Page 118 of Dream Weaver

She snorted. “Think before you speak, honey. You wouldn’t want to set off trouble you’d regret.”

“Trouble? Like you starting a fire, maybe?”

She laughed. “Oh no. I don’t start fires.”

“No, she’ll just make sure the wind kicks in,” I muttered.

“Like the Clark Canyon fire, maybe?” Cooper advanced on her. “A couple years ago in Nevada? The one that killed that firefighter…”

Her eyes darkened. “You never know. Maybe the guy got what he deserved.”

If I were two steps closer, I would have smacked her into the next county.

Cooper’s fingernails extended into claws as he stalked toward her.

One of Liselle’s men stepped in his way. “Hold it right there.”

Jay tugged on Liselle’s sleeve. “Aren’t we done here?” Clearly, he was ready to move on before more trouble appeared.

The guy was smarter than I thought. Not exactly a genius, though.

“No, we’re not done,” Cooper murmured.

I’d never seen him look so menacing. Especially when Liselle’s hired hand grabbed his arm.

“Oh, I think we are.” Liselle signaled to the others.

She was wrong, because all hell broke loose just then.

Cooper twisted out of the man’s grip and shoved him toward Jay. A second man rushed Cooper, while the one nearest me drew a gun.

“Get down!” I yelled, lunging for the man’s arm.

Bang!The blast deafened me, and the man shoved me down. But the gun fell too, and I managed to kick it away in a move Messi or Ronaldo would be proud of. Then I skidded painfully across the ground.

“Dammit…” The man hurried toward his weapon.

I rolled to my feet and—

“Take cover!” Cooper yelled, running toward me.

We dove behind a workbench in the metal shop as another bullet rang out.

Cooper ducked, then muttered. “Shit.”

Yes, I was thinking the same thing.

“Stop shooting!” Liselle yelled to her men. “I need her alive if this thing doesn’t work.”

“You just tested it,” Jay grumbled. “Let’s get out of here.”

At least there was that. My ex might be an egotistical, no-good sellout, but he wasn’t a cold-blooded killer.

The other three guys, on the other hand…

I glimpsed one motioning to the others. They spread out and disappeared into the darkness.

Cooper hunched beside me, and we both listened for footsteps. Half the shop lights were on, the other half off, so everything was thrown into competing shadows.

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