Page 6 of Watch Me Burn
“What about a fundraiser?”
“Maybe. But we need to get it built before the heavy snow starts. Otherwise, we’ll have to wait until spring. I can’t bear the thought of him going through the entire winter in that indoor cage.” Luna’s chin lifts, determination hardening her features. “Maybe I can get a small mortgage so we can get it built, and then we can have a fundraiser in the spring so I can pay it off.”
Maren lifts her coffee cup, and she takes a long sip, watching Luna over the rim. “I said this a while back, but why don’t you hit Damien up? Go to his foundation?”
“No.” Luna shakes her head, defiance flickering in her eyes. “He’s already donated the security system. I’m not going to take advantage of his generosity like that.”
“Then take advantage of your relationship with him. The man is a billionaire, and he kissed you last night.”
“No, Maren. One kiss doesn’t make a relationship. I don’t know if it even meant anything. And he’s done enough. I’ll figure it out. I always do.”
“Well, let me know what you need me to do.” Maren sighs, then her lips curve into a smirk. “If I’ve gotta blow someone, I will.”
Luna snorts as she takes another bite of her frittata.
“Does JT know you make those kinds of offers?”
“He knows I’ll do anything for you and these animals.”
“Well, I don’t think that’ll be necessary, but I appreciate the offer.”
“I’ll do it. Just not Damien. I’ll leave that to you.” Maren’s teasing grin turns serious. “Speaking of figuring things out, we never finished talking about Caleb showing up last night. That asshole has some balls violating the restraining order. I would’ve killed to see Damien throw him out.”
The veins in my temple throb, sending sharp pulses through my skull as Hunter’s name leaves Maren’s lips.
Luna frowns. “I don’t want to think about him right now.”
“You should call Karen so it’s on record in case anything…” Maren trails off, and my hands clench into fists.
Cade strides into my office without knocking, interrupting the overlapping fantasies of Caleb’s pain as his warm blood coats my hands.
My COO’s short salt and pepper hair is perfectly styled, his charcoal suit immaculate despite the early hour. He moves like a man twenty years younger than fifty-five, thanks to decades of discipline that started in the Rangers.
“We need to discuss tonight’s target.” He settles into the chair across from my desk as I lower the camera’s volume. “Julian Pembroke. You sure you want to grab him from the parking garage?”
Dragging my attention from Luna’s image on the screen requires conscious effort. My eyes want to drift back.
“There’s minimal foot traffic after 8 PM. Just put the cameras on a loop, and it’ll be a clean entry and exit. Why are you even asking me about this? You don’t usually worry about how I grab them?”
“You’ve been a little distracted.”
“I’ve stopped leaving corpses to be found. I’m following disposal protocols again. Everything’s contained.” My impression of his pissed-off voice is so off the mark, it fails to elicit even a subtle change in his expression.
“Thank fuck. I’m glad you decided I was right. What changed your mind?”
“Not you.”
“Dr. Foster tired of the sheriff’s visits?”
Fucker!
Luna asked me to stop leaving bodies on her property. Demanded it. So I started leaving them on various trailheads in Rocky Mountain National Park. I wanted her to know when an abuser paid the price for his or her crimes, but she didn’t appreciate my gifts or Sheriff Mills’ repeated visits after the bodies were discovered. So I stopped, determined to heed her wishes. Now, Cade is back to handling the cleanup and disposal. I’ll have to find some other way to show her my devotion when I’ve eliminated the filth that makes her cry.
Besides, the sheriff is a better detective than I gave her credit for. And ever since Pearson’s body was found, after our altercation at Elk Fest, Mills has been sniffing around me.
“Let’s take a break from anyone in Luna’s files for a while, unless a gruesome or urgent case comes in. We should focus more on targets out of state.”
He nods. “Any particular area in mind?”
