Cold & Deadly (Cold Justice: Crossfire #1)(109)

Suzanna’s lips drooped at the edges. “I had hoped to get away with it, but obviously I wasn’t quite clever enough.”

He’d love to know exactly who she’d killed and how, but psychopaths often lied about their crimes. Plus, he didn’t want to remind her that if she gave up, she was going to spend the rest of her days in prison or on death row.

He had only one objective. Getting Ava to safety.

“You have been incredibly effective in your vengeance. We both know you’ve had several opportunities to kill me but didn’t. You made us look like fools. Don’t you want the world to know that?”

Was he reaching her? Finding a hold in the madness? “Let Kanas go, and I will make sure you are treated with respect and compassion.” Even though it would hurt his soul.

It was the wrong play.

“I’m not in this for the glory, Sheridan. I’m in it to cause as much pain as possible, especially to you.” Her words had him bracing.

Her finger tightened on the trigger, and he knew he had to take decisive action. Otherwise, Ava was dead.

He came out from cover. Held his weapon in two hands pointed at the ground.

“That woman had nothing to do with Peter’s death. She doesn’t even like me very much.” Maybe Ava’s technique of shocking the fuck out of people would be effective as a last resort. He hoped Ava didn’t believe the lies. “She was an easy fuck but you know how much I hate commitment. I dumped her the moment she got clingy and threatened my career.”

“She’s in love with you, jackass!”

Dominic froze, his gaze locking on Ava’s. Was it true? She sent him a sorry half smile. How the hell had Suzanna figured it out when he hadn’t? Then Ava mouthed the word. “Ready.”

It took him a moment to read it for what it was. A signal.

He gave her an almost imperceptible nod.

Suzanna pushed Ava forward, and they started walking toward him, Ava stumbling unsteadily on her feet. “So, I’m going to put a bullet in her and you can watch her die…”

Ava used the fingers of her uninjured hand to signal the countdown from “three.” She looked undaunted and unafraid.

“And then, even if I don’t get to kill you…” Suzanna was going for suicide by cop.

“Two.” Ava counted down silently, still moving toward him.

“I’ll know that you’ll go to your grave knowing all these people died because of you…”

“One.” Ava sagged in Suzanna’s arms, becoming dead weight that the other woman couldn’t hold.

Dominic brought his weapon up and fired three shots straight into center mass of Suzanna Bernier. The woman dropped to her knees and then toppled over. Ava rolled over and snatched the gun out of Suzanna’s limp fingers.

“Do you have your cuffs?” Ava shouted. She was on her knees holding the weapon on Suzanna’s inert body. Dominic could see Ava’s feet were bleeding and covered in dirt.

He crossed over to her, bent down and checked the pulse in Suzanna’s neck. Shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. She’s dead.”

He turned towards Ava. Took the gun from her hands and stuffed it into his jacket pocket. She stayed where she was, staring at the dead woman with wide, haunted eyes.

He pulled off his bow tie and secured it tightly over the wound in Ava’s upper arm that was still bleeding.

“We have to find Mallory,” she whispered. “She went into labor.”

Dominic swept her up into his arms.

“I can walk,” she protested.

Ava deserved someone to take care of her for a change. To slay her dragons.

“I’ve got you.” He kissed her forehead, and she sagged against him.

“I know,” she said softly.

His throat closed with emotion, and he almost stumbled with relief. She believed in him. She trusted him to be there for her, despite what had happened earlier with the director. She’d had faith in him that he’d come to help her.

“Suzanna killed Van.”

“I heard. You did the right thing calling me when you did.”

Ava’s fingers tightened around his lapel. “She killed him as if a loser like that had the right to judge him.”

“She didn’t. She was less than scum.”

“She was involved in Galveston’s crimes. Was on maternity bed rest when you shot the bastard.”

Dominic nodded. That made sense. Ava laid her face against his chest, and he felt her go lax.

They reached the car.

“Where’s Mallory?” she asked.

Dominic nodded in the direction of the woods. “Parker said somewhere in there.”

A rush of dread swept over him at the unholy silence. What if Mallory had been hurt or something had happened to the baby?

*

Mallory lay in the dirt looking up at the blue sky as a series of gunshots split the air. Sweat stuck her hair to her skin. Her body trembled with exertion. Had Ava been killed? Where was Suzanna? Mal heard a car stop. Thought she heard men’s voices but didn’t dare call attention to herself in case Suzanna had accomplices they didn’t know about.

Had Suzanna left the area? Or was she roaming about like a rabid animal looking for revenge?

Another contraction hit, stealing all her attention, making her bite down on the stick as breath was ripped from her body. Her back arched up off the ground, knees bent, legs wide. It was hard to think, let alone protect herself or her baby.