Peril at Christmas by Virginia Vaughan

Author:Virginia Vaughan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2022-07-20T19:18:04+00:00

Chapter Two

Amy held Elaina’s hand so tightly that their fingers shook. Or maybe that was the rest of them. Still, she pulled the girl in her wake, keeping her steps as silent and swift as possible. The halls were nearly deserted, most guests enjoying the entertainment on deck.

Her rough breathing echoed so loudly in her own head that she couldn’t hear if either of the men had spotted them. And if they did, would they recognize Elaina as their mark?

“Hey!” The booming voice behind them seemed to rattle the cabin doors. “Stop!”

They’d been spotted. And apparently recognized.

Elaina slowed down, trying to look over her shoulder, pulling on Amy’s arm.

“Keep running,” Amy ordered. “Stay with me. Don’t look back.”

The little girl nodded, but her shorter legs stumbled as she tried to keep up.

There wasn’t time to stop and boost Elaina onto her back, but neither could the girl’s smaller feet keep up on her own. Amy pulled her close and swung her into her arms, the additional weight making every step twice as hard.

Another hallway crossed in front of them. One that would lead to the stairwell that would take them back to the deck. Then they’d be in the open. And maybe near security.

Please, God, let there be a security guard on the deck.

Feet slapping the carpet, she held every muscle in check as they approached the turn, leaning to counterbalance the weight in her arms.

“Stop right there!”

She hunched her shoulders against the anticipated gunshot, then remembered she was on a cruise ship, not in the field. She expected the possibility of being shot at on a DEA assignment. She wanted to believe that she wouldn’t have to deal with that here, on the ship where no one was legally permitted to carry weapons, but she couldn’t be sure.

The problem was that she didn’t know what to expect here. She hadn’t gotten a good look at the men talking about Elaina. There was no intel to identify their motive, their usual methods of attack or a list of their weapons.

If she’d been in the field, alone or with her partner, she’d have looked for a strategic place to make a stand. She’d have turned and fought. She’d have disarmed first and asked questions later.

But right now there was no place to stash Elaina where she would be safe. And the girl’s protection was all that mattered for the moment. Making a stand would put the girl at risk, so it wasn’t an option.

As they rounded the corner, Amy caught sight of the man chasing them. She couldn’t make out his features at this speed, but his wide shoulders stretched out the same black suit she’d only glimpsed before. And he charged after them, his big feet eating up the passageway as if he were an angry bull. There was something in his hand, something big and deadly stretched out in their direction.

He did have a gun.

Speed was still crucial, but she also concentrated on remembering to dodge and weave. She swooped to the left then returned to hugging the wall.

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