“Trinity, put the gun down. Right now, you haven’t done anything wrong other than hurt Carson. It’s like you said, none of this is your fault. You’re just a girl who needed her mom.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Lucy.” A shadow passed over Trinity’s eyes. “I don’t need anyone, much less her.”
I stepped in the direct line of sight between Susan and Trinity, taking away the shot. “If you’re going to try to kill her, you’re going to have to kill me first. These people are my family, Trinity. You’re smart enough to know what that means.”
“She’s not your family,” Trinity growled. “She hasn’t even been in the picture until now.”
“Technically, she’s his ex-wife. I’ve saved her life once, and that wasn’t so you could shoot her today.” I drew in a calming breath. “Don’t make me hurt you, Trinity. Let me help you,” I pleaded.
The war was raging inside her was visible in her gritted jaw. The fight was burned in her eyes as I took a step toward her. Sloan’s palm rested on my arm.
I shook it off and focused on Trinity. “This isn’t about them anymore. This is about you. They don’t define you. You didn’t have a say in their choices, but you do in this one. Put down the gun.”
I hoped like hell she would. The way the tears were streaming from her eyes, she’d likely miss from the blurred vision, and there was no telling who she might hit.
I took another step closer, and when the front door slammed open behind us, panic laced Trinity’s eyes as I lunged for her.
Both Noah and Grant were screaming to drop the weapon, only Trinity didn’t have it anymore. I did.
Chapter 22
With Trinity getting the help she needed and Susan acknowledging her existence, I wasn’t worried. Things were on the mend. It wasn’t twenty-four hours later before Sam won the battle with the laptop, and just as I’d witnessed when I’d connected to the crime, Tenure did have files on his computer of each of his trophy kills. He was going away for a long time.
I stood before the same woman as I had the last two times that I’d visited the DMV. This stuffy room was still filled with zombie people, whose only interest was whether the number being called matched the ticket in their hand.
The woman behind the counter sighed when I walked up. “You again. Papers, please.” She remembered me. I was kind of unforgettable.
I handed the woman everything. When she got to my husband’s death certificate, she raised her brow and met my gaze. “I see you found him?”
“That I did.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.” The woman’s gaze softened, an unfamiliar look coming from the DMV worker.
I cleared my throat. “Can we just get on with this? Potential husband number 2 is waiting in the car.”
“Well,” the woman said as her fingers clickety-clacked against the keyboard.
I swiped my credit card, and I was on my way with a new license and picture of me smiling like I’d won the lottery.
Sloan had already moved from the driver’s side and into the passenger side of my car. The convertible’s top down.
I leaped over the door and dropped down into the seat.
“Well?”
“I’m legal.” I grinned and flashed him my ID. “Let’s celebrate.”
“Where to?”
“I have a few errands to run first.”
“I’m at your disposal for the entire week.” Sloan eased the seat back into a resting position seconds before I peeled out of the parking lot, leaving tire marks in my wake.
Wind caressed my cheeks and whipped my hair around my face as I navigated across town. When I parked in front of the prison, I grabbed my license and a picture I’d stashed in the center console.
“You visiting a friend?”
My lips twitched. “Your ex-father-in-law.”
I was out of the car before Sloan could protest and walking into the building.
After all of the security checkpoints, I was waiting behind the glass one more time. This time was different. Mr. Mount’s eyes glowed with knowledge when he sat down on the other side and picked up the phone.
“Well?” he asked, almost with bated breath.
I held up a picture of Tenure and raised my brows. “I found the little prick. I believe the guards refer to him as inmate 1653.”
Acknowledgment registered in Mount’s gaze. The gleam of no-good. I’d seen it in the mirror plenty of times. No further words needed to be exchanged.
“I’m afraid your granddaughter won’t be by to visit. She’s getting some psychiatric help. She and Susan are determined to make things right.”
“I owe you,” he said.
“One day, I’ll collect, Mr. Mount,” I said as I hung up the phone and slipped out of the chair. Stuffing the picture back into my bra, I lifted my chin and walked out with sure steps.
I used the door this time to get back in my car. Sloan waited.
“You can tell Susan she’ll never have to worry about Tenure again.”
“What did you do, Lucy?”
“I’m severing an unwanted bond with a killer.” I smiled. “I made sure Mr. Mount knew who was bunking under the same roof.”
“Lucy,” Sloan gawked. It wasn’t until five minutes later, and we passed the city limit sign, that Sloan spoke again. “Where are we going?”
“I have to meet with Martin Steinbuckle’s lawyer so he can finalize the estate.”
“There are easier and quicker ways to get to Vegas.”
“I’m not looking forward to quick or easy,” I said as I glanced at him with a grin on my face. “I have you for a week. Do you know how many hotels are between here and there?”
“No, but something tells me that you do.”
I winked and tossed the car into gear and hit the gas. Sloan and I were in for one hell of a ride.
READ MORE BY KATE ALLENTON
Or maybe you like Cozy Reads with Psychics? Check out Dead Wrong, Book 1 in the Cree Blue Psychic Eye Mystery Series.
Feel like adding a little Highlander Romance with your Cozy Psychic Mystery? Check out DEADLY INTENT, Book 1 in the Linked Inc. Series
Or maybe you’d like some straight up Romantic Suspense? Check out Deception, Book 1 in the Carrington-Hill Series.
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Hunting Justice (Fractured Minds Series Book 3) Page 10
