Page 84 of Ice Cold Liar

She should have known she wasn’t falling for a hero.She never had gone for that type.Not once in her life.

The motorcycles spun in circles.The engines howled and growled, and the truck had come to a grinding halt.Some guy was hauling out gasoline canisters from the bed of the pickup.

Eb waited in the darkness and surveyed the scene.He recognized several of the men—mostly because he’d kicked the shit out of them once already.Obviously, they’d come back hungry for a rematch.

The pyro jumped out of the truck bed, with an orange gasoline canister in each massive fist.A big guy—the biggest fellow there.When he stalked through the heaving bikes, the headlights hit him.Shaved head.Face full of piercings.Hello, old friend.

Though, they weren’t actually friends.But that jerk had been the first to step up and fight Eb at the bar when he’d gone to collect the dog for Naomi.Probably meant the guy was next in line when it came to the pecking order for the gang.And without Ivan there…

The wannabe leader dropped the containers and let them fall at his feet.“Bring your ass out!”he bellowed as he glared at the house.“You’re gonna pay for what you did to Ivan!Get out, now!”

Considering how much gasoline this gang had at the ready, it certainly looked as if they’d been responsible for the fire at Naomi’s place.So maybe Hunter’s theory was right.Maybe Ivan did set the fire.Someone saw him.After the fire was out at Naomi’s, the watcher went over for some payback.

The bikes spun around the big bruiser once more before lining up near him.They all faced the house.Bikes and dumbasses.

Really?They never—not for one second—considered that their prey might be behind them?

“Send out the woman!”From the wannabe leader.“We wanther!Send her out first!”

So he was delusional.Great to know.

The bikes started moving again.The gang members were shouting, blasting their voices and their bikes and wrecking the nicely landscaped yard.One guy sped toward Eb’s hiding spot, then turned at the last moment.His bike’s wheels slipped on the grass, and the rider had to grab the handlebars quickly to adjust and?—

Eb just tossed him right off the bike.Then he knocked the bastard out with two fast punches while the riderless bike careened away.Someone had a glass jaw—plus thatsomeonehad made the mistake of not wearing a helmet.Didn’t he know that was a fatal mistake?Such a poor life choice.

Another motorcycle crashed into a tree about fifteen feet away.A motorcycle without a rider.When Eb looked over that way, he saw that Hunter had just plucked the guy from the bike.

The crash into the tree had captured everyone’s attention.The other motorcycles stilled.

All eyes went to Hunter.

They haven’t even seen me.Because his attack had been one hell of a lot quieter than Hunter’s.The former Ranger had so much to learn.

“Whoops!”Hunter announced and his voice washappy.“Did I interrupt your party?My bad.”

The motorcycles immediately blasted toward him.

Hunter pulled out his gun.

So did Eb.

She was almostat the Impala when she heard the first gunshot ring out.Naomi flinched at the sound, and she dropped the keys.She kept the grip on the gun—win!—but the keys hit the ground.Immediately, she crouched to her knees and scooped them up.

Henry bumped into her, urging her forward.

Forward, yes, to the car.To escape.To drive away and not look back but…

Another gunshot blast rang out.

I’m the best assassin you’ll ever meet.

Such confidence.But…what if he’d been wrong?At last count, Hunter had said there were ten gang members out there.Ten against two.She hated those odds.

More than that, though, Naomi hated that Eb thought she’d run away without a backward glance and leave him.

Not happening.

She rose and rushed to the car.Hauled open the door.Henry immediately tried to jump inside.“No!”A sharp order.

---