LOGIN*Vivienne*The police lights flashed red and blue against the wet log cabin walls.Two local patrol cars pulled away down the dirt lane, taking Director Vance into federal custody. The valley fell dead quiet again.Dominic stood on the edge of the front porch. His broad shoulders were tense, his dark eyes watching the red taillights vanish into the foggy trees. His knuckles were raw, and his right hand still held his black sidearm low at his leg.I walked out through the open doorway and stood right beside him. Cold mountain air hit my skin, making me shiver.Dominic didn't look at me, but his left arm swung out instantly, his big hand grabbing my waist and pulling me tight against his broad hip. His heat radiated right through his torn black jacket."She was the last one, Vivienne," Dominic rasped, his voice low, gravelly, and deep in his chest."I know," I whispered, reaching up to rest my palm on his broad chest, feeling his fast, heavy heart beating against my fingers."I checked
*Vivienne*The ride back up the mountain path was dead quiet.The heavy rain had turned into a thick, low mist that hung over the dark pine trees. The black truck rattled over the deep mud ruts, its headlights cutting two bright yellow lines through the foggy night.Dominic kept his right hand clamped around mine, his big fingers squeezing tight. His thumb pressed into my wrist, counting my pulse. His left hand guided the heavy steering wheel with smooth, dangerous precision."You're quiet, Vivienne," Dominic rasped, his voice low and deep in the dark truck cabin."I'm just watching the road, Dominic," I whispered, leaning my shoulder against his broad arm."The road is empty," he said."It was empty before we found the radio on the porch," I reminded him softly.Dominic didn't answer. His hard jawline tightened. He pulled the truck around the final sharp turn, bringing the vehicle onto the long dirt driveway that led straight down to the quiet lake.The log cabin sat in the dark shad
*Vivienne*The black truck tore down the steep mountain pass, its tires throwing mud and wet gravel high into the dark air.Dominic drove fast through the blinding rain, his knuckles pure white on the leather wheel. He kept his left hand on the steering column and his right hand wrapped tight around mine, his thumb pressing hard into my palm every single second."Three miles to the old timber mill," Marcus said from the back seat, racking his rifle slide in the dark cabin. "The thermal scan shows two cars parked under the collapsed metal roof."Dominic didn't say a word. His dark eyes stayed fixed on the narrow dirt lane ahead. The lethal, terrifying look on his hard jawline was back, but whenever he glanced sideways at me, his eyes held a deep, fierce heat that made my heart hammer in my chest."When we hit the mill, you stay on my left hip, Vivienne," Dominic rasped, his voice a low, dangerous growl. "Harris wants a trade. He isn't getting one.""I'm not leaving your side, Dominic,"
*Vivienne*The generator under the cabin porch cut out with a sharp, ugly whine.The lights inside the living room died instantly, plunging the entire house into pitch-black darkness.Dominic didn't say a word. In less than half a second, his broad arm swept around my waist, slamming my back flat against his chest as he pulled me down onto the floorboards behind the heavy sofa. His heavy handgun was out of his holster before my knees touched the rug."Dominic," I breathed, my heart jumping straight into my dry throat."Shh," he growled low against my ear, his breath hot, fast, and rough. "Don't move a muscle, Vivienne."In the kitchen, the soft rustle of Martha’s coat sounded in the dark. A quiet metallic *clack* signaled her shotgun slide moving into place. From the hallway, Marcus slid down against the wooden baseboard, his rifle ready.No one spoke. The cabin was deathly quiet.Outside the broken window frame, the mountain wind howled through the high pine trees, making the log wal
*Vivienne*The heavy black truck tore down the narrow dirt road toward the lake.The rain had stopped, but the tall pine trees were still dripping cold water onto the hood. Fog hung low over the mud tracks, heavy and thick.Dominic kept his left hand glued to the steering wheel. His right hand was locked tight around mine, his big fingers squeezing my palm hard every few seconds. He didn't say a word. His dark eyes kept jumping to the side mirror, watching the empty road behind us."Dominic," I said softly, my voice raspy. "There's no one behind us."Dominic didn't slow the truck down. His jaw remained set like concrete."I don't trust empty roads, Vivienne," he growled, his voice low and rough. "Not after Seattle.""Mercer is in federal hands," I reminded him, leaning my head against his broad shoulder. "Director Vance cleared the final ledger. It's completely done."Dominic pulled the truck hard to the right, taking the final steep curve toward the log house. He slammed his boot on
*Vivienne*The rain stopped just as we turned off the main highway onto the quiet mountain road.The heavy black truck climbed the winding path toward the lake. Fog hung low between the thick pine trees, but the air coming through the cracked window was clean and cold.Dominic drove with his left hand on the wheel. His right hand was locked around mine, his big fingers squeezing my palm every few minutes just to make sure I was still there beside him."You've been quiet for two hours, Vivienne," Dominic rasped, his low voice breaking the silence inside the truck cabin.I looked over at his side profile. The soot and dark blood were wiped from his face, but the deep exhaustion was written across his hard jaw."I'm just waiting," I whispered, leaning my head against his broad arm."Waiting for what?""For someone to shoot at us," I said, a tiny, tired smile touching my lips.Dominic didn't laugh. His grip on my hand tightened until it almost hurt. He pulled the truck over to the shoulde







