I certainly find highly suspicious at this point, I was providing needed punishment for a man in my employ who provided illegal drugs for his fifteen-year-old brother. I don’t tolerate drugs being provided to kids.”
She blinked a couple of times before a smile curled across her lush lips. “I’ll be certain to tell the judge you’re a regular hero during your sentencing.”
“Then I guess you’ll need to pin a murder on me that I didn’t commit. Are you up for the task? Or are you still wondering what it would feel like to have my cock plunged into your tight cunt?”
“You fucking bastard.”
I caught her hand in mid-motion just before she managed to crack her palm across my face.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
“What the hell?” Her slight cry jolted me nearly as much as the sound of gunfire.
“Get down,” I told her, reacting immediately. Fuck. This was the last thing I needed.
The sound of people screaming could be heard over the soundproofing. I had no doubt that chaos had already ensued or the reason for the attack.
Someone wanted my life.
“Why? I need to contact the deputy.” Her voice quavered.
She wasn’t given a choice as the double doors were flung open, a gunman setting foot inside. Screams filled the courtroom as I threw myself on top of her, tackling her to the cold tile floor. But I didn’t stay there, immediately jumping to my feet and lunging toward the lone gunman. He wasn’t prepared for me to attack unarmed, which gave me a slight advantage.
The barrel of his weapon was pointed in Catherine’s direction.
I grabbed his arm with one hand, swinging him around with the other. Ripping the weapon free, I smashed it against the side of his head. Ordinarily I’d put a bullet into his brain. Not this go-around. I did want to stay free until I could figure out who the fuck was trying to frame me on top of killing my father.
The lovely prosecutor had just become my accomplice in escaping.
Chaos had ensued, additional gunfire sounding further away. Maybe the armed guards positioned inside the courthouse had managed to chase the perpetrators away from the courtrooms. That didn’t mean much. I’d have limited time to get away.
“What are you doing?” she demanded when I grabbed her around the waist, yanking her toward the door I’d seen the judge come through. She has a strong grip on her briefcase, using it to shield herself.
“I’m getting the fuck out of here and you’re going to help me.”
“Like hell I will.”
While she struggled like a wildcat, stronger than I’d given her credit for, I managed to get her out the door leading to the private chambers of the various judges. We had no time to lose given there was undoubtedly more than one gunman in the courthouse building.
“Let me go.” Her small fists pounded against my chest. “Goddamn you.”
She continued fighting me as we raced down the corridor. I constantly looked behind, prepared to see a gunman chasing after us at any time. When she managed to break free, I was forced to tackle her against the wall.
People were running, barely paying any attention to a huge man holding a weapon and one of their prosecutors. While she calledout once, I noticed she hadn’t begged for help. Maybe she didn’t mind being my captive.
Her breathing was labored, every action panic driven. The terror in her eyes was centered more around what I was doing instead of understanding what we were both facing. That was because she was far too innocent, unused to dealing with day-to-day living on the other side of the law.
Time to provide the first lesson in survival.
