The Enforcer's Revenge Bride

rayal was the smell o

bedroom window muffled the usual sounds of the city, but it cou

he mattress. The sheets

and the sharp scent of his expensive cologne. Today, there was only the hum of the refriger

shiver up her legs. She did not call his name. Her instincts, sharpened by year

ed to th

lored shirts, was bare. Empty wire hangers swayed gently, knocking against each other like wind chimes in a

a hurry, but he

seless emotion. It clouded judgment. It made people clumsy. Sh

wn the narrow hallway toward Leo'

ehind the bookshelf hung wide open. The digital keypad was dark. The inside sh

took the millions that

old precision of the pre-law student she was. She analyzed th

len from the Devil's

Leo had fl

eft her behind in th

d stained the heating pad. Leo had needed caffeine before he ran. He had stood right here, dri

she s

r of the granite kitchen islan

It was a nine-millimeter round. It was not left behind by accident. It was a message plac

ng weight a whale might feel diving into the lightless, freezing depths of the ocean. The pressure was immense

d metal bullet. It fe

try to catch the first bus out of the state. But Ivy knew the law, and more imp

ocal precinct. If she ran, she would look guilty. She would become a fleeing acces

er of time. He knew the club would raid this apartment first. They would

his freedom

for people who still had hope that someone was coming to save them. No one was com

s panes. She did not turn on the lights. She did not lock the front door. A deadbolt would not stop t

. She crossed her legs, rested her hands in her lap, a

hind the facade of a motorcycle club. They handled illegal weapons imports. They were highly organized. They

ce. She needed to find the flaw in Leo's plan and off

udly. Ten minutes passed. Then twenty. The sky

shadows. She con

f motorcycle engines vibrating through the asphalt of her street. The sound multi

s cut out

was deliberate. They were not sneaking in. They wanted her to hear them coming. The

nt door. Her pulse remained a stea

the wooden stairs of

knock. There

ng crack. The frame shattered inward, sending shards of wo

the apartment, followed instantly by the heavy s

uette filled th

ntered wood into the floorboards. He was dangerously tall, his broad shoulders blocking out the dim ha

soldier. This was

orcer of the

at had already cornered its prey. He did not shout. He did not tear the roo

nst the sofa cushions. She sat perfectly still in

w suffocating. He reached to his waist, the harsh metallic cli

and pointed the barrel directl

ow, rough scrape of gravel, devoid of

or's

head-on instead of running. What do you think Cole will do when he realizes she isn't terrified of his gun? Let me know yo