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“You were supposed to desire and respectmebefore we got to this moment where we come clean, but what fun is a game if it doesn’t get messy?” He licked the knife again. “Ford needed to be punished for touching what’s mine. What better way than toharass his beloved hospital and the people in it? Especially his dear sister. I hope you appreciate all the work it took to make you my woman.”
“I’m not your woman.”
I’m Cannon’s.
The truth never felt so good or so far from her grasp.
“Well, tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. The perfect day for me to steal your heart and make you mine, don’t you think?”
“You’ll never have my heart.”
He backed to the table in front of the fireplace. Gun still trained on her, he picked up a black device. “This is the detonator for the bomb I planted at the Mountainview Inn.”
No.God, no.
Snickering, he pressed a button on the detonator. A red light flashed. “In a few minutes, your mom, your cousin and Devon, that officer Ford is friends with, and that annoying receptionist, Irene, will be blown to pieces, and I’ll be the only one left to be your Valentine. Then we’ll meet our ride, which will take us to our happily ever after.”
THIRTY-EIGHT
Cannon fought for his bearings as the forest spun in dizzying spirals. One of the camouflaged men that had jumped in front of him ducked low. Cannon twisted to evade the blurry body, but strong arms wrapped around his midsection. Stumbling back, Cannon reached into his pocket for Rosalie’s gun as a jab to his cheek snapped his head back. Stunned, he looked into cold eyes.
“I wouldn’t go for whatever’s in that pocket if I were you.” The attacker’s thick lips warped into a smile. “We were instructed to fuck you up good before we kill you. The more you fight, the longer you’ll suffer.”
His shorter, leaner buddy snickered.
Sucking in air, Cannon pictured their heads as punching bags as he attacked. For every blow he landed, he absorbed two. The snap of breaking bones—his and theirs—crunched in his ears, but he kept fighting.
His breath rushed out in fiery waves as he delivered a blow to the shorter attacker’s gut. Satisfaction spurred him as the man fell. Spinning, Cannon swept a leg under the taller one and lost his footing. They both hit the snow hard. As the tallattacker sprang to his knees, Cannon pulled Rosalie’s gun from his pocket and smashed it into his forehead.
The sound of bone cracking was like a branch breaking in the forest. Blood pooled fast and thick as he slumped in the snow. A glance at the shorter attacker confirmed he wasn’t getting up anytime soon either.
Blowing out a breath, he spun toward the guard shack. As he pulled Rosalie’s gun out of his pocket, three more of Malgor’s men emerged from the trees and blocked his path.
Rosalie bouncedher gaze from the gun in Malgor’s one hand to the detonator in his other. The knife in his pocket used to terrify her the most, but the bomb at the Mountainview Inn held that dishonor now.
“Don’t think about trying to get either of these from me.” Malgor flipped the detonator over and ran his thumb over the single black button. “One press of this sensitive kill switch and the bomb explodes prematurely. And look at this.” He shifted to the table and pressed a key on his laptop. An image of the inn’s exterior popped onto the screen. “It’s a live feed, so you can watch.”
“No. You can’t do this.” She stared at the inn. “You have me at your mercy. Let Julia go and stop the bomb.” Once Julia was safe, she could take her chances with that detonator and somehow find a way to stop everyone from being blown sky-high.
He shrugged. “I’ll consider releasing her if you’re ready to admit that I own you.”
With an exaggerated sigh, Rosalie slumped her shoulders. “You own all of me. I won’t fight it any longer.”
Malice sparked in his eyes as he slipped the detonator into his pocket and pulled out his knife. “I don’t believe you for a second, but I’ll enjoy punishing you for the lie later. But I did say I’d let her go once I have you. I’ll make good on that deal, and if you can guess the numbers to the deactivation code, I’ll consider stopping the bomb.”
He moved to the door and motioned to the cabinet across from the cot. “Get the scissors from in there and cut her loose. And if you try anything stupid, I’ll blow up the inn now.”
Rosalie retrieved the scissors that looked like they couldn’t cut through paper, much less thick plastic, and crouched in front of Julia. “Find Cannon and get the hell away from this mountain.”
Julia’s eyes widened with refusal.
“I won’t be far behind. I promise.” A gust of wind masked Rosalie’s words as she carefully worked at the zip ties around Julia’s ankles and wrists.
Before the bindings hit the floor, Malgor opened the door and motioned to Julia. “Get out.” He trained his gun on Rosalie. “Slide the scissors under the cot and sit on the edge. Move, and she dies.”
Julia gripped her injured arm and rose with more strength than a woman who’d been shot—and had died several hours ago—should possess. Chin high, she crossed the few steps to the door.
Malgor pointed to the handle with the detonator, his gun still on Rosalie. “You can let yourself out.”
