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Claire swallowed past the lump in her throat. “No. You said everything perfectly.” She leaned in closer, her lips brushing against his in a gentle kiss. “I’m falling in love with you too.”
He inhaled sharply and his hand trembled slightly as he tilted her head to deepen the kiss. Claire lost herself in the moment. She was safe with Gavin. There would be bumps along the road during their romance, but she knew with every ounce of her being that he would never purposefully hurt her. She could trust him with her heart.
When the kiss ended, they were both breathless. Gavin pulled her back into the circle of his arms. Claire rested her head on his chest, snuggling into the comfort of his embrace. They stayed like that for a long time, not talking, just enjoying the quiet moment together. Rain tapped against the windowpane.
Finally, Gavin sighed. “It’s late. I should go. We have a meeting first thing tomorrow morning with the entire ranger team.”
Reality came crashing down on Claire like a bucket of icy water. Things with Gavin were settled, but the case wasn’t over. They were no closer to finding the killer—or killers—than they had been this morning.
“Can we talk the crimes through again, one more time?” Claire backed away from Gavin to look him in the face. “I feel like we’re missing something. Something obvious. It’s right there at the edge of my mind, but I can’t grasp it.”
“Sure—”
Claire’s cell phone cut him off. She ran to the kitchen to grab it from the charger. The number wasn’t one she recognized. “Sheriff Wilson.”
“Someone’s here.” Maribelle’s voice was hushed and ladened with fear. “It’s Xavier. He broke into my cabin—” A sob choked off her words.
Claire flew into motion, pulling on her shoes. Gavin appeared by her side and she put the call on speaker. “I’m coming right now. Keep talking to me, Maribelle. Can you get out of the cabin?”
“No. I’m hiding in the closet. But I can hear him searching. Hurry, please! He’s going to find me, and when he does…he’ll kill me.”
Seventeen
Gavin raced through the trees separating Claire’s cabin from Maribelle’s. Rain pelted his head, the water running in rivets down the back of his collar to chill his skin. Branches tugged at his clothes. His breath came in puffs, the frigid air shocking his lungs. Beside him, Claire kept pace. Her weapon was drawn and ready.
The cabin’s lights were on. The back door swung open in the wind before slamming shut again, as if by an invisible hand. Pieces of the knob were scattered on the concrete. Xavier must’ve broken it while forcing his way inside. Gavin positioned himself next to the door, his boots sliding from the mud trapped in their treads.
Claire peeked in a window. Her wet hair was plastered to her head. She wasn’t wearing a coat. Mud spatters painted her tennis shoes and the bottoms of her yoga pants. She dipped down next to Gavin, the scent of her citrus perfume mixing with the smell of the rain. “I don’t see anyone in the living room.”
Gavin adjusted his hold on the weapon in his hand. His gaze skimmed the road leading to the cabin. Where was the trooper assigned to watch the property? He should be here by now. They’d called for backup before leaving Claire’s house.
“I don’t like this.” It felt like they were walking into a trap.
A scream came from inside. It was terror-filled and shrill. A fresh wave of adrenaline burst through Gavin’s veins as the sound suddenly cut off. He sprang to his feet. There was no choice. Trap or no trap, they had to go in.
He grabbed the broken back door and burst into the house, gun raised. “Police! Put your weapons down and your hands in the air!”
Sounds came from the rear of the cabin. A man’s voice was yelling, but Gavin couldn’t make out the words. He raced across the tiny living room toward the hallway. Through the open door of the bedroom, he saw Xavier standing over Maribelle, beating her with the butt of a gun.
“Police!” Gavin shouted, aiming his weapon at the criminal. “Freeze!”
Xavier whirled, his own weapon raised. Gavin shoved Claire to the side just as a bullet flew into the molding near his head. Several more bullets followed. A fiery blaze streaked into Gavin’s shoulder and he cried out as his hand went numb. His weapon clattered to the floor.
Warmth ran down his arm as blood bloomed on his shirt. He’d been shot. Claire grabbed him and pulled him farther out of range. Gavin shook off her aid. There wasn’t time. He scooped up his weapon and held it with his left hand. He wasn’t proficient at shooting with his weaker hand by any measure, but being unarmed wasn’t an option.
Claire positioned herself near the hallway. “Xavier, put your gun down and your hands in the air! Now!”
Where was their backup? Something must’ve happened to the trooper. That thought terrified Gavin. Ryker was on his way with more law enforcement officers, but they were likely still several minutes away.
Maribelle moaned. The sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed. Claire’s face flushed, but the hand holding her weapon was steady. Gavin peeked around the corner to see Xavier holding his wife up as a shield. Her head lolled. She was bleeding badly from a wound on her scalp.
Xavier raised his gun, pointing it at Claire. “Stay back. I ain’t going to prison, Sheriff.”
Oh yes, you are.Gavin gritted his teeth. It was either prison or Xavier was going to meet his maker. There were only two ways out of this situation.
“We can discuss it when you put your weapon down.”
He laughed. It sounded manic and desperate. “How stupid do you think I am?” Xavier stepped back into the bedroom, dragging Maribelle with him. She moaned, and he gripped her tighter, shaking her slightly. “Who is setting me up, you dumb cow? Who is it?”
