Standing His Ground: Greer (Porter Brothers Trilogy 2)

“You’re going to make our drinks a tax deduction?”

“Of course. We talked about the filing cabinet you’re going to buy tomorrow.”

“Technically, we were still at the office when we talked about it.”

“You see an IRS agent around here?”

“Nope.” Holly laughed, getting up from the table. “I’ll go get it. It’ll clear my head.”

“I can—”

“It takes you forever to remember the codes to the security systems. I’ll be quicker and be right back.”

Diamond always mixed the two codes up. The building had one, and then you had to put in another code for her office.

Holly skirted through the crowd in the bar, going outside. The cool air cleared her head as she walked to Diamond’s office. It wasn’t far, but she decided to take the shortcut from the parking lot through the church’s back playground instead of walking around the block.

She was almost through the playground when she heard the metallic sound of the swing hitting its post. Turning around, Holly nearly screamed when she saw the shadow of a man running toward her.

She didn’t take time to think, just reacted, running as fast as she could. With a burst of speed, she ran toward Diamond’s office, angry at herself for leaving her phone with her purse back at the restaurant.

She almost started to run toward her car, but it would take precious minutes for her to get the car keys from under the mat. Therefore, she ran toward the office building as fast as possible, hearing a muttered curse as she managed a spurt of speed. Thankfully, no cars were coming, or she would have been killed as she darted quickly toward the door of the office building.

“Please let me make it. Please let me make it!” she panted as she lifted her hand to push the buttons to open the door.

As soon as she heard the lock opening, she swung it open then turned to slam it shut behind her. Trembling, she looked out the window as a huge rock burst through the glass, shards going everywhere.

Holly screamed in terror as she ran up the steps to Diamond’s office.

She was at the top when she heard the door being opened and boots crunching on glass. She quickly ran to the office, keying in the code. And as soon as the door opened, she shut and locked it before running to her desk for the phone.

Dialing 911, she ran into Diamond’s private office and locked the door.

“911, what is your emergency?”

“Someone is chasing me. I work for Knox’s wife, and I’m in her office. Please help!” Holly screamed again when she heard the front office door being smashed open. “Hurry!”

“An officer is on his way. Stay on the phone with me until help arrives.”

“Okay.”

“What’s happening now?”

“I hear him in the front office,” Holly whispered.

“The officer is en route. Just hold on.” The voice on the other end of the line tried to keep her calm, but when the doorknob turned, she screamed again.

Panicking, she turned, trying to find a place to hide. The only option available was under Diamond’s desk, and it wouldn’t take a genius to find her there.

Going to the window, she looked down the two-story drop. If she hung over the ledge, she might be able to make it without hurting herself.

“The police are coming! You better leave while you have the chance!” She didn’t see the red glow of a police car, but maybe the person in the other room might believe her.

“Do you see Knox?” the voice from the phone asked.

Holly didn’t say anything, trying to hear if who had been chasing her was still there. The only thing she could hear was silence.

“Are you still there?”

Holy went to the door, pressing her ear against the hard wood, listening. Her eyes went to the doorknob again when she heard steps come from the other room.

Sinking down to the floor, she braced herself for the inevitable assault on the door to continue. Warily, she saw the doorknob turn, then stop.

“Holly, open the door. It’s Knox. It’s safe to come out.”

Dropping the phone, she unlocked the door, dropping the phone to the floor. She practically collapsed into his arms, talking and crying at the same time. She had never been so frightened in her life.

Knox steadied her as she tried to explain what had happened.

“Did you catch him?” She finally took a deep breath, afraid of his answer.

“No, Holly. He was gone before we got here.”

7

Greer studied the occupants at the bar. Under King’s watchful gaze, he saw Diamond sitting at the bar in the back. Not giving a fuck that King wasn’t happy to see him, he walked toward her.

“Where’s Holly? I don’t have all night.”

The woman stared up at him grimly. “What are you doing here?”

“Dustin called me and said Holly needed a ride home. I just got to Diane’s, but Dustin said that Logan isn’t feeling well and he doesn’t want to take him out.”