Nowhere Safe

CHAPTER 41



“Let her go,” Josh ordered, continuing to step slowly toward Trish. She was as white as her gown. The craggy face that tipped into view for a split second had to be a guy…a guy covered in an inch of makeup. And wearing a dress? Crazy didn’t begin to describe that image, especially since he was holding a knife at Trish’s throat with one hand and a .357 Magnum in his other hand.

If the guy was a little taller, Josh could take a shot, but the stalker’s head was shielded behind Trish’s.

The creep spoke in a deathly calm voice. “You have ten seconds to leave or I’ll shoot.”

Josh had experienced gut-clenching fear only one time before, and a woman’s life had been at stake then, too. The terror clawing his chest this time was tenfold. He forced himself to think only about controlling the situation.

That might have worked if Trish had been a trained operative and not a frightened woman who thought and reacted like one.

The crazy bastard chanted, “Eight...Nine...”

Trish’s eyes had widened. Her hands flew up to grab the stalker’s knife wrist. She shoved her head back, slamming the guy’s nose. All that happened in a nanosecond as she swung her body at his gun arm, throwing the shot wide just as it blasted from the muzzle.

Josh raced forward, weapon raised and his heart trying to explode in his chest.

The stalker swayed, off balance. Josh stopped in his tracks, less than ten feet away. Trish leaned further to the left, shrinking into herself, ducking as low as she could with the knife at her throat, and the stalker’s head swiveled into view for a mere second.

Josh had a clear shot and took it. The explosion cracked the air.

Trish and the stalker fell backwards into a heap as Josh ran toward them.

Josh slid to a stop, down on his knees next to Trish.

Part of the stalker’s head was gone. Blood covered Trish neck to waist.

Josh shoved his weapon into his waistband and reached for his cell phone. “Hold on, baby.”

She clutched her throat, staring straight ahead. The knife had cut her.

He punched one button on his phone and used his free hand to feel for her pulse. Thready, but there.

The minute Sabrina answered, Josh started rattling orders, giving her the location for an ambulance. She would get help here faster than he could with 9-1-1. He tossed the phone down and ripped off his jacket to wrap Trish in.

He lifted her off of the guy.

Her hand still covered her throat. He clamped his hand over hers, not willing to lose one drop of her precious blood.

She stared at Josh as if she didn’t see him. He could not watch the light die in those brown eyes.

“You’re going to be okay,” he told her in a hoarse voice. “I’ve got people on the way.”

Trish’s eyes focused on him. Her lips moved but no words came out. She lifted the hand not clutching her throat and caught Josh’s lapel. He leaned down close to hear her thin voice.

“I...love...you.”

Her arm fell away. Her fingers beneath his relaxed and her eyes rolled up in her head.

“No, Trish, no! Please don’t die,” he begged.