A Cold Dark Promise (Cold Justice #8.5)(4)

Alex had the knowledge and skills to go after anyone who threatened his family, which was why Jane had come to him. He’d tear the world apart inch-by-inch until he found them. But he wasn’t a killer for hire, or someone’s pet mercenary.

Jane seemed to understand his decision without him saying a word. She closed her eyes and appeared to sway in the gentle breeze.

“What are you going to do?” He couldn’t get involved. He was getting married in a week’s time. He had no authority in France. He didn’t even like Jane Sanders.

But he understood her.

Her chin lifted. “I’ll go myself.”

“You’ll die or get arrested.”

The grief in her eyes was haunting and familiar. “I’d rather die than never get my little girl back.”

Alex thought of his own mother’s gentle touch. Her loving smile. Her warm hugs. He imagined Mallory in Jane’s place. It didn’t matter. He knew what his answer had to be. He couldn’t help Jane.

Silently, she stood and walked away.





Chapter Two





Mallory opened her small suitcase and began tossing things in for her bachelorette weekend. Rather than go to a bar—she was pregnant after all—she’d organized a relaxing couple of days at a spa in Virginia, not far from the vineyard where she and Alex planned to tie the knot a week from Saturday.

In reality, the knot had been tied months ago. Alex was hers. She was his. They’d made their vows in that snowy woods, deep in the heart of West Virginia, with a serial killer bearing witness. But perhaps it was as important to do it in the light, before friends and family and not surrounded by the taint of evil.

She wanted them to be a family. Happy. United. In every way possible. She wanted him to know the depth of her feelings, of her commitment, to both him and their child.

She shot him a glance, wondering if he was at all nervous. He lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. He was naked, and they’d devoted the last hour to making love. Not a bad way to spend her day off.

She found a bathing suit that would hopefully stretch over her ever-expanding bump and tossed it in the case, along with a novel she’d been wanting to read. In all honesty, she’d rather stay home with Alex, but her mom was excited and determined to milk the mother-of-the-bride experience for everything it was worth. As this would be her only chance, Mallory was indulging her.

Mallory touched the curve of her stomach, the fluttering movement from within reassuring her anxious heart. Margret Tremont understood how committed she and Alex were to one another. How unbreakable their bond. But maybe that’s how her mother had felt about her father before their lives had been ripped apart by her sister’s abduction.

Almost losing this baby had been terrifying. Taking things for granted was foolish, especially in her line of work and with Alex’s past history. Mallory was trying to learn to enjoy each moment—beginning with relaxing and having fun this weekend. Getting pampered and stealing some much-needed sleep.

Besides, it had been a long time since she’d simply hung out with girlfriends. A long, long time. As much as she loved Alex, she needed her friends, too. Their child would need friends, playmates, siblings. They’d need their community.

Her bridesmaids were her two best friends from college and FBI Agent Ashley Chen, who she’d bonded with since they’d started working together a few months ago. Ashley was dating one of Mallory’s oldest friends, Lucas Randall, who was also a groomsman, so it made sense to include her in the wedding party. The main issue was figuring out where Ashley could conceal her weapon, as FBI agents were never officially off-duty. Mallory wasn’t even going to try to wear her Glock. There would be more armed guests at this wedding than at most police academy graduations. She should be safe enough to take the day off.

She and Alex were going to split their time between this apartment, which Alex was keeping because his firm was based in the city, and a beautiful old Victorian they’d found closer to the FBI Academy where they both spent most of their time working these days. Workmen had been renovating the Victorian for months, and Alex had been updating the security, but it should be ready for when they came back from their honeymoon in Hawaii.

Nothing but the beach and relaxation for two whole weeks. She couldn’t wait.

She looked at Alex and realized something was wrong. She was naked and even when she wasn’t, he spent most of his time watching her. Not in a creepy stalker way. But in an I-can’t-believe-I-got-this-lucky kind of way. It had been distracting at first, and always flattering. Right now, he wasn’t paying her any attention.

He was brooding.

Uh oh.

“What’s up?” she asked him.

He glanced toward her and grimaced. He said nothing so she came closer and straddled his hips, settling her weight on his warm skin and lean muscle. She traced her hands over his stomach.

“I can make you tell me.” She grinned. But shadows moved across his silver eyes, turning them pewter.

He trapped her hands. “Jane Sanders contacted me today. I met her at the zoo.”

“Oh.” Jane Sanders? Mal went to move off him, but Alex gripped her thighs.

“What do you know about her?” he asked.

Mal frowned. Jane Sanders bothered her for many reasons, chief amongst them was Jane had worked for her mother and had been involved in The Gateway Project. Jane had left DC once Mal’s mother had stepped down from the senate. Mal had assumed that would be the last they’d ever hear from the woman.