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“Secure their wrists and ankles,” Big John said.
“What are you doing?You can’t be serious,” Missy said.“We’re on the same side.”
“You failed to get the property for my boss,” Big John said.“We have no need for your services, which makes you yet another loose end to be eliminated.”
“But I got Thomas out of the way for you,” Missy said.
“For what?Your way didn’t work,” Big John said.“Now, it’s our way.The Historical Society will have no need for this property if there’s nothing on it left to preserve.”
“What are you going to do?”Mrs.Crabtree asked.
“Remove the historical significance and tie up loose ends in the process.”
“You can’t do that,” Missy screamed.“That’s murder.”
“How’s that feel when the shoe’s on the other foot?”Big John said.“Enjoy the last minutes of your life.”A door closed in the other room.
“I’m going to die,” Missy sobbed.“Who’s going to carry on the tradition at Thornbridge Manor?We would have won this year.Nothing could stop us.”
Felina listened for any indication that Big John was still in the other room.She eased out from behind the formal gowns and peered around the closet door.
Only three people were in the master bedroom.Mrs.Crabtree, Missy Thornbridge and Lucas.
Felina’s heart leaped into her throat.She ran to Lucas and knelt beside him, feeling for a pulse.She almost cried with relief.
“Felina.Sweet Jesus, we’re saved.Where did you come from?”Missy called out.
“Shh, Missy,” Mrs.Crabtree whispered.“Don’t let Big John hear you.”
“Untie us, Felina,” Missy hissed.“You have to free us before Big John burns Crabtree Manor to the ground.”
Felina pulled her knife from the sheath and sliced through the zip ties securing Lucas’s wrists and ankles.Then she rolled him onto his back, searching for wounds.She found one near his right shoulder and pressed her hand into it to stem the flow of blood.“Lucas.Sweetheart.You have to wake up.”
“When the bullet hit him, he staggered backward,” Mrs.Crabtree said.“He tripped on the rug and hit his head on the corner of the four-poster bed.”
Felina felt the back of Lucas’s head, finding a knot the size of a goose egg.
“Felina, don’t waste your time on him.He’s dead,” Missy said.“Untie us.”
Lucas wasn’t dead.His pulse was strong; he just wasn’t waking up.“Lucas, baby, you have to wake up.”
“For the love of Pete,” Missy cursed.“Untie us at once.”
Felina left Lucas, crossed to Mrs.Crabtree and cut the zip ties from her wrists and ankles.
Mrs.Crabtree wrapped an arm around Felina.“I know I don’t deserve your kindness but thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Felina handed Mrs.Crabtree the knife and went back to help Lucas.
Mrs.Crabtree knelt beside Missy, where she lay on her side on the floor.“Missy, did you kill Thomas?”
“Of course, I did.And no need to thank me,” Missy said.“The bastard deserved to die.He dumped me for a goddamn child.”
Felina wasn’t too surprised to learn that the green lady was, in fact, Missy Thornbridge.The woman was notorious for taking competition too far.
Felina cupped Lucas’s cheek.“Lucas, you have to wake up.They’re going to burn the place down.I can’t carry you out of here.You need to wake up and walk your ass out on your own steam.”She brushed a kiss across his lips.“Please, Lucas, you have to wake up.”
Lucas stirred beneath her.His eyelids blinked open, and he stared up into hers.“Hey,” he said.
