Avri jumped, startled when her cell phone rang. Not many people knew her number; her clients usually called her office. She glanced at her son sound asleep on the other bed in her hotel room, then at the phone screen. Not recognizing the number her only thought was that it had to be Mitch. Maybe he'd found some evidence indicating who'd wrecked her office and house.She pressed the answer button. "Hello.""Avri, it's Mitch. Did you get settled in okay?" the Sherriff asked."Yes, I feel pretty secure right now and Drew is sound asleep. He thinks we're on vacation." Avri chuckled."Good. Unfortunately, your vacation may be a little short lived. I have some bad news." Mitch's voice lowered, as if whispering the last few words.Avri's hand clutched her chest, as her stomach dropped and her heart pounded in her chest. "What is it, Mitch? Tell me.""We located Josh Hawkins. Unfortunately, he was already dead when we got there.""Oh no. What happened?""We arrested Dillon for the murd
A few long hours later, Dillon stirred cream into his steaming cup of coffee while waiting at Rosie's for Avri. His arraignment had gone smoothly. Avri had done a great job, and he'd been released but only into her custody. There was no bail since he presented no threat of fleeing, all according to Avri, who presented his case of having no income and no passport.Little did she know, Dillon had saved all his money, made some great investments with substantial returns, and had his passport and new identity ready to go if necessary. He'd learned in the past to always have an escape plan. His only difficulty was leaving Avri again. He wasn't ready; he wasn't done with her; didn't know if he ever would be.He glanced out the window at Rosie's where he waited for Avri, his eyes zeroing in on the wide-open spaces beyond the parking lot. Having enough money to live anywhere didn't make his choices any easier. He'd lived on his own on the run before, and he could do it again. Part of him wan
Avri's words struck a nerve in Dillon's gut. He needed her, of all people, to believe him. Pondering this as he drove his truck to his house, he dreamed of all the nights of passion with Avri: at his house, at her house, in the mountains, on a horse, riding his bike. She was always with him. He didn't see himself as a solitary man anymore.After loading and securing his bike to the bed of the truck, he drove the short distance to Avri's house. A kid and a younger woman were leaving the house when he pulled in the drive and parked. He grabbed his bag from the bed of the truck and moved toward the porch.Avri stood at the top of the stairs, tears welling in her eyes. When she saw him, she went inside? He followed her and closed the door behind. After dropping his duffle bag on the floor he hurried to Avri and, placing his hands on her shoulders, gently turned her around to face him."What's wrong, Avri? Did something happen? Were you threatened?" Dillon asked each question, one right
Silence prevailed in the truck as Dillon drove to Avri's house. Outside, rain threatened. Dillon's thoughts were on investigating Josh's real name and searching through his remaining personal effects. He recognized him as a cruel, callous man when he met him, and he'd known all along Josh was a rat; he could see it and he could definitely smell it; right from the beginning.Josh had to have some kind of connection to someone in this town, and he was going to find out who, and when he did, they'd wish he hadn't.Pure fury flew through his body. He fisted his hands on the steering wheel and stomped on the gas.After he slid off onto the berm as he rounded a turn, Avri grabbed the bar above the door to stay seated. "Slow down, Dillon, before you kill us both. I can't help you if I'm dead."Dillon glimpsed at her and saw she held on for dear lifeone hand on the strap and the other holding her briefcase and purse on the seat. Fear was evident on her face, her eyes wide, and her body sti
Dillon sat at the kitchen table, listening to the gurgle of the coffee pot, inhaling the strong brew wafting through the house. He was restless and couldn't sit still. So he went to the side window where he could see Elliott's house. Is a client after Avri for putting them away, and Josh, because of his association with her, was simply a victim who wouldn't talk? What would someone want so much they would tear apart a local lawyer's office, house and car, not to mention, murder her boyfriend?Okay, so it's definitely not a local. They don't attack their own. So, Josh was an outsider; had only been here a few months but made enough contacts to put his life in jeopardy.Something glittered in the sunlight and drew his attention to Elliot's back patio. He zeroed in on a small camera located above the glass sliding door on the deck, leading inside the house.Elliott had said he would have Avri's house covered with his cameras. I wonder what he captured. He reached for his cell and calle
Avri heard something ringing in the background and stood still. Her eyes opened and she gazed into Dillon's stark blue eyes. When his lips left hers, she acknowledged her cell phone ringing. She backed out of Dillon's embrace and pulled her cell out of her back pocket, but it had stopped ringing. She stared at the number on the screen while the caller left a message.After the phone emitted a beep indicating she had a message, she listened to the voicemail. She turned her back to Dillon.A man's gravelly voice said, "I know where you live, where you work and all about your son. Don't call the police. You have something that's mine, and I want it back. You've been warned."The call ended. Fear consumed her, and her body filled with fury. I have something someone wants? What? What could it be? And whoever it is knows about Drew. How can I protect him? He's just a little boy.Dillon's breath was warm on her neck as he studied her face. "What is it, Avri? What's happened?"She shook h
His motorcycle in the truck bed was just asking for a ride and within minutes he roared through the winding mountain roads. Without a helmet his hair whipped in the cool fresh air, cleansing the demons from his soul. He needed some air, he needed to think, and he needed not to hurt.Avri didn't trust him enough to tell him what was going on. Why? Why couldn't she tell him? Why couldn't she trust him? Didn't she know he'd do anything for her?His heart was breaking, his self-confidence gone. Maybe he shouldn't have come back to his hometown and to old friends and lovers. He drove, rumbling through the quiet mountains. From Avri's to Chase's place it only took about ten minutes using the short cut through the mountain pass. He wouldn't bother Chase with any more problems. He'd been such a great friend; they were on equal terms again and he wanted to keep it that way.As his bike thundered between his legs when he took a turn too sharp.His foot hit the ground right before the bike le
Mitch advised Dillon to stay with Avri and then he left to continue the search. Dillon found her sprawled on the kitchen floor. He sat down beside her and pulled her into his arms, rubbing her arms and her back in big circles, while whispering soothing words in her ear.When her breaths sounded like hiccups, she drew away from him but remained sitting on the floor beside him. "Let's get off the floor and more comfortable. Do you want to lie in bed or sit on the couch?" Dillon asked, as he gently pulled her to her feet."Couch, in case Mitch calls. I want to be ready to go get my son.""And you will get him, Avri. I'll help you." Dillon said, meaning it more than he thought he would. He hadn't thought about her dating other men, let alone having a sexual relationship. And now, knowing she had a son didn't matter at all. He'd gladly take and raise a stranger's son if he could have her with him.He put his arm around her shoulders and led her to the couch in the living room. They sat,