"Fine," I growl. "Works for me."
He fires three shots at me. The bullets spray the trees, and I stay crouched. James is an idiot, so I know he'll empty his clip if I can get him to. I hold in a deep breath, and I bolt into a run across the forest floor.
"Die!" James fires bullet after bullet after me, missing every time.
I leap behind another tree and take cover from four more shots. He nicks my arm with one. I spin around and fire. I miss him, and he ducks behind the tree.
I take in another breath, and I run back.
James shoots, and he misses every time like I knew he would. But his final bullet, he gets me in the shoulder and I hit the ground.
LILA
I try to grab the gun before Mark can. He grabs me, and he pulls me down to the kitchen floor. My head crashes against the overturned table. I roll on the floor, dizzy, everything blurry.
Mark gets onto his hands and knees and crawls for the gun.
"No!" I get onto my stomach. I grab at anything to keep him from the gun. I get him by his suit and yank him away.
He rolls on top of me. Our limbs flail for control. He gets on top of me. He raises his fist. He throws it down.
I dodge my head left, and Mark punches the hardwood floor. He screams out as his knuckles crack. I knee him in his stomach and push him off me. I go back for the gun.
Mark grabs my ankle. He drags me back across the floor. He rolls me over and wraps his fingers around my throat. He squeezes, he chokes the air out of me.
REX
James runs across the woods to me. He aims his gun. "Say goodnight, Detective." He pulls the trigger, but the gun clicks. It's empty. "Shit!"
I kick James legs out from under him. My shoulder is on fire, but the rest of me is flying on adrenaline.
James hits the ground.
I kick him in his face. There's a crunching sound of his nose breaking. He bleeds and rolls onto his back. He's out cold.
I stagger to my feet and run like hell for the cabin, for Lila.
LILA
Everything's going black. I can't, can't breathe. Mark drools above me. His face is hot and red with rage. He's going to kill me. His eyes are bursting with the high of it, of finally ending my life. My hand reaches outward. Just a few feet away from me, my fingertips graze the whiskey glass I tossed at Mark. Just a little closer.... A little closer. I clutch it in my hand. With everything I have left, I smash it over his head.
He jolts and falls off me. "Bitch!" He clutches at the side of his head.
I gasp for air, and as I roll onto my stomach, Mark clutches the broken bottom of the whiskey glass so tight his palm bleeds. He crawls after me. He raises the glass to cut me.
I snatch his gun and whip around, just in time to see his face at the end of the barrel.
He freezes. He's enraged, nostrils flaring and eyes aflame. But he drops the glass and backs away from me slowly. "Lila, don't do this. You won't do this."
Hands shaking, I get to my feet and keep the gun aimed on him. "Don't bet on it, you prick. I could pull the trigger easy and not feel a thing." Sure, I'm lying, but I'm convincing enough to make him shake with fear.
The front door flies open. I look up, and away from Mark. I gasp and smile to see Rex stumbling into the cabin. "Lila," he says as his eyes light up. He's sweating and bruised and bleeding, but he's still smiling wide when he looks at me. He looks down at Mark, and his expressions snaps from elated to fear. "Lila!"
Mark grabs my wrists. I accidentally pull the trigger, and the shot fires right next to his ear. He screams out in agony and covers his ear. He huddles into a ball and cries.
I cock the gun again and aim it at him. "You prick," I say. I look down on him, this shrieking coward of a man.
Rex limps into the cabin. He approaches me, and he holds onto his shoulder. "Baby, kiss me." He grabs my face and turns it to him.
For a moment I lower my arms. But Rex grabs them and keeps them raised. "No, baby," he says as his lips press against mine. "Keep the gun on him."
Rex kisses me hard. When he pulls away, he takes a look at Mark. "We've got three men unconscious outside and this loser. What should we do, baby? You're in charge of this one."
I take time. I take a step forward towards Mark. "You know, after all these years, I think it's time they all go where they belong."
LILA
Up on a hill top overlooking the cabin, Rex holds my hand as we reach the top. He carries a bag over his back, even though I tell him I can carry his and mine. His shoulder is in a makeshift sling made of Chris's shirts.
We stop on the top of the hill. When we look down, we see the FBI landing on the scene.
"Don't think I've ever witnessed an anonymous call to the police," Rex says. "They came faster than I expected." He puts his arm around me. "Bet they'll be glad to see drug dealers tied up inside."
"Come on," I say. "We need to get you to the border before your arm falls off."
Rex turns me to him. He puts his hand under my chin and raises my eyes to his. "Lila, are you sure you want to do this? Are you sure you want to give up everything?"
I hold his hand. I turn and look down at the scene below, as the FBI surrounds the cabin. "It's too late for me, Rex. If I don't go, they'll take me in with the rest of them." I turn to him. "Are you sure that you want to go? You can stay here, go back to the city, live free and happy-"
He shakes his head. He kisses me. "The only way I'll ever be free and happy is with you."
I take Rex’s hand, and we leave it all behind. We head north through the woods and to the border. For us, there's no going back.
NINE
REX
Never thought I could get used to a place like Canada. All my life, I thought I would grow old as a city boy. Turns out, I find myself in the woods, in a cabin two hours west of Toronto that's big enough for me and Lila. And, there's an extra, little bedroom near ours, one Lila's been painting light green over the weekend.
It's a Monday afternoon. It's nearing the end of summer. I finish chopping wood and throw it onto the stack.
In the cabin, it's quiet. Unusual, since Lila usually has music playing from her speakers. "Baby?" I look left and right. She's nowhere. "Lila?"
I turn around to see if she's gone to the bedroom, and there I see her on the doorway. She smiles at me, biting her lip. Her eyes are alight.
"Lila?" I walk to her. I put my hands on her waist. "Baby, are you okay?"
Her voice is soft. Eyes on mine, she answers me, "I'm pregnant."
I freeze. For a second, I swear I'm deaf. I don't hear anything, just see Lila's beautiful face. Then it all rushes through me at once and I smile. "You're pregnant?"
She nods.
"You're pregnant!"
I pick her up. Her legs wrap around me. I kiss her. I kiss her hard and madly. I throw her onto our bed. While I'm on top of her, she pulls me down by the back of my neck and kisses me.
"I love you," she says to me. I could hear that every second for the rest of my life.
I put my hand on the side of her face and kiss her. "I love you, too."
We kiss. We get lost in a tangled mess of each other. Lila's mine, forever, and I'm never letting go.
The following is an except from the second book in the Falling Fast series, Wolfe.
FALLING FAST 2
WOLFE
JENNIFER
Inside the Grand Center Hotel, it's a sight like nothing I've ever seen. High ceilings with gold trim and chandeliers, fountains of angels, a small orchestra playing near the Grand staircase, and it's all smothered under a sea of men and women in thousand-dollar attire. And I'm a part of it. I hold fast to Carter's hand as he guides me through the crowds and introduces me.
"This is my date, Jennifer Collerfield," Carter says to bankers and politicians and Broadway stars. "She's a writer. Excellent stuff."
"Carter, please," I say, laughing. "I'm not that great." I never should’ve told him this at Tina’s diner, that I like to
write.
"Yes," Carter insists, "she is."
When other men get too flirtatious with me, Carter is fast to get in the way or make a comment to send them elsewhere. His dominance over me excites me. He's my suited protector. When other women get too close to him, he'll make a sly move to get away from them, always coming back to my side.
He hands me a glass of champagne near one of the angel fountains. "Bored yet?" he asks.
"Not at all," I answer. "This is, so different than what I'm used to."
"You would get tired of it, trust me. I can't tell you how many times my family would put one of these on, and I hated everyone." He looks at me, leaning closer. "You're the only thing is this room worth paying attention to, Jennifer."
I sip champagne and meet his gaze. My hands start to feel warmer. This dress feels too tight when I'm around him.
"Carter Wolfe," a woman says. She interrupts us and approaches in clomping heels. Her hair is a bright red, pulled back tight. "So good to see you here."
"Barbara," Carter says through gritted teeth. "Nice to see you, too.”
Barbara looks to me. "You must be Jennifer. Nice to meet you, darling. I've heard so much about you already."
"You, you have?" I ask.
"Why yes! The entire room is buzzing about you, dear. Carter hasn't brought a date to well, anything, in, well, maybe his whole life."
"That was a great conversation," Carter says, cutting her off. He takes my hand. "It’s time for us to go now."
"Not so fast, Mr. Wolfe," Barbara says with a sly smile. "I was talking to Jennifer. Can't the two of us girls get acquainted before you drag her away?"
There's something slimy about this woman. And it's easy to see Carter doesn't like her.
"I actually think we need to go," I tell her. I try to be polite about it. "I'm so sorry."
"I see." Her eyes narrow. "Carter's new tramp thinks she's too good to talk to anyone? What an excellent headline that will make."
My polite smile vanishes.
"Watch what you say, Barbara," Carter threatens.
"Actually," she says, "I would watch what you say, Mr. Wolfe." She lowers her voice, but I can still hear what she says. “Your family’s dirty little story is still on my desk, you arrogant prick. Play nice, or it’s going into print.”
Carter clenches his fist and backs down from her. He turns and takes my hand. "Jennifer, come on."
I'm about to walk away when Barbara takes one more jab. "Say hi to your mother for me, Jennifer."
I turn back around. "How do you know-"
"I work in journalism, darling, we do our research." She wears the ugliest smile on her face.
I'm furious now. I don't think. I attack. I grab a full glass of champagne off a server’s tray. I sling it all over this vile woman and leave her face dripping with champagne.
Barbara gasps. Jaw dropped, she's too stunned to even yell. And her makeup starts to run. It's beautiful watching her shock and anger.
"Oops," I say. "That just slipped right out of my hand."
Carter takes my hand. "Jennifer, come on!" He leads me away from the scene of my crime and to the staircase.
CARTER
Her hand in mine, we go up the grand staircase and onto the second floor where I lead us to an empty hallway and away from the rest of the crowded gala. Jennifer has a cocky grin on her face. It's sexy as hell.
"You lunatic," I call her. I laugh. I laugh like I never have with anyone, free and without a worry in the world. I grab her face and cradle it. "You're an absolute lunatic, Jennifer Collerfield."
She looks back at me with a flirtatious challenge in her eyes. "You're one to talk, Carter Wolfe."
And then I can't stop myself. I pull her face to mine. My lips press against hers and my head goes light. I'm spinning. My hands are shaking while they touch her cheeks. Her lips are soft, wet and warm. It feels like the first time kissing a woman. There was no one before Jennifer, and no one after. Eyes closed, heart pounding, I kiss her and hold my lips on hers for as long as I can.
Then, I realize what I'm doing and pull back. Eyes wide open, I see her, shocked and stunned. "Jennifer, I'm sorry. I eh, I don't know what-"
She grabs me by the jacket of my suit. She yanks me back to her. Our lips collide. We breathe heavy on one another, hands on each other's bodies. Fast and hard. I push her against the wall and part her lips with mine. My hands on her hips, squeezing her, feeling her. The tip of my tongue slides in between her lips, and I taste her, an addicting mix of champagne and her breath. She whimpers a little, so I press myself harder against her. I touch her hips, then reach lower for her thigh and the back of her leg.
She raises her right leg. I caress behind it, feeling her warm, smooth skin. I'm raging for her, grunting with growing aggression revving in every pulse that powers through me. I'm hers. I don't want to be anyone else's but hers.
She rakes her fingers through the back of my hair. My tongue gets firmer on hers, massaging and licking. I bite on her lip and tug. Our bodies are hot, panting, losing control.
"I can get us a room upstairs," I whisper as my hands continue to explore her.
She slows down. She pulls away, and her eyes open. She looks into my gaze, biting her lip. She seems unsure. "Not tonight," she says quietly.
Once again, she's turned it down, and usually I'd be frustrated, but not now. I don't care if she says no to going to bed with me. I don't need that. I just need her.
I kiss her again. "Whatever you want, Jennifer." And I kiss her again, my hand cupping her face. "Whenever you want."
*****************
Falling Fast 2: Wolfe is available now. To find out what happens get it now!
Riding Hard Page 8