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  He didn’t drop his weapon.

  “Lower it, now.”

  Where was Karin? She’d been right behind Bree on the way over.

  Dominic started to lower his weapon. “Remy must have been undercover too long. He let that world get to him. I-I couldn’t believe it when he shot Kace!”

  She kept her gun on him and backed closer to Kace. Bree knelt and her left hand went to his neck. Be alive. Be alive. Be—

  His pulse fluttered beneath her fingers. “He’s still alive. He’s going to be okay.” He had to be okay.

  Dominic’s face hardened. He still gripped his gun, and it wasn’t pointed at the floor. It’s pointed at me.

  And Bree’s gun was pointed dead center on him. “According to the guard at the jail, you were the last person to see Abby Johnson tonight.”

  “She wanted to confess to me…wanted to tell me that Remy had been working with her and Franco, too—”

  Lie. “You killed her.”

  He blinked. “Bree…”

  “Why? She was in jail. But you killed her. I saw the defense wounds on her. You screwed up. You left evidence behind. You killed her.” Bree could only shake her head. “Why?”

  He took a step toward her. “I did it for you.”

  I did it for you.

  Her body started to shake.

  “I always did it for you. Look what you’ve become, because of me. I freed you from a life that you didn’t want. I made you better. I made you stronger. I made you—”

  Bree fired. One bullet to the head. For my mother. One bullet to the heart. For my father.

  Blood poured from him. His body crashed onto the study’s floor, and the blood was everywhere. Just like it had been that long ago day. Just like it had been when her parents died.

  “Baby…” Kace’s rasp.

  Her head whipped toward him. His eyes were open. “I was…gonna do…that part…”

  “No.” She dropped her gun and rushed to him. Put her hands over his wounds. Prayed. “He was mine to kill.”

  Remy let out a groan. He tried to sit up, but slumped back down. “Fucking…witness…”

  She didn’t understand.

  There was so much blood.

  “Exactly what…you are…” Kace’s voice was weak, but determined. “No matter what…happens…me…you say…he f-fired at her…”

  What?

  “Kace, you’re going to be okay.” She grabbed for her phone, smearing blood across the screen. Where the hell was Karin? Bree dialed nine-one-one and demanded help.

  “Witness…” Kace whispered.

  “Just focus on living!” Bree yelled at him. “Stop talking! Save your strength! You—”

  His eyes had closed.

  “Kace?”

  Footsteps pounded into the house.

  “Kace, you stay with me! You don’t dare die, do you understand? Don’t you—”

  A swarm of people entered the room. Karin had come with plenty of back-up. And all of those people were trying to pull Bree away from Kace. She fought them, yelling that pressure had to be put on his wounds. Yelling that he needed help.

  Yelling…that she needed him.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  “You can’t sleep forever.”

  Kace cracked open one eye. He felt like shit. No, worse than that. But…that was Bree’s voice. She was beside him. Smiling?

  Crying?

  He tried to talk—

  “Easy. You had a tube shoved down your throat until about ten minutes ago. Drink this. The nurse said it would help.”

  A straw was pressed to his lips. He sucked and ice-cold water chilled the burn in his throat.

  “If you hadn’t almost died, I swear, I would kill you.”

  His beautiful Bree. Now both of his eyes were open and on her.

  “How did you know it was him?” Bree asked.

  “You…talk in your sleep.”

  A furrow appeared between her brows.

  “Thorns. Last night…you mentioned thorns.”

  “It wasn’t last night. It was two nights ago. Because you’ve been out that long. I’ve been terrified that I was going to lose you for that long.” She sat on the edge of the bed, and her hands rose to frame his jaw. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Didn’t want you…having blood on your—”

  “I wanted to kill him.”

  He knew. “Couldn’t let you…go to jail.”

  Her expression was tender and soft. “You can’t always protect me.”

  Yes, he could. “Remy…witness…”

  “Yeah, Remy is a great witness. Because you set that crap up. Remy said he heard Dominic’s confession. The guy confessed to killing my parents. To stalking me. Karin found more evidence at his place. He had pictures. Videos of me that he’d taken over the years. The guy specifically requested this assignment, and then he was the one who convinced Grayson to bring me on. He’s been in the shadows of my life all along, and I never knew it.” She released a ragged breath. “His name was in the old police reports. He’d been at my high school, doing some kind of outreach that I don’t even remember. When my parents were killed, he inserted himself in the investigation. Said he wanted to help, according to the notes in the files. I didn’t even think about him as a suspect. He was just—God, he was right there.”

  The worst danger could be right beside you. “Dead?”

  She nodded. “He’s definitely dead. I’m a good shot.”

  His head turned. Kace pressed a kiss to her palm. “Marry…me…”

  A broken laugh came from her. “This is not more romantic than your last proposal in the kitchen. A hospital is not romantic.”

  He gazed into her eyes. Talking was still hard, but… “Love…you.”

  She leaned forward and kissed him. A gentle, sweet kiss. He could taste her tears in that kiss. “And I love you, and walking into that room, seeing your blood on the floor—it was like walking straight into my worst nightmare.”

  His beautiful Bree…

  “But the nightmare ended differently. He didn’t win this time. This time, I won. He’s dead, and I have you, and I’m going to be happy. We’re going to be happy.”

  Hell, yes, they would be. He’d do anything necessary to keep her happy. Anything.

  “I love you, Kace, and as soon as you get out of this bed, yes, I’ll marry you.”

  ***

  “I can’t believe you want me to be your best man.” Remy adjusted the sling on his arm. The bullet had torn into his rotator cuff. “I’m surprised that you’re even still talking to me.”

  Kace slowly pulled on his tux. The stitches in his chest ached, but he ignored the pain. He was about to marry Bree. She was all that mattered.

  “You knew all along?” Remy pushed. “Is that why I couldn’t find evidence against you?”

  “You found evidence. You just didn’t use it.” He headed closer to Remy. “That’s why you’re the best man.”

  Remy’s eyes narrowed. “You set me up. You had me in that room because you were planning to kill Dominic. You thought you’d force a confession out of him, and when I heard the truth, I’d back you up.”

  “No, I thought that when you heard the truth, you’d take your gun out of my back. You’d let me kill him. Then you’d drag my ass to jail.” He shrugged. The stitches burned with the movement. Whatever. He could deal with the pain.

  “You were willing to go to jail?”

  “For Bree? Hell, yes.” But things had worked out differently.

  Remy whistled. “You have fallen far and hard.”

  He sure had. “Be careful, my friend…” And he actually meant the term. “You might find yourself falling one day, too.”

  Remy appeared horrified by the very notion. “Hell, no. Not me.”

  “Lie to yourself if you want.” Kace smiled. “Trust me, you’ll fall when you never expect it.”

  Music started to play. Shit. It was time. He had to get out there. No way was he leaving his Bree waiting
. He made it to the altar. The St. Louis Cathedral was filled with his friends…

  And some enemies.

  Even a few FBI agents. Not Grayson Wesley. He hadn’t gotten an invitation to the event of the season. Too bad for that jerk. But Kace had dropped his charges against the guy. Since Grayson had helped to save Bree at the cemetery, Kace had decided to be kind. For the moment, anyway. He wasn’t quite done with Grayson…

  “How’d you score this place on such short notice?” Remy asked in a hushed voice as he stood beside Kace.

  Kace looked down the long aisle and saw Bree slowly approaching him. “I know the right people.”

  “You bribed the right people, you mean.”

  How insulting. “I’m not a criminal, Remy. I’m an upstanding member of the community.”

  Bree was almost upon them.

  She was freaking gorgeous.

  “You’re one lucky bastard,” Remy told him, the words barely above a whisper.

  Yes, he was.

  Kace took Bree’s hand and knew he’d hold her forever. She was the one thing that mattered to him, the one thing he couldn’t live without.

  He’d lie for her, fight for her, and kill for her in a heartbeat.

  Maybe those should be his wedding vows…

  “You’re smiling.” Bree’s voice was husky. Sexy. She smiled back at him. “You’re happy?”

  Happy wasn’t the right word.

  He was complete. His life was whole. He didn’t have to struggle, didn’t have to fight, didn’t have to possess everything because he had nothing.

  He had Bree, and with her…he had everything he’d ever need.

  He had the entire world.

  The End

  Want more from Cynthia Eden? Then get ready for an all new romantic suspense, DON’T LOVE A LIAR.

  Don’t Love A Liar

  I’ve been a criminal, a thief, and a killer. I’ve been the hero who rushes in to save the day. I’ve been the corporate CEO who runs the world. I’ve been everything.

  I’ve been nothing.

  That’s my talent. I’m a chameleon, I can become anyone, and I can do anything. I do whatever it takes to get the job done.

  This time, she’s the job. I’m supposed to get close to her. I’m supposed to find out everything she knows about a killer who is turning Louisiana red with blood. Only Kennedy Clarke isn’t what I expect. Not the rich party girl. She’s scared, and lost, and she’s a victim in this tangled web. She wants someone to rely on. Someone who will help her when the whole world falls in flames around her.

  She thinks I’m that guy. She’s wrong. I’m the one working against her even as I swear to protect her.

  She needs to be careful. She needs to stop making me want her so much. Because the longer I’m with her, I’m not so sure what’s right and what’s wrong any longer.

  Be careful, Kennedy. DON’T LOVE A LIAR.

  Ready for a dark and dangerous romantic suspense? Be careful who you trust, and remember that no one is really who you think…DON’T LOVE A LIAR.

  Learn more about DON’T LOVE A LIAR now.

  A Note From the Author

  Thank you for reading DON’T TRUST A KILLER.

  I had great time writing about Kace and Bree, and I really hope you enjoyed their story. New Orleans is one of my favorite cities, and I'm already at work writing another tale that will be set in the Big Easy. If you liked DON’T TRUST A KILLER, please consider leaving a review. Reviews help new readers to find great new stories.

  If you’d like to stay updated on my releases and sales,join my newsletter list. I share exclusive content with my newsletter subscribers, and I run monthly newsletter giveaways for readers.

  I’m also active on social media. You can find me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

  Again, thank you for reading DON’T TRUST A KILLER.

  Best,

  Cynthia Eden

  www.cynthiaeden.com

  About The Author

  Award-winning author Cynthia Eden writes dark tales of paranormal romance and romantic suspense. She is a New York Times, USA Today, Digital Book World, and IndieReader best-seller. Cynthia is also a three-time finalist for the RITA® award. Since she began writing full-time in 2005, Cynthia has written over eighty novels and novellas.

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