Chapter 10
PANTING,John’s bear raced into one of the caves on the farthest end of Gemini Island. Luckily he’d had a good head start when Connor began chasing him, enough of one he’d been able to stow his gun in a hollowed tree stump. The man’s cat was fast, and John’s bear was no match for it as far as speed was concerned. However, he had the extra motivation of not wanting to be torn apart by an angry lover.
Padding softly into the cave, John shifted back into human form. He’d stowed his clothes in there earlier and was eager to change into them. Fully clothed once more, he sat down and tried to catch his breath.
He’d tried to shoot a man today.
He’d attempted to kill a man today.
How on earth had he managed to sink so low?
It must have been when Hill threatened to stuff and mount him.
“Bring me Elaine Gleason,” Hill had said during their last phone call. “I don’t care what you have to do.”
“But Connor is always with her,” argued John.
“Then get rid of Connor.”
Hill had provided him with a gun. A fucking gun. John hadn’t even held one before. He’d had to learn how to use it quickly.
Unfortunately thoseYouTubelessons hadn’t taught him enough to bring down Connor Church.
Truth be told, John had been avoiding Elaine of late. He didn’t like the idea of turning her over to Hill. He knew Hill had nothing good planned for her and her kids. Killing women and children struck him as distasteful.
And yet when he’d seen Elaine’s fine ass grinding against Connor in the woods, it had seemed like serendipity.
I want her, and I want those cubs. Make it happen.
If only his shots had hit home. If he’d managed to kill Connor, he would have been able to spirit Elaine away. He would have had to come back for the cubs, which wouldn’t have been easy, but Hill seemed more interested in mama bear anyway.
He stood and poked his head out of the cave, breathing deeply. He detected the scent of a pissed-off mountain lion, but it was far away. He’d obviously lost Connor.
He needed to head home and act calmly.
He reached for the resort nametag in his pants pocket and affixed it to his shirt. As he exited the cave, he snagged his shirt on a jutting piece of rock. It tugged and tore, leaving a small hole in his shirt. “Dammit!”
Closing his eyes, John breathed in and out. “Relax. Settle down.” He ran his hands through his hair. It didn’t help. His chest hadn’t stopped heaving.
He hated that he had to do this, but he had no choice. Hill had the goods on him. The trafficker knew all his dirty secrets.
But when would he get another chance? Now everyone on the island would be on alert.
Connor wouldn’t let Elaine out of his sight now. It was clear the man saw her as more than a friend. He loved her and would do anything to protect her. His furious yowls had said so.
That meant John needed to be smarter. Above all, it meant he needed to separate them.
“Separate them?” he mumbled to himself.
How was it he’d been reducing to plotting a couple’s demise? John might have taken one or two of badly aimed shots, but it didn’t mean he had it in him to butcher an innocent family.
He had to find some other way to pay Hill back, with enough interest the loan shark wouldn’t pursue him. He could then disappear. There had to be a way.
His gambling addiction spoke up, rattling his bones with insistence.There’s always another way, friend. Feeling lucky tonight?
If he hurried over to the mainland and grabbed the number twelve bus, he’d be at the casino in no time. Hill might want the woman, but surely a wad of cash would sway him.
All he needed was one big win, and his problems would be solved.
