The man was crazy-town. “I’ll pass,” Heath said, stepping closer.
Daniel held the knife like he knew how to use it. “I was hoping you’d say that,” he said.
Heath angled more to the side to protect Anya. There was only one way this could go, so he settled into a mental place of action and no thought. It was too late to consider alternatives here. “I had a nice talk with Cinnamon while we were looking for you,” he said conversationally.
Daniel stilled. “Excuse me?”
“The whore who trained you? I tracked her down.” Heath set his stance. Good thing Shane had told him everything.
Daniel’s voice hitched. “You did not.”
“Sure, I did. She’s living back East, still screwing for money. She told me you could rarely get it up, and she’d have to slap you around to turn you on.” Heath made up the lie on the spot.
“That’s not true,” Daniel spat.
Heath eyed the man’s legs. He could take out Daniel’s knees. But the knife was key. He had to get that fucking knife. “Sure, it is. When I told her you were the Copper Killer, she laughed her ass off. Said you probably had to tie them up to get them interested in you. Also said you have a small dick.”
“You bastard!” Daniel roared, running with the knife.
Heath pivoted, shot an elbow into Daniel’s broken nose, and smoothly took the knife. Flipping it around in his hand, he kicked Daniel in the back of the knee. Daniel dropped, partially turning. Grabbing his hair, Heath sliced the knife across his neck, cutting as deeply as he could.
Blood arced as Daniel gurgled. His arms dropped to his sides. He pitched forward, his head hit the snow, and his feet flopped back. The snow all around him turned a deep red.
“Heath!” Anya rushed into his arms, tears falling down her face.
He dropped the knife and held her with one arm, tucking her close. “It’s okay, baby,” he whispered into her wet hair. “You’re all right.” Slowly, he moved her away so he could see her face. “How hurt are you?” He had to know. “Whatever it is, whatever you went through, we’ll fix it together. I’ll help you. I promise.” The words rolled from his tongue and came from his heart.
She shuddered. “I’m fine.” Her eyes darkened as she looked at the dead man. “In fact, I think I hurt him more than he hurt me.” Her lips trembled as she almost smiled. “Broke his nose, you know.”
“I saw his nose—didn’t know you’d done it, though.” Heath held her to him again, not liking her trembling. “You did good.”
She sniffled against his chest, her body moving from trembling to full-on shaking. “I may have a nightmare or two later on, though.”
“Me too.” Heath picked her up, and the snow tried to fight him. They’d comfort each other in the nights to come.
She settled and pressed her freezing face to his neck. “What now?”
“I’ll get you to the cabin and warm. Then I need to bring Daniel here to his truck, where hopefully he has the Copper Killer stuff he used.”
She looked up at the sky. “What about Cobb and Madison? Shouldn’t we get out of here?”
“We will. We’re safe from them, considering you shot Madison.” His heart swelled. His woman was quite amazing, now, wasn’t she? “I’m so proud of you, by the way. You really are a badass, you know?”
She kissed his neck. “We can talk later. Let’s get out of the storm now.”
“Good plan.” He turned and started slogging back toward the cabin. He had a lot to do. “I promise I’ll get us out of this, sweetheart.” They reached the cabin in record time, and he put her right next to the fire. “Stay here and get warm. I’ll go fetch Daniel’s body.”
She nodded, her face contorting in pain from the sudden warmth.
His chest ached, and he pulled Denver’s phone from his back pocket to quickly dial.
“What?” Detective Malloy snapped.
“Malloy, it’s Heath. How’s my brother?”
“Where are you, dickhead?” Malloy roared. “I’m going to arrest you for sure.”
Heath winced. “Seriously. Denver?”
