Web of Lies
Page 55
Slowly, as not to scare either of them, I set my gun on the side table and kneel next to them, cupping the side of Sasha’s head until she looks at me. “You are so brave, sweetheart. You did such a good job.”
Pushing away from Beth, Sasha gets to her knees and launches herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck. “Please don’t leave us.”
Wrapping my arms around her, I look up into Beth’s eyes, filled with tears and something else I can’t place. “I’m not going anywhere, sweetheart. You and your mom are already stuck with me.”
After a while of sitting on the floor like that, Beth talks Sasha into a shower, and I get up and stand in front of Yarkolov’s body, staring down at him. Lightly fingers trail up my bare back and a soft kiss touches the back of my arm.
“What are you going to do? Should you call your boss?” Beth keeps her eyes on me and not the body.
“Nah. I’m going to bury him in the woods. If Yarkolov’s people can’t find him, it might cause less of a backlash. The last thing I want is the Russian mob coming after us looking for him.”
“Do you need my help?”
This surprises me, and I turn, pulling Beth into my arms and kissing her hard, letting the strange possessiveness I feel run through me and into her. “No, love. I’ve got this and then I’ll clean all the blood up. I need to pack the important shit from here and burn this place to the ground anyway. Not much of a safehouse now that it’s been compromised.”
“What’s the likelihood his people will come looking for us eventually?”
I sigh, knowing she’s not going to like my answer. “It will happen, probably sooner rather than later, but I will have to prepare for it and just be ready.”
Beth finally turns her head and looks at Yarkolov and back to me. “Or we could disappear. Sasha and I have no family, neither do you.”
My eyes widen, and I cup the side of her face. “Beth, we’ve known each other for a few days. You sure about what you’re saying?”
She sighs and smiles sadly. “Nope. Last night was amazing, but you and I could end up hating each other. However, I’m going to trust my gut which says that whatever this pull is toward you, it’s a good thing. And I don’t want to live in fear. So, I’d rather disappear and keep Sasha safe then sit at home wondering when someone is going to break down the door.”
The tightening in my chest brings me up short and I kiss Beth again. “Alright, let's get shit together and burn this fucker down, and come up with some all-new identities.”
Beth nods and pushes up on her toes to kiss me again. My time as a Ranger means I know people who can help us disappear. It won’t be easy, but Beth is right . . . My gut feels the same way about her, and I’ll do anything to keep her and Sasha safe.
That includes us telling the biggest lie of all— after today, Logan, Beth, and Sasha are dead.
Acknowledgments
First and foremost, as always, my thanks to God. It's through Him that I was blessed with my love for writing, and it's He who makes it possible for me to do what I love each and every day.
To my beautiful and awe-inspiring children - Black Widow, Hawkeye, and Hulk - I love you to the ends of the Earth and beyond that. You give me so much strength and inspiration every moment that I'm alive.
My family and friends, thank you for always supporting me and putting up with everything that comes with this crazy life I have as a writer. Without you, I'd never have found my calling.
Kara Leigh Miller and Rebecca Vazquez - two beautiful and talented women - who are not only my editors but my most trusted friends. You all give it to me straight, you help me make sure I am putting my best work out into the world, and you are there, by my side, every moment, good or bad.
To my Knox Publishing Family - thank you all for all the love and support you give me through everything.
My Beta Team - Kat, Lulu, Erin C., Dani, and Donetta - thank you, ladies, for being the first line to help make sure I'm growing as a writer with each story, for being the first people to love my characters the way I do, and for always being the most dedicated and honest people.
Laura Medeiros for making such amazing graphics to go along with all my series. I absolutely adore working with you and thank you for bringing my haphazard visions and breathing life into them.
My PA, Gurpreet, for being such an amazing, kickass woman. For five years, you've loved and supported me in every moment of my journey. You're a wonderful friend and your talent and passion inspire me.
Matthew and Al, the bestest friends and men a girl could ask for, thank you for always being here for me. You both support and love me whether I am at the top of the moment or walking through my own hell. I don't know what I did to deserve having such loyal and amazing people in my life, but I am so thankful for both of you.
Thank you to my Book Concubines Reader Group for all your amazing love and support. Your enthusiasm for my stories is what helps me keep writing on even my worst days.
Wednesday Night Write Group - Suzanne, Kat, Erin C., Lulu, Marianne, and Bethany - you ladies are the solid foundations for which writing Tribes are built on. Thank you for kicking my ass into gear on a constant basis, for being my sounding board when I'm losing my mind, and for being amazing friends!
To the other Bad Bitches of Romance - Lynne Leslie, TC Matson, Nicole Banks, and Teagan Brooks - there are not strong enough words for how fucking amazing you ladies are. I can't wait to see all the fucking epic things we get into together!
To the rest of my Tribe - B.B. Blaque, Erin Osborne, Darlene Tallman, Kayce Kyle, Liberty Parker, Golden Czermak, Richard Edwards, and the other writers and industry professionals who have never made me doubt their love or their loyalty - you are amazing and you will always have me on your side and in your corner.
To anyone I may have forgotten by name, I'm sorry, but know that I love and adore each and every one of you!
A Note from the Author
Sometimes, I swear the best and worst part of doing short story anthologies is that most of the time, they sprout the ideas for a new series. As an author, I both love and hate this because let’s be honest, it isn’t like I don’t have a shit ton to do as it is. OF HIS OWN ACCORD has been no different. I have always loved reading military romance and knew that at some point in my career, I wanted to try my hand at it. In 2020, I’ll be starting a military romance series that will be comprised of several standalone novels. This series will be called the “Defender of Angels” series. Book one is already in the semi-plotting process, as much as I am capable of plotting since you all know I am usually a total pantser. What I can tell you is that book one will be titled “Concrete Angel” and will focus on a Navy SEAL. The ever wonderful Matthew Hosea, who is retired Navy himself, will grace the cover. I can’t wait to work on this and I hope you all will love it just as much as you do my other works in romantic suspense.
Thank you all so much for your undying love and loyalty to me as an author and the words I put out into the world. Readers are without a doubt the most beautiful gift we authors can be given, so thank you so much for loving my characters and my worlds, and I hope you will love this new series just as much.
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Available Now
By: Court
ney Lynn Rose
Short Stories
Christmas Cupcake - A Curvy Holiday: a BBW charity anthology
Queen of the Pack - Falling into Chaos: a reverse harem anthology
The Huntress & Her Lady - Immortal Lust: a vampire anthology
Saving Raylynn - Heart of an Alpha charity anthology
Series
Agents of Interpol series
The Auction Block
The Gallows at Midnight
Southern Dreams: Oregon Coast series
Drunk Me
Emerald Isle MC series
Shamrock
Dire (coming March 17, 2020)
Standalones
Understanding Beauty – The Beauty Trilogy # 2 w/ Raven Scott