Dangerous Kiss (The Layton Family 1)

“Get me the phone and flash drive, or your father will face the consequences.”

If Jake could reach through the phone, he would clamp his hands around Burlington’s privileged throat. “I’ll see you pay for this.”

“I doubt it. I expect to hear from you soon, Mr. Warrick.” Burlington disconnected.

Jake glared at his phone. Impotent fury blazed through him, locking his muscles and sending his blood pressure sky high.

The phone and flash drive had to be at Harvest, because they hadn’t appeared in Kendall’s dorm room, car or the Dumpster where Claire had found her. He’d talk Claire into searching again. Once they found them, he’d make the phone and flash drive disappear. She’d never have any idea it was him. He’d take the devices and hit the road.

Kendall’s killer would still think Claire had the phone and flash drive. He’d come after her again.

The thought twisted Jake’s insides, but he couldn’t put the old man through Burlington’s version of hell. Anyway, Hank would take care of Claire and catch the killer. He was just a private investigator. Her brother had the entire county sheriff’s office behind him. She’d be fine.

Jake had to pick, and family came first. He was making the right decision.

So why did he feel like shit?

He hurled his phone out the SUV’s open window. It shattered as soon as it hit the concrete parking lot.

“Hey man, you okay?” A pimply teenage boy wearing a red and blue King Pizza uniform stood outside the passenger-side door.

“Yeah, fine.”

The boy gulped, his wide eyes aimed at the smashed phone. “Well, Benny said your pizza is ready. You can go in and get it if, uh, you’re, uh, ready.”

“Thanks.” Jake rolled up the windows and stepped down from the SUV.

He didn’t head to King Pizza. Instead, he dug his SIM card out of the pulverized mess in the parking lot and walked next door into the electronics store. A buy-one-get-one-free sign dominated the front window.

A few minutes later, two new cellphones in hand, he picked up the pizza, ready to drive back to Claire’s. He slid the pizza box onto the passenger seat and tossed one of the phones into the glove compartment. The other phone sat charging beside him.

The twenty-minute drive went fast. Too fast. He spotted Claire’s house as soon as he turned off the highway. Painted a virginal white with dark-green shutters, the house stood alone on the vast prairie. Jake flinched at the idea of sullying it with his presence.

“Damn.” He slammed his palm down on the steering wheel as he pulled into Claire’s driveway. “There’s no other choice.”

Onion trotted over to the SUV as soon as it stopped. Jake sat, frozen behind the wheel. Dread careened through his veins. It made his limbs heavy and created a dull ache in his chest.

He grabbed the pizza box, its warmth stealing into his palm. Onion panted beside him as he walked up to the porch. Jake’s self-loathing grew with each step he took.

“Fuck.” He couldn’t do it.

There had to be another way. He’d find it, and Burlington would pay.

The last nail pounded home with a satisfying thud. Claire stepped back and surveyed the plywood-covered front door. She pushed against its rough surface. It gave a little, but not too much. As a bonus, all that whacking had done wonders for her mood. She’d pictured the Voice of Doom’s face on each nail. Smashing the hammer had been cheap therapy.

Still, as her temper relented, doubts about her decision to stay home raced through her mind. Really, did she want to be the delusional scream queen who thought she could take on a killer?

Big no to that one. She wanted to live to see the Voice of Doom rot in jail.

A quick set of taps on the door made Claire jump. She clutched the hammer, claw side out, arched high and ready strike.

Her body tensed. “Who is it?” The words came out in a high-pitched squeal.

“Pizza delivery.”

Jake. Thank God. Unbidden, a nervous giggle escaped. She lowered the hammer to her side and opened the door.

Looked like her body wasn’t the only one drawn to Jake. Onion sat by Jake’s boot-clad feet. Great. Puppy love. Her stomach growled as she inhaled the scent of melted mozzarella and greasy pepperoni. Jake quirked an eyebrow.