Wynter's Protection
4/5
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About this ebook
Previously published.
Assistant DA Wynter King has brought down a big fish in court and is thrilled at the way her career is going, but retaliation lands her in the hospital. Now Wynter must hide until her attacker and his escapee boss is caught. She sees no other option but to run to her ex-fiancé, retired police detective Crowe Hansen. Crowe left the life of danger behind, along with Wynter, when he moved to Montana to follow his dream of running a ski lodge. Wynter is risking humiliation and opening old wounds going to him, but she knows with Crowe’s background, he’s the only one that can protect her. When the danger is past, will she go back to Baltimore and leave the man she’s never stopped loving?
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Book preview
Wynter's Protection - Tressie Lockwood
Prologue
Congratulations, Counselor. You did it.
Stuart Blaine stuck his hand out, and Wynter took it. He held on longer than necessary and then placed his other hand over their clasped ones. You pulled it off and got a major drug player off the streets for a long time.
She flushed, but habit reminded her to humble herself lest she fall off any high horse she climbed up on. The way down hurt. Thanks, but I wasn’t the only one working this case. The police did their part. I guess in a way, I was the closer.
She tugged on her hand, but he still held on. This was getting ridiculous. She knew he was into her, but the interest wasn’t there on her part. Not him, not anybody really. Since...A pair of dark eyes sprung up before her inner vision, but she shoved them away. That part of her life was over, even if she hadn’t come around to dating again.
Have dinner with me tonight,
Stuart was saying.
Um...
She’d run out of excuses. Working on the case that could make or break her career had been the top choice for months, but now that was over. I have other cases I’ve been neglecting, and Stan needs me to—
No, no, I get it.
He smiled, but the strain came through. Stuart stepped closer, crowding her a little. I’ll let you get away this time, but I’m going to capture you yet, Wynter.
She gave a light laugh and waved a hand. I’m sure you’ll try. Listen, I have to get going, okay? Thanks for all your help and support on this, Stuart. Really, I appreciate it.
He tried capturing her hand after she tugged it free, but Wynter sidestepped him and started down the hall as if she hadn’t seen what he intended. The grunt of frustration she heard made her grin. The man would never give up, but then she wouldn’t give in either. They were at an impasse. Maybe the cute intern that just started would capture his interest. She was young and eager.
Wynter chuckled again and continued down the hall. She did have a few errands to run before she headed home. Chinese and a good book to read on her Kindle was the extent of her evening. She just hoped she’d remember what was going on in her favorite vampire series after not getting the chance to catch up for months. Then again, who cared, rereading was fun too.
When the sun was a memory on the western horizon, Wynter yawned carrying her bags up to her condo. Her place actually lay on the first floor, but she had to climb up a hill to get to it from the parking lot. Good for the thighs and calves, she liked to remind herself.
At her door, she stopped cold, and a chill raced over her skin, drawing goose bumps. She searched the area around her. Although the shadows were long in spots, none appeared threatening. On instinct, she didn’t touch her doorknob but instead curled her fingers in and used her knuckles on the door itself. Just as she suspected, it clicked and opened. Wynter’s heart pounded in her chest. Someone had broken in.
Pausing at the entrance to gather her courage, she swallowed and strained her ears. No sounds came from within, so she took a step forward. The state of her living room brought a cry to her lips. Someone had slashed at every cushion from her couch and thrown them on the floor. The coffee table lay destroyed in pieces. The vases she’d made with her own hands in a pottery class last year had been smashed. She rushed deeper into the apartment thinking only of one thing—the pendant, which was the last remaining item she had to remind her of her mother. Tears welled in Wynter’s eyes at the state of her bedroom. She bypassed it all to reach her dresser and searched through the jewelry box. The emerald turtle winked at her from the bottom drawer, and she stifled a sob of relief. Thank goodness they didn’t get this. Everything else can be replaced.
Then she blinked away the tears and frowned. In fact, all of her jewelry seemed to be present. This wasn’t the typical break-in. Suspicion rose about the person’s motives, but before she could formulate an answer, glass cracked behind her. Instinctively, Wynter dropped to the floor. The person coming up reached for air, missing her, and she rose hard and fast, catching him in the chin with a head butt. The hulking figure stumbled back, and she ran for the door.
You bitch,
he growled. He grabbed her arm, but she swung around and kicked him in the chin, followed by a stomp on his foot. Self-defense classes and personal training from her ex had taught her well. That fact was why she hadn’t taken the threats seriously. She thought she could protect herself no matter what.
Wynter got loose and made it to the living room, but the man was too fast. He leaped on her, and the two of them went down. She cried out when a sliver of the splintered coffee table pierced her palm. Her attacker grabbed her hair and yanked. New tears fell down Wynter’s cheeks.
We told you, didn’t we?
the man rasped, out of breath. You’d pay for coming after Danner? Did you think he didn’t have men on the outside? Men who would not only make sure he doesn’t get sent up, but who will kill you?
Don’t do this,
Wynter pleaded, covering his hands in her hair with her own. He dragged her up from the floor, and she struggled to keep a slack where he tugged. The sharp pain made it hard to concentrate on her next move. If you stop now, I can make sure you don’t serve much time for breaking and entering and destroying private property.
He laughed. Ever the lawyer, huh? Can’t see how much danger you’re in?
She prepared to stomp his instep or elbow him in the solar plexus, but he tsked with his teeth. She went still at the slight pressure in her side. He allowed her to look down so she could see what he had in his hand. Her knees turned to jelly. As if in slow motion, he cocked the gun, and Wynter’s world fell apart.
Chapter One
Wynter, are you sure you don’t want me to find you some place safe? The witness protection program is—
No.
She sniffed and drew in a deep breath before placing the phone to her ear again. She didn’t want anyone knowing where she was going, no one on the inside, no friends, and since she had no family left, that wasn’t a factor either. "Thanks, Stuart, but I have to do this on my own.