Naughty Stranger (Dangerous Love 1)

When she finished up in the bathroom, she moved to the sink and washed her hands, when a loud bang followed by a scream made her freeze. Pop, pop, pop. Someone was firing a gun, she was sure of it.

Then silence.

What came next was something worse than silence. Kinsley screamed.

Not thinking of anything but helping Kinsley, Peyton ran out, stunned by what she found.

Kinsley stood in front of the door, blood spatter on her pajamas. The three cops were on the ground in the hallway, unmoving. But as she took in who stood a few feet away in the hallway with a gun aimed in her direction, the floor dropped from under her.

Peyton could only stare at the man who had not long ago come into the shop and bought lingerie for his wife. The man approached, his strides seemingly in slow motion, icy blue eyes intent on her. Eyes she suddenly recognized immediately. These were the eyes of the man who also attacked her. And by the way he limped on the very leg she’d shoved the knife into, she knew now that this was the man hunting her.

And he had a gun aimed her way.

Haunted screams rang out in the corridor. Another gunshot echoed in the hallway, and Peyton glanced back, watching another cop behind her fall. He went quiet, blood pouring out from beneath him.

“Run.” Peyton shoved Kinsley. “Run,” she screamed.

Kinsley scrambled back, right as the man shot forward, his skin ashen. He shoved Kinsley back, sending her crashing

into the wall. Then he had Peyton by the neck. She gasped when her back hit the wall, his fingers squeezing her neck, pain slicing at the back of her head.

“You’ve got a good luck charm shoved up your ass, girl,” the man growled. He smelled of whiskey, cigarettes, and something wrong. She gasped for air, her feet dangling, her neck being squeezed tighter and tighter. “You just won’t fucking die.”

“And she won’t die today.”

The venom in Boone’s voice was both shocking and appreciated. The man released his fingers enough that her feet finally hit the floor again. She coughed, sucking in gulps of air as the man spun her around, the gun pressed to her temple.

Peyton’s gaze connected with Boone’s. Nothing showed on his expression, except for the one second that he looked right at her, but it was the only second she needed to not feel alone. Her new life flashed before her eyes, a life she didn’t want to lose. The life she had with Boone.

“Boone,” Kinsley gasped, crawling closer to him.

“Get out,” Boone said, cool and calm, standing a few feet away, his gun trained at the man behind Peyton.

Kinsley’s eyes came to Peyton, tears flooding her face.

“Go,” Peyton mouthed.

She seemed to fight against herself but then scrambled up and ran. Peyton fought to stand still, not wanting to spook the man into acting. She stared at Boone, and somehow, he was her lifeline. And while Boone wasn’t looking at her, she felt the air tighten between them, the awareness that he would do anything he could to protect her.

“You’ve got one chance of walking out of here,” Boone said firmly, his stance wide and ready to act. “Let her go. Then I’ll let you leave.”

“Is that so?” The man chuckled darkly, slowly stepping backward.

God, the coldness in his voice had Peyton shutting her eyes, feeling the chill of the metal pressing against her temple. She could feel the rage in his tight hold. His fingers were right there on her throat, promising to squeeze and end her life.

When she opened her eyes again, she felt the man tense behind her. Fear made time stop.

“Still lucky I see,” the man said in her ear, releasing his fingers, easing the pressure on her neck.

Down!

She heard that order not knowing where it came from. Maybe the look in Boone’s eyes. Maybe Adam watching over her. Maybe Boone had yelled it. It didn’t matter. She dropped in the same second she heard a gunshot echoing in the hallway. Peyton’s ears rang as she screamed, grabbing her head, wondering if the bullet hit.

There was no pain.

She stared into Boone’s terrified eyes, thinking he could only look that scared for her. But then she hit the floor and there was no warmth of blood. No tingling in her body declaring shock. Boone charged forward, and Peyton could sense that her attacker was no longer behind her, having charged through the door to the stairwell.

Boone slid to his knees and grabbed her arms. “All right?” he asked, frantic, staring deeply in her eyes.