Epilogue

Axel

As I approach Durango's place, I spot Willow and Durango on the porch. Durango is staring at me, subtly shaking his head as he takes a step back. Willow grabs his shirt.

Odd.

Then I spot why. Samantha is at the bottom of the steps.

"Okay, I'll see you later," Samantha says.

She turns just as I am coming up the walkway.

I haven't seen her since we parted ways at her apartment after a weekend of great sex last year. We both agreed that while we had a good time, it wasn't meant to be. I mean, it was good, but when we talked, we really didn't share any interests.

"Axel?" Samantha asks.

I step up beside her. "Samantha? It's good to see you."

I hold out my hand, and she leans in for a hug.

"Oh," I laugh before giving her a quick hug. "How have you been?"

Samantha nods. "Good. Really good. You?"

I rock back on my heels. "Good."

"I was just leaving," Samantha says. "It was good to see you all again."

She is down the stairs and halfway up the block before I turn to face Durango and Willow.

Willow is wearing a huge grin.

"Did you two set this up?" I ask.

"Trust me, it was not a setup," Durango says. "Come in."

We step into the house, and I hold back my grin. It's been redecorated and clearly has Willow's touch.

"Samantha texted me about two minutes before she was at the door saying she was bringing me a gift she bought me," Willow says. "I'm sorry. That was awkward, wasn't it?"

I chuckle. "A little, but it's fine. She's your friend and I'm Durango's, so we will need to get used to bumping into each other." Although I'm surprised it took this long to happen.

"Or you could call her and ask her out again," Willow suggests.

"She's a great woman, but what we had is over."

Willow pouts, and I can't say I've ever seen her pout. "That's too bad. It would have been fun double dating."

"Axel here isn't exactly a relationship person. So, I wouldn't count on it with him. But we can double date with Ozzie and Piper."

I cross my arms. "What do you mean, I'm not a relationship person? I could be."

"In all the years I've known you, you had one girlfriend and that was years ago."

I frown. My ex is not something I generally talk about. Both because it was a long time ago and because it wasn't a pleasant experience.

I stand there and glance between Durango and Willow. I'm here to share some information with Durango about Sylvia. It looks like he didn't mention that to Willow.

Willow stares back and forth at us. "I'll leave you two to discuss work." She leaves the room, and Durango nods to the couch.

Or maybe he did. I sit on one end, and Durango sits on the other.

"You said you had an update?" Durango asks.

"Yeah, it's about Sylvia."

"I thought she was serving time in Belarus for Damien's murder," Durango says.

"She was."

"Was?"

"She died. Harding didn't provide a lot of details but said there was some sort of disagreement between her and another inmate. The other inmate stabbed Sylvia. She didn't survive."

Durango leans back. "Does it make me a bad person that I don't feel bad?"

"Not at all."

We sit in silence for a moment, and my mind wanders. Durango's comment about my ex has my mind thinking about Savvy, the realtor.

"What's wrong?" he asks.

I glance up, confused. "What?"

"You seem perplexed."

I grin. "Perplexed? No, I'm fine. Oh, but I do have news. Remember, I told you that I was buying a lake house with my sister?"

"I remember. That was last summer? I thought the deal fell through."

"It did, but we found another place. Same lake."

"That's great."

"If everything goes well, it will close next month. I hope it does because I have some vacation accrued, and I'd like to just relax up there."

"Well, I'd love to check the place out sometime," he says.

"Of course. Once my sister and I work out a schedule, I'll invite you guys up."

I stare out at the lake. Yes, it was worth working with the most annoying real estate agent in the world to get this place. Fortunately, my sister dealt with her so I didn't have to. And this weekend, I get the cabin all to myself. Operation relax is going to happen.

The water is like glass. I push my kayak off the shore and then hop in. It's silent this early in the morning except for some birds chirping.

As I row to the middle of the lake, I spot a familiar woman kayaking toward me.

No way. It can't be her. I'm seeing things.

I can't pretend I haven't seen her, as we are the only two out here this early.

"Hunter?" she calls to me.

Few call me by my real name, and damn, I wish I didn't like the sound of it on her lips. I hold up a hand to wave. If I'm not at least polite, my sister will rip me a new one.

She glides up next to me. "I didn't realize you were a morning person. You strike me more as a night owl."

I'm not sure how that's an insult, but coming from her, I'm sure it is. "Nope. Morning person." I keep it short—something I've learned is best when talking to Savvy Williams.

She smiles her fake smile. "Are you planning to stay long?"

"On the lake or at the cabin?"

A breeze comes up and tries to pull her away. Instead of taking the hint, she uses her oar to row herself back in line with me.

"The cabin."

I shrug. Something tells me if I tell her my weekend plans, she'll make it her job to make me miserable.

"I can just ask your sister."

It's true. She can. But I didn't tell my sister I was coming. We share a calendar for it so that we don't try to use it at the same time. It's a great cabin but not large enough for me, plus all of my sister's friends, whom she likes to bring up here. Which I thought might include Savvy, who is not only a friend of my sister's but the real estate agent who brokered the deal on the cabin for us.

"What brings you to this lake? I thought it was private," I say.

Savvy grins. "It is. Maria didn't mention I own the house two doors down from you?"

I ground my teeth. No, of course, she didn't because she knew I'd walk away if I had known that. That's how much I don't want to be around this woman. It's not that I hate her; it's just that she rubs me the wrong way.

Ever since we first met, every word out of her mouth seems like some underhanded insult. Maria says I'm overreacting and that Savvy is nice. But I'm not so sure.

"Wow, you really dislike me that much, don't you?" she says.

"What?" I ask, not expecting her to be so direct.

She nods to me. "I mention I live close and you look like you've sucked on a lemon."

I paddle as the wind takes me, and it turns me away from her. "It's not dislike," I say.

"But it's something."

I glance at her, and she's grinning. Why is she grinning?

"Look, I'm sorry for whatever I said that offended you. I didn't figure a former military man to have such a thin skin."

I open my mouth to protest.

"Anyway, I'm hoping you might consider putting our differences aside. Your sister said you work in protection, and I think I need some."

Wait, she insulted me and is now asking for help? I'm about to say no, but her eyes stop me. Eyes don't lie, and Savvy is scared.

"What's going on?" I ask.

My sister will have my ass if I don't at least consider this. Although I'm lying to myself, I couldn't live with myself if something happened to Savvy after she asked for help.

"I am showing a commercial building later today, and I don't have a good feeling about it. Would you be willing to come with me? I'll buy you lunch."

"Why do you have a bad feeling?" I ask. "Is the client a dick or something?"

She stares at the shore. "He's been nice to me, but he's not so nice to others. I just don't want to get caught up in some feud he may have."

She's being vague. I'll probably have a better chance of getting more information from her at lunch.

"What time?"

Her eyes light up as she smiles. "I'll pick you up at eleven thirty. Thank you so much!"

She turns and paddles toward her cabin before I can rethink anything.

I check the time and realize I need to get back in order to shower and get ready in time.

At eleven thirty on the dot, there's a knock on the door. I open it and find Savvy smiling.

"Ready to go?"

I grab my phone and wallet. "Ready."

Once we are on the road, I glance over at her. "Explain what you mean by not having a good feeling. I need to know what I'm looking for."

She takes a deep breath and lets it out. "As I said, the man I'm showing the space to has angered a few people, including the current owner of the building. The owner told me he won't sell to this guy, but he insisted I bring him in for a showing today. I'm worried the owner is going to confront the man."

I stare at Savvy, really taking her in. From the moment I met her, she came across as tough, but in this moment, she doesn't seem so tough.

"Do you often get nervous showing properties to strangers?" I ask. "Or scared?"

She glances over at me. "I never get scared."

And the wall she usually has goes back up. Then she slumps down a little. "That's a lie. I do. Today is one of those days. But I can't not show it, or I wouldn't be a good real estate agent."

"Maybe you don't have to show it, but can't you avoid putting yourself in situations where you feel uncomfortable?"

She laughs. "You mean stop showing houses to people who make me nervous? I'd lose half my business." She parks. "We're here."

We're pulled up in front of a building that looks like it might have been an automotive shop in its past life. A man is leaning against his car with his arms crossed. He looks annoyed.

We step out of the car.

"Clinton, it's good to see you again. This is my associate, Mr. Charles."

I'm not used to being called by my last name. The man glances at me. I stick my hand out to shake his, but he doesn't uncross his arms.

"I thought I was only meeting you," Clinton says.

Hmmm. Maybe the guy was hoping to hit on her.

"Sorry to disappoint, but Savvy is training me, so you get me, too." I put on my cheesiest smile.

Clinton rolls his eyes and walks to the door. Savvy is trying to suppress her smile.

She unlocks the door, and we all enter. I was wrong. This was not a mechanic's place. Based on the bloodstains on the floor and walls and the hooks hanging from the ceiling, this was a butcher shop. Or at least I hope it was. The smell of bleach is strong.

"I don't need to look around. I'm familiar with the place," Clinton says. "I'd like to make an offer."

He doesn't need to look around? It sounds like this guy was just trying to get Savvy alone. Good call on her part to ask me to come with her.

"All right, let me just get some information from you, and I'll draw up the paperwork." Savvy pulls a pad of paper and a pen from her large purse.

"I've done this before. You need my offer and my terms. I'll email that to you once I'm back in my office. Thank you for your time." Clinton throws the door open and walks out, leaving us standing in the middle of the large space.

"Well, that was weird," she says.

I shrug. "Figured he was hoping to get you here alone, and I ruined that."

She shivers. "Well, that's creepy. Okay, let's go get lunch."

We turn to the door as a loud blast comes from behind us, propelling us forward and onto the ground. I land on my back, staring at the ceiling, and see parts of it falling. I get up, scoop up Savvy, and run out the door. I thank Clinton for leaving the door open. I run both of us about fifty feet from the building before I set her down.

"Are you injured?"

She shakes her head. Her eyes widen. "Watch out! Behind you!"

Before I can turn and see what she sees, something hits me from behind, hard. Then everything goes dark.