Thomas Thorn was a lawyer for the Mexican mafia. When he learned I’d been appointed District Attorney, he saw an opportunity. He wanted protection. Cooperation. Silence.
When I laughed in his face, he wrapped his hands around my throat and squeezed until the room went black.
When I woke up choking on air, he told me the cartel would descend on Eagle River if I didn’t marry him.
My dad said Trigger was back. Maybe he could help me.
Or am I too late
Thomas watched me constantly. I wasn’t allowed anywhere alone. Someone was always there—across the street, in the lobby, outside my car.
The wedding was in Eagle River.
That was my one chance.
My phone rang, and I nearly dropped it.
“Hello?”
“Rylie, it’s Nora. We were supposed to meet at the library.”
Guilt washed over me. “I’m sorry—I forgot. Everything’s been… chaos.”
“Wedding nerves?”
“Something like that.”
She offered to come to the city. Panic flared.
“No,” I said too quickly. “Please stay in Eagle River. You’re about to have that baby.”
“The Magnolia ladies say babies come when they feel like it.”
I forced a laugh, but my hands were shaking.
“I’ll see you in a couple of days.”
3
Trigger
The church bells hadn’t rung yet.
That was the first thing that felt wrong.
I was sitting at the only red light in town, drumming my fingers against the steering wheel, telling myself I wasn’t watching the church—just killing time. The small white building sat quiet under a pale morning sky, stained-glass windows glowing soft and harmless in the sunlight.
Too harmless.
The light turned green.
And the church’s back door exploded open.
Rylie Tate came flying out like she’d been shot from a cannon.
Barefoot.
White dress torn at the hem.
