Harlequin Intrigue April 2021--Box Set 2 of 2 Carol Ericson (short books to read TXT) 📖

“It’s just you and me, Remington. Cove is bleeding out where I left him, and the rest of your team is out of the equation.” A twig snapped a few feet in front of her before a large, muscular outline materialized. He kept moving diagonally away from her, unaware his prey was so close. “You and I both know one of us is going down. Time to end this, don’t you think?”

Cove. Rage burned under her skin, growing hotter and more out of control. The muscles in her jaw ached as she clamped her back teeth and balanced her weight into her heels. Straightening, she stepped into the open. The killer had made a mistake this time. He’d gone after the only man who’d made her feel as though she was enough, who’d broken past her emotional defenses and released a stronger part of herself she’d never known existed.

Keeping her steps light, Remi closed the distance between her and the killer who’d nearly murdered everyone involved in the New Castle Killer case. Only this time, she was ready. They’d met him on his own turf, but she’d make damn sure she and her team were the ones who walked away. He didn’t think she was a threat. She’d prove him wrong. “You know, for once I agree with you.”

The killer spun around, and she swung her weapon as hard as she could. The butt of her gun slammed into his head, and he collapsed at her feet.

“It is time to end this.” She took aim.

Recovering faster than she thought possible, her abductor wrapped his hand around her arm and pulled her hard toward the ground. Standing, he twisted her elbow until pain ignited through her nervous system. He forced her to drop her weapon. “But are you going to save your team or save yourself?”

DYLAN SLAMMED HIS fist into the ground, using every last ounce of strength to pull himself up out of the dirt.

Remi had come for him. Her voice hadn’t been a hallucination, but she wasn’t alone. Reed, Foster, Watson. They were out here, too. They were all in danger. A pain-filled growl escaped his chest as he pressed himself into a sitting position. He had to get up. He had to get to her before Tad Marrow did.

Blood slicked the inside of his arms and waistband. A thud broke through the constant buzz of crickets and other wildlife he couldn’t see. Dylan put everything he had left into getting to his feet, his left leg dragging slightly behind. He secured a hand over the shallow stab wound in his side. Agony tore the air from his lungs, and he stumbled forward. He doubled over, reaching for the nearest tree for balance. He was bleeding, but he wasn’t going to let Marrow take Remi from him. He’d already lost her when she’d discovered his motives for joining USMS. He wasn’t going to fail her again.

The echo of punches landing filled his ears, and he forced himself to slow his pulse to listen to the source. There, to the left, about twenty feet. His senses had adjusted, only a few streaks of moonlight highlighting Remi’s smaller build. Adrenaline dumped into his veins. Dylan picked up the pace, the pain disappearing to the back of his mind, as he charged through the underbrush toward her. “Remi!”

He collided with the killer dragging Remi closer. Trees, shadows, the ground—it all became one in his vision as he hit the dirt. They rolled, each fighting for dominance, down an incline before slamming into the base of a tree. Scrambling to his feet, Dylan struck the bastard as hard as he could. A kick landed dead center below his sternum and knocked him off balance. He stumbled back as Remi moved in. Warning shot through him as Marrow elbowed her straight into the kidney, and while a sharp gasp reached Dylan’s ears, she didn’t let it slow her down.

She positioned her calf behind her attacker’s opposite leg and shoved him forward. Remi and Marrow flipped through the air a split second before he rocketed his fist into her face. She collapsed to one side, and Dylan moved in.

Cocking his elbow back, he landed a solid hit to Marrow’s jaw, but in the next moment had his feet kicked straight out from under him. Clouds billowed above as heavier rain pitted the soil. Marrow stood over him, rage tightening his body language. Moonlight reflected off metal. “You failed me when I needed you the most, Cove. I’m going to save the next victim the trouble of trusting you.”

A frustrated scream was all the warning he heard as Remi clawed to her feet and ran straight for Marrow. She wrapped her grip around the SOB’s wrist, twisted under his front side and hauled him completely over her back.

Marrow slammed into the ground, a groan breaching the heavy pounding of Dylan’s heartbeat.

Remi removed another weapon she’d stashed at her low back, but Marrow swiped a blade across her midsection before she got off a shot. She maneuvered out of the way, and her weapon discharged, the bullet whizzing past Cove’s ear. Marrow raised his knife high above his head and brought it down, aiming for her heart.

Remi dropped the gun and caught his wrist mere centimeters from her chest, giving Dylan leverage while Marrow was distracted. He thrust his fist into the killer’s gut. Marrow hauled his heel into Remi’s stomach, and she fell back.

Turning to Dylan, Marrow circled left. Dylan brought up his arms to block the oncoming hit. Marrow jabbed from the right, bounded behind him and aimed the knife at Dylan’s neck. Strain built in the muscles along Dylan’s forearms and chest as the tip of the blade drew closer. Wedged between Marrow and an excruciating death, his entire body screamed for relief.

Out of the corner of his eye, Remi struggled to her feet, and within seconds Marrow was using