Perilous Christmas Reunion by Laurie Alice Eakes

Author:Laurie Alice Eakes
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2018-09-09T21:28:34+00:00

NINE

Chris wrapped his arms around Lauren and drew her to the pavement behind the rack of carts. Beyond their shelter, dozens of car alarms began to honk and shriek. People screamed, shouted, wailed while charging back into the store or around it. Through it all, one word rang in Chris’s head—bomb.

The explosion had been a car bomb. He didn’t need to look to know the vehicle had been his. Pressing the remote starter had triggered the device.

If they hadn’t parked at the far end of the lot, people—children, old folks, holiday shoppers—could have been injured. Or, worse, many could have been killed. A few other cars had been parked back there, people like him wanting to be able to exit quickly. If any of those were on their way to their vehicles, in their vehicles... If he had waited longer to press the starter...

Disaster.

Chris held on to Lauren more tightly. She was shaking. He was shaking. Lauren’s fingers gripped his shoulders hard enough to hurt. He welcomed the discomfort. It helped him focus, think, plan.

They should stick around and make a police report. He should tell the local authorities the exploded vehicle was his. If they were fortunate, the sheriff’s office would take Chris and Lauren to the station for questioning, to a safe place.

If they even were safe with law enforcement. Chris never liked thinking cops or other deputy US marshals were corrupt, but he knew it happened. Maybe Ryan had run because he knew of danger within law enforcement.

Even if the local sheriff’s department was on the up-and-up, Chris couldn’t get Lauren to them soon enough. The crowd was too dense, too panicked. By the time Chris was able to get through to officers and show his credentials and make a report, the press would have arrived. This was too juicy a story for any newsperson to pass up, even on Christmas Eve. Cars just didn’t explode in discount store parking lots in small towns without some sensation lying behind it. And when the press arrived with their cameras and live feeds, Chris and Lauren’s faces would be all over the news. Those who had planted the bomb would know they had been unsuccessful in killing them.

“We have to get out of here.” Chris spoke into Lauren’s ear, taking just a second to enjoy the softness of her hair against his face.

Lauren nodded and released her hold on him, then lifted her head to touch her lips to his ear. “Where to?”

That touch had oddly felt like a kiss, her lips surprisingly warm against his cold earlobe.

Chris shivered, momentarily forgetting the question.

“Chris?” She spoke his name, that one syllable on her tongue warming, soothing, steadying.

“Away from here for the moment. We’ll decide where after that.” He rose, drawing her to her feet with him.

Hand in hand, though gloves made the touch impersonal, they joined the throng reentering the store. Several employees stood inside the entry encouraging people, “Walk, don’t run,” like hall monitors in an elementary school. Heads down, Chris and Lauren crept past the employees, following the crowd.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.