Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 147967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 740(@200wpm)___ 592(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 740(@200wpm)___ 592(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
She was a terrible, awful person and Maya couldn’t believe she’d gotten away with this for as long as she had.
“My dad got suspicious?” she asked.
“He found out about some of the bribery and extortion happening among his cops. He was outraged, and started making all sorts of noises about looking into it. So I had to redirect him.”
“With threats,” Matthieu said.
Kathryn sighed. “I didn’t have time to think of anything else. I admit I panicked and could have done better. But I made the first two threats and he didn’t take them seriously. So I decided to threaten his precious children. And then I had Malcolm attempt to run him off the road.” She shrugged. “It gave me what I wanted. But, unfortunately, mentioning you was my big mistake, Maya. He decided to hire a security company, who, for some reason, went and stuck their noses in my business. And some friend of yours, that no one will tell me the name of, went looking for Vince and scared him into becoming a blabbermouth.”
“But Vince hasn’t told anyone that it’s you,” Matthieu said.
“It’s only a matter of time,” Kathryn replied. “Like I said, he’s in love with me.”
“So why are you here telling us this?” Maya asked. “Why aren’t you running?” It seemed dumb to confess this to them.
“Just a bit of unfinished business.” Kathryn drew out a gun and pointed it at Maya.
Oh my God.
What the hell was she doing? She was going to shoot her?
Maya felt a laugh bubble in her chest, even though this wasn’t funny. It just seemed apt that this was what their relationship had come to.
“Uh-uh, don’t try to be the hero and jump in front of her,” Kathryn said to Matthieu. “I will shoot you both without hesitation.”
“This is a dumb move, Kathryn,” Matthieu told her quietly. “We have friends and they will come after you. You could have just left quietly without doing any of this.”
“Yes, that’s what I should have done. I should have left days ago. But until Vince was found it wasn’t necessary. I really thought Malcolm would find him first and take care of him.”
Holy heck. She’d sent Malcolm after Vince? To kill him?
“Then when he was caught I failed to leave quickly enough and was dragged into interviews. I was given a police officer for my protection. From what? Oh, and I had revenge burning in my stomach. It just didn’t feel right to leave without a little present for your father. If I could have gotten to him, I would have. He’s just so pathetic. Frankly, I deserve someone younger and more . . . virile.”
Oh God. This was it. She was going to die. Who would look after her babies? And Matthieu was going down with her.
This was terrible and she couldn’t think how to stop it.
What could she do?
She closed her eyes, bracing herself.
And nothing happened.
There was a soft thump and she opened her eyes, glancing down to find Kathryn lying on the floor, unconscious.
Matthieu had pulled his gun and was suddenly standing in front of her. “Who’s there? Where are you?”
“Just a friend,” a voice said.
What the heck?
“What h-happened?” she asked.
“Someone just shot Kathryn and I can’t see them,” Matthieu told her.
“Because I don’t want to be seen,” the voice said. “And she’s not dead. Just tranquilized. I really wanted to kill her but Pup made me promise that I wouldn’t. He’ll need to make that up to me. But I’m sure he will. She’s knocked out and now you can call the cops and have her arrested. The good cops, not the crooked ones. Not that I’m a fan of the police. Or the law.”
Maya couldn’t keep up. What was happening? Why had this man tranquilized Kathryn? And who was Pup?
“I gather we’re talking to the Fox,” Matthieu said tensely.
The Fox?
Oh my God.
The guy who had found Vince?
“Good guess and you can put the gun down. I’m not going to harm you. I care nothing for you. You don’t interest me, but Maya does. My Pup likes her. He admires what she does for her animals. And he wouldn’t be happy if something happened to her. So that’s why I’m here. To protect her.”
Matthieu slowly lowered his gun.
“Good call. I could have shot you dead at any time so your gun wasn’t really protecting you. Now, I’ve handed you everyone in a nice package. First, Vince. Now, Kathryn. I accept muffins as a thank you gift. Or cookies. You can leave them with my Pup.”
“Wait,” she said suddenly. If this was the Fox was the Pup Brody? It had to be, right? And the Fox had helped Maya again because of Brody? Thank God Brody liked her. “How are you here?”
The question didn’t come out quite right but she was having trouble gathering her thoughts together.