“Why did you poison Randy’s mom?”
“Money, stupid. She and Gordon were low-hanging fruit. We had already moved in. All we had to do was get them outa the way, then live off their savings until we could steal your money.”
Providence’s muscles tensed while her breathing roared in her ears.
“You know what we were planning next?” Lizzie asked.
“Fuck you, Beth,” Dakota growled.
“Kidnapping your daughter. Sweet little Sammy adored her teacher. We figured she was worth at least twenty-five mil.”
Rage exploded through Providence. She stormed into the kitchen. Lizzie—now a brunette—was glaring down at Dakota, a gun pointed at his chest. He’d been tied up and secured to the kitchen furniture. “Put the gun down.Now!”
Lizzie raised her gun and fired. As Providence staggered backwards, Lizzie aimed her gun at Dakota.
BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM!
Lizzie hit the floor, blood pouring from her chest.
Providence staggered over to Dakota. “Are you okay? Were you shot?”
“No. Where were you hit?”
“She got me in the chest, but I’m wearing my vest.” Though wracked with pain, Providence untied him. “These are bowline knots.”
Once freed, he checked her. A bullet had struck her dead center. “Jesus, she would have killed you.”
“I’m fine.”
“Like hell you are. Sit. Now.”
Hugging herself, Providence folded into the kitchen chair.
Being as gentle as possible, Dakota removed her shirt and the vest, then checked her chest. “Nice, easy breaths, babe,” he instructed. “You might have a cracked rib.”
As he helped her back into her shirt, she flinched, then winced. “This could have been a lot worse.”
“You, Providence Reynolds, are my bad-ass queen.”
Despite the discomfort, she smiled.
Dakota called Beeker. “Aaron, it’s Dakota. Lizzie Maddox tried to kill me. She’s at my house…Providence has been shot… Maddox is dead.” Dakota hung up and kissed Providence’s cheek. “He’s on his way and he’s calling for an ambulance.”
She was sweating and her heart was pounding so hard, she was having trouble catching her breath. Dakota got her a glass of water. After she drank it down, he held her hand until her heart rate slowed and she could catch her breath.
“She was the mastermind,” he said. “She was in charge of everything.”
“Not everything,” Providence said, staring at Lizzie’s lifeless body. “And not anymore.” She peered into his eyes. “Your nightmare is over. She can’t hurt you and she can’t take your daughter.”
A tear slid down Providence’s cheek. “Sammy’s the one child Icouldsave.”
29
R&R
Providence walked inside ALPHA HQ, her man by her side. What seemed like a lifetime ago, she had driven there with a chip on her shoulder. But now, she had a renewed sense of confidence and accomplishment. So much had changed.
Together, they entered Luther’s office.
