Chapter 24
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RADLEY SCREAMED ASa bullet suddenly pierced the window, glass shattering into the bedroom.One minute her attacker had been yelling at her, moving closer to where she lay restrained on the bed, and the next?
He was gone.
Blood gushed from Mike Cameron's head, and he lay collapsed on the bed, partially covering her legs.Radley screamed again, shock and adrenaline coursing through her as she stared at him in shock and horror.She fought against the ropes, to no avail.If anything, she was only tightening the knots more.
Cameron’s body was limp, and she knew without a doubt that he was gone.No one would survive a head wound like that.
She sucked in a breath, trying to get needed oxygen and calm her racing heart.
What the hell had just happened?
A cool breeze blew through the room from the shattered window, and Radley's frantic breathing finally slowed down.Someone had taken a perfect kill shot through the window.Despite the glass, despite the dim light in the bedroom, despite the fact that it was dark outside and Cameron had been moving, someone had killed him.
Someone had taken a single shot from afar.
A sniper.
Relief flooded through her, so pure and strong that she thought she might burst with love and emotion.Boone had found her.She knew it with every beat of her heart.She had no idea how Boone had tracked her here so quickly, but he’d both rushed to her location and taken out the man who’d been stalking her like a predator.Who was planning to rape her repeatedly tonight.
Tears rolled down her cheeks, both from happiness and relief.She sucked in another breath, gasping.Shaking.Now that it was over, it felt like she couldn’t contain the emotions spilling from her.Adrenaline spiked through her bloodstream.
She pulled again at the ropes, crying, but she was trapped here until Boone came for her.
“Radley!”A deep voice boomed from downstairs, and suddenly she was screaming in reply.
“I’m here!Boone!I’m in here!Help!Boone!!!”
Footsteps thundered upstairs, and she prayed it was him.Her protector.Her savior.
The doorknob rattled, and then Boone kicked open the door, gun drawn.His rifle was slung across his back, and he was so tense, it looked like he’d kill anyone who dared cross him right now.Aiming his Glock, he swept the room, ensuring she was alone with her attacker.
She saw the horror flash through his eyes as he saw the blood everywhere.The man collapsed over Radley’s lower body.The shattered glass and disarray.
“Boone!”she cried out.
“Holy shit, kitten,” he muttered as he ran to the bed, yanking Cameron off her.He shoved the body to the floor, not even giving it a second glance, then bent to pull a knife free from an ankle strap.“Is anyone else here?”he asked urgently.
“I don’t think so.”
His gaze raked over her, both worried and assessing.“Did he hurt you?”Boone asked, his voice choked.He cut the ropes binding her wrists, quickly moving to slice the ones at her ankles, too.Boone helped her to sit up, then hugged her tightly to him.“Let’s get these fully off you,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.Boone carefully cut through the rope looped tightly around each wrist.He cursed as he saw the red marks where it had bit into her skin.
He worked quicker then she could’ve imagined, working at the knots at her ankles next, then helped her to stand.Radley wobbled slightly, Boone’s arm wrapping more tightly around her.“He drugged me with something,” she told him.“It’s wearing off, but—”
“I want to fucking kill him all over again.Slowly this time,” he muttered.
“How did you find me?”she asked.