Trouble in Tallahassee (Familiar Legacy Book 3)
Page 22
“Don’t think this ends here.”
“It has ended,” she said finally, quietly. “It’s done, Craig.”
His harsh laugh had the cat tensing in her arms and she instinctively snuggled him more closely to her chest.
“You stupid bitch! You would’ve been a hell of a lot smarter to take what I offered and gotten the hell out of Alabama. Summer Valley is mine, every acre, every horse.”
She could see the hatred in his eyes where once she’d imagined she’d seen love. And she supposed Craig could see with equal clarity the emptiness she felt when she looked at him.
“Over my dead body.” She kept her voice steady by sheer strength of will. Her exhaustion was bone-deep. “The judge gave you twenty-four hours to remove the rest of your belongings from the ranch. Carlee is welcome to continue on with me.”
“Carlee is my daughter, just like that ranch is my property! Over your dead body, you said,” he reminded her of her own words. His lips curled. “I hope you meant it … because that’s just what I’m going to step over to take back what you’ve stolen from me.”
“Craig, what the hell ...” Andrew Morgan scrubbed a hand over his face in disgust.
Shock and fury hit Avery in a tidal wave of heat. “I can and will defend what’s mine.” Her voice was hard with the reminder of all she’d been through, all he’d put her through. “You should listen to your attorney, Craig. He might just keep you out of jail.”
“Don’t threaten me, you emasculating bitch.”
Even more shocking than his threats, Craig grabbed her shoulders, his fingers digging in so hard she sucked in her breath. As bad, as nasty, as things had gotten between them, Craig had never laid hands on her – until now.
In one, blurred moment, she felt rather than saw the cat swipe unsheathed claws at the hand on her shoulder.
Craig howled and jerked away with a string of curses more vulgar than she’d ever heard from him. He flung drops of blood from his hand, staring at the gash in disbelief before lunging forward. Avery could not tell if she or the cat was his target.
Andrew tried to restrain Craig but his ineffectual attempt proved unnecessary. Before Avery had time for real fear, she watched in amazement as a complete stranger stepped past her, effortlessly pulling Craig’s arm behind his back so hard that Craig’s features contorted with pain rather than anger.
The man leaned in close and spoke with quiet effect. Avery wished she could hear the words that drained all resistance from Craig’s taut body. Craig stared in disbelief then jerked backward as the other man loosened his grip.
The stranger turned his back on Craig in dismissal. A cool, assessing gaze skimmed Avery and the cat. “Mrs. Danson.”
Avery was vaguely aware of Craig stumbling past them, his attorney trailing behind.
“Ms. Wilson,” she corrected automatically. She’d taken her own name back as soon as she’d filed for divorce more than two years earlier. For a moment, she stared at him. His eyes were hidden by dark, aviator style glasses but she could almost feel his gaze, a gaze that seemed as feline as the animal in her arms, only far more predatory and dangerous, more in line with a panther than someone’s pet.
“Ms. Wilson,” he returned, without a hint of a smile. “I’ve been waiting for you. We need to talk.”
Instinctively, Avery took a step backward and shook her head. “No.”
The man who had just come to her rescue lifted one dark brow and she flushed at her own rudeness but she was exhausted, stretched to the limit.
“No,” she said again, but less forcefully. “But thank you for your help.”
“I understand your caution but I’ve traveled a significant distance to meet with you.”
“Who are you?” She felt completely bewildered by this turn of events. She was drained by hours of courtroom drama and knew she wasn’t at her best mentally. Even so, she knew she wasn’t expecting a visitor of any kind, particularly not one with the authoritative air of the man standing in front of her. “What do you want with me?”
“This is not a sidewalk conversation.” His tone brooked no argument. “Look, it’s late. You’ve got to eat. I need to talk with you and it may as well be over food.”
Whoever he was, Avery, realized, whatever he wanted to talk with her about, he wasn’t going away until that happened.
End of excerpt from Trouble in Summer Valley
Familiar Legacy #4
Trouble’s Double Contest Winner
Hi there. My name is Sebastian, and I would like to tell you a little bit about myself. My mom Jo Ann Hunter adopted me when I was 5 weeks old. I was so small I fit in the palm of her hand. I grew up to be a big boy weighing in at 19 lbs. I love climbing up to the kitchen cabinets, and surveying the household from the basket of one of mom’s plants. (shhh, don't tell her I told you).
I also have a cat cave bed, but refuse to sleep in it. Instead I lay on top of it, and cave it in. I have always been an indoor cat, but once I snuck out behind mom. I took one step on that stuff you call grass, and couldn't get back inside quick enough. I do like looking out the windows at squirrels and birds. Mom says it's not nice when I tap the window with both front feet just when the birds get in the bird bath and scare them away. But I think it's fun.
I share my home with 2 dogs, Cocoa and Lady. I ignore them. I also have a new cat friend who came to live with us when her owners moved away leaving her behind. Her name is Little Cat, and she's very shy, but we get along. I've never had to experience the life of an outdoor cat as she has. I am now 12 years old, and am living a wonderful, happy, spoiled life with my family, and I plan on continuing to look after them all.
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