Witness in the Dark (Love Under Fire #1)(56)

Uh-oh. Now he was suspicious.

She let out a sigh of exasperation. He was too good at this subterfuge stuff. She would have to tell the truth. He’d totally ruined it.

“I want to go into the store alone so I can buy you a present.” She crossed her arms and raised her brows.

“A present?” His confusion made her all that more intent on getting him one.

“A Christmas present.”

“You don’t need to do that. You’re making me dinner. That’s plenty.”

“But giving someone a gift isn’t just about the person getting the gift. I want to do this.”

“Sam, it isn’t necessary. And I don’t have anything to give you.” He held out his hands as if this made perfect sense.

“Seriously? You’re risking your life for me every day. You lost one of your houses. You’ve taught me how to defend myself so I have a fighting chance of coming out of this trial alive and in one piece. Please just let me go into the store and buy you some crappy thing that makes me feel good!”

She hadn’t meant to yell. But she’d never had to force a gift on anyone before.

“Okay.” He held up his hands in surrender. “I’ll stay at the front of the store. You have ten minutes.” He muttered something else to himself as he led her through the doors. The only things she could make out were “ridiculous” and “personal girl stuff.”

“Don’t peek,” she ordered as she left him at the front door.

“Hurry up.” He put his hands in his pockets, clearly unhappy with the situation.

Too bad.

She strode to the toy department and went up one aisle and down the next looking for what she wanted. She’d picked up a roll of wrapping paper on the way, and tapped it impatiently against her palm until she finally found what she needed.

She expected to see Garrett pop around the corner to check on her any second, but he didn’t.

A lanky guy with dirty blond hair stepped into the same aisle as her. He had nothing in his hands. No basket, no cart. Not even a list. He smiled at her and she smiled back, trying to gauge his intentions.

Instead of picking up the box she wanted, she went down two more aisles and turned back to see if he was following her.

He was.

“Damn it,” she muttered, and moved to the less crowded automotive section. The oil change center was closed and the lobby was dark. No one was around. She checked both doors in the hall to the shop area, but found them both locked.

Her gun pressed against her back, a reassurance. But killing someone in a busy department store was probably not the best way to stay hidden. She would be a sitting duck for Howe’s men while sitting in prison.

Garrett’s words echoed in her head. Anything can be used as a weapon.

Looking at the roll of wrapping paper in her hand, she frowned down at the little snowmen as they frolicked against the blue background. They didn’t know what was coming.

The dirty blond guy stepped into the shadows where she waited. This was it. Time to see if she remembered any of her training.





Chapter Forty-Three


Garrett knew going back into the store had been a horrible idea. Not only was it risky and unsafe, but how could he accept a present when he had nothing for her?

Maybe he could have spent the time looking for something, too. But, no, he’d had to make sure she was safe. Which meant staying close while some asshole followed her into the deserted automotive section. What the hell was she doing?

Hadn’t he taught her better than this? She should have come back to the front to find him at the first sign of trouble. Instead, she was hiding. And not very well.

The skinny man was moving into the dark hallway where she’d disappeared. Garrett frowned as he checked the door on the left. Locked. He wouldn’t be able to hide this guy’s body in there.

Just then, Sam launched into action.

She hit the dude across the throat with a tube of wrapping paper, and in a flash, his face was smashed into the floor, her gun pressed against the back of his skull.

Astounded, Garrett stood back to see if she would need his help. An impressed smile swept over his face. God, she was sexy when she was threatening someone with a gun.

“How many are there?” she asked the guy.

“What?” The asshole winced as she ground her gun into his temple. Damn, that looked like it hurt. Especially when she stepped harder on the back of his neck.

Garrett smiled wider.

“Don’t screw with me. How many of you are here?” she demanded.

“Just me. One person,” the guy said quickly, his voice squeaking. He was clearly terrified.

Garrett should have stepped in to help the poor guy out, but he was enjoying himself too much. Watching Sam’s moves was better than any action flick, and a hell of a lot hotter.

She handled herself like a pro, though he could see her chest moving rapidly as she swallowed. Despite her fear, she was dealing well with the situation.

Still, as much fun as it was watching her, he decided to intervene before the guy got hurt. “Let him up.”

She jumped as Garrett moved into the hall with his gun drawn and aimed at the asshole on the ground.

“Shit,” the guy said and closed his eyes like he was praying for his life.

Garrett noticed a puddle growing from his side. The guy had wet himself. With a look of disgust, Sam let go of him and stepped back to let Garrett handle it.