The Great Mail Order Bride Scam by Emma Ashwood

Author:Emma Ashwood [Ashwood, Emma]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mail Order Brides Publishing Company
Published: 2015-09-26T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

Death Comes to the Creek

When the sun went down, Peter fought the urge to look over his shoulder as he entered the house. The plan wouldn’t work if he looked suspicious.

Lily was stirring a pot on the stove while she stared out the window. His gut tightened as he watched her. This was the woman he had fallen in love with, but everything out of her mouth had been a lie. He thought her past had something to do with men. It never occurred to him that she’d led a life of crime or that she could possibly kill someone.

Even now, as his gaze swept over her body, he couldn’t help but wonder about her. She could have gone along with her brother’s plan and never said a word. But the fact that she did meant that she’d possibly saved Peter’s life.

A floorboard squeaked under him, and she jerked. Hot liquid splashed out on her, and she cried out in pain. He immediately crossed the kitchen to grab her arm and inspect the damage.

She froze under his touch, and for the first time all day, he realized that he didn’t know the real Lily. She wasn’t a killer, but she also wasn’t the confident woman he’d married.

She’d been victimized all her life, and now she was scared of him.

“You shouldn’t be here,” he said roughly. “If I’m killed, then it means your brother got past Liam, and he’ll know that you betrayed him. He might kill you too.”

He saw the look of determination in her eyes. “I’m not a coward. This is my fault, and I won’t leave you until Cory is gone.” She swallowed hard. “If he gets past Liam, I’m the only thing standing in his way.”

“Lily,” he moaned. His voice was harsh in his ears. “I won’t see you get hurt.”

She wrenched out of his grasp and moved away. “My bags are packed. When this is over, I’ll leave. You can cite abandonment or something and get the marriage annulled. You’ll never have to see me again.”

His eyes widened in fear. The knowledge of his own impending death didn’t even scare him as much as the idea that Lily wouldn’t be here tomorrow. He opened his mouth to argue with her, and that’s when the first bullet crashed through the window and imbedded itself in the wall.

“Lily,” he yelled and grabbed her. They tumbled down, and he did his best to shield her with his body.

Shots rang out, and when the bullets were no longer aimed at the house, Peter got up and dragged Lily upstairs. “What are you doing?” she yelled.

He shoved her in the bedroom. “Hide under the bed,” he ordered as he slammed the door shut.

“Peter, no,” she yelled. “You can’t go out there!”

He locked the door. He’d rather have her angry and alive tomorrow than to have her running around trying to protect him. Sliding his gun out of his holster, he crept downstairs and snuck out the front door, running across the yard until he could hide behind a shed.

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