Mastered by Malone (Haven, Texas 6)

“She better not be bleeding. Blood will be hell to get out of this carpet. This wasn’t part of the agreement,” Osborne whined.

“Jesus fucking Christ, I can’t take it anymore,” Angelo complained.

She heard a ping. She gasped in horror as she saw blood appear on Osborne’s chest. Trembles rocked her body as she turned to look up at Angelo and saw the gun he lowered. “Now, that blood is going to be hard to get of the carpet.” Angelo said as Osborne collapsed. His goons laughed.

Oh, God. Oh, God. Panic filled her. She had to fight hard to stop herself from vomiting. Osborne’s face turned towards her, his lifeless eyes stared straight at her, and it was all that was needed to send her spiraling back into the past.

It was the quiet that got to her first as she stepped into the back room. Even though the restaurant was now closed, there should have been noise from everyone cleaning up. Of Jacques ordering everyone around in his loud voice. But there was just this weird thudding noise.

She was moving quietly. She didn’t want to alert anyone that she was here. She walked to her locker and retrieved her phone. And she wanted to know what that noise was.

As she moved out of the back room towards the kitchen, she nearly tripped over a pair of legs. At first, she thought it was some sort of sick joke, that the blood on his chest was just paint. But then she realized his chest wasn’t moving . . . that his eyes were staring sightlessly at the ceiling. She hadn’t liked Jacques, but she’d never wished him dead.

She knew she should leave. But she must have been in shock, because she crept her way forward, peered around the corner and into the kitchen. They must have dragged a chair into the center of the room and tied him to it. Not that he needed to be bound, as beaten as he was, he wasn’t going anywhere. The man looming over him smiled down the man. It was an evil, twisted sort of smile. At least now she knew what that sound had been, someone beating up her boss.

“You never should have double-crossed me, James.”

James didn’t move. She didn’t even know if he was still conscious. She hoped he wasn’t as she saw the man standing in front of him lift his gun and pull the trigger.

Smack! A foot landed against her shoulder, sending her sprawling forward, bringing her back to the present. Angelo just laughed. Like he had that night.

He was going to kill her. Just like he’d killed them.

Oh, Alec, where are you?

He stared at the still smoldering stables. At least the fire hadn’t had a chance to spread. And they’d rescued all the horses, even if several of the animals had bad burns. He coughed and wiped at his streaming eyes.

“Beau,” he called out as one of his brothers approached. “Do me a favor and go check on Mia.”

Beau gave him a nod, not even attempting to give a smart-aleck remark before turning and running off towards the house.

Christ. What a fucking mess. How the hell had this happened? Was it lightning?

“Alec.”

He looked over as Haven’s sheriff approached. He’d sent Tanner down to let the fire service and Jake through the gates earlier.

“Jake.”

“All the horses okay?” Jake asked.

“Yeah, gonna have to get a couple looked at.” He ran his hand through his hair. Something about this didn’t feel right.

“Alec! Alec!”

He turned back, fear filling him as he saw Beau racing towards him.

“Alec, she’s not there.”

“What do you mean she’s not there? I told her to stay inside.”

“I

looked everywhere, couldn’t find her anywhere.”

“Easy,” Jake said calmly. “She’s bound to be around here somewhere. We’ll all look for her.”

“I’ve got a better idea; she was wearing her locket when I last saw her. We’ll track her.” He made his way to his office, Beau and Jake on his heels.