I took the time to button my shirt before moving closer. Her lips were twisted together in an expression of frustration. I continued buttoning, including rolling down my sleeves. As soon as I was finished, I gripped her cheek and chin with more force than I’d used before.
She tugged slightly against my hold but refused to allow me the satisfaction of knowing my actions bothered her. “You now know who I am, Fleur. And I gathered from our conversation you know what I’m capable of.”
“I can’t tell if you’re trying to scare or threaten me.”
“Why would I dare threaten anyone so beautiful?”
“Cut the crap, Montgomery. I’m not one of your conquests or traitors who roam your castle of gold.”
She had me laughing. “Fair enough. However, I need to ask you a question and I want a truthful answer. Do you have any idea who’d want to kill you?”
“I don’t think that’s what happened. I already told you that.” The way her eyes deflected was telling.
“Let’s be clear. The driver was going at least fifty miles per hour when he crossed where you were standing. The truck was a Dodge Ram 2500 with a HEMI engine. At approximately six thousand pounds, the direct hit would have resulted in your body being tossed two dozen yards across the street. When your body came crashing to the pavement, the bones that hadn’t been broken upon impact would have been shattered. Including your skull. Yes, the person behind the wheel was trying to end your life on purpose. Who would want to do that?”
Did I intend on scaring her? At least enough for Fleur to take this seriously.
Her cheeks flushed as I’d seen so many times before, but for an entirely different reason. “I… I don’t know.”
The slight stutter gave her away. My grip tightened. “You’re lying to me.”
“Why would I? Do you think I want some deranged cowboy coming after me? I don’t have any enemies that I know of.”
“Alright. I’ll accept that.”
She finally held my gaze. No nervous tics. No trembling. I kept my hold firm for a few seconds before letting her go. As soon asI did, she grabbed her jacket, immediately flicking off the light. When I didn’t budge, she huffed. “Are you coming?”
Chuckling, I trailed behind her in the darkness.
Before she’d taken three steps toward the house, she stopped. As soon as every muscle in her body tensed, I jerked out my weapon, pulling her behind me. “What’s wrong?”
“Maybe nothing, but I left the light on in the kitchen over the stove when we walked out, as I always do. I just replaced the bulb last week.”
Without hesitation, I pulled her against the building, keeping her from an easy view from the house. The cane was dropped, useless to me. “Listen to me. You’re going to stay right here. Do you have your phone?”
“No, I left it in the house.”
“If something happens, I want you to run through the woods and find your closest neighbor. Do you understand me?”
“What are you going to do?”
“My job. Don’t defy me. Just follow my instructions.”
“Okay. Fine. I will.” With her voice wavering, she huddled in the darkness, and I waited for two seconds before crouching low and heading toward the back door. She’d left it unlocked, which didn’t matter at this point. I slowly turned the handle, listening for any telltale sounds of an invader. Whoever was inside had had ample opportunity to kill us both, which prompted the question of why lie in wait? Plus, why would anyone tip off the owner of the house?
With a slight creak in the hinges, I pushed open the door with my fingers, waiting before taking a step inside. The music from the satellite radio continued in the living room, but there was a sense of quiet that I’d experienced far too many times in my life.
My instincts were never wrong. Someone was inside. Besides, a new odor surpassed the lasagna and scent of candles. A masculine scent.
I moved through the darkened kitchen, taking cautious steps, entering the hallway leading to the living room. With the doorway in my sights, I slunk against the wall, both hands on my weapon. A single additional step and I noticed someone sitting in her leather chair with his back to me.
My bum leg wasn’t a hindrance tonight. Neither was the fact it had been a few years since I’d dealt with an intruder situation. At least my training hadn’t been lost in prosperity. Yet when I was a few inches away, his body stiffened, alerted by my presence.
Just as the intruder jerked up, I dragged him over the back of the chair, immediately pitching him against the wall. Without hesitation, I issued two brutal punches, one knocking the weapon in his hand halfway across the room.
He was startled, unreactive at least at first. But he came out swinging, throwing a brutal punch to my stomach, pushing himself off my chest and spinning in a martial arts move. The first kick caught me in the gut, tumbling me backward.
But when he repeated his successful move, I snapped my hand around his leg, twisting him brutally until I heard a slight pop. I shoved him back, eager to end this.
