Elizabeth Goddard - Stormy Haven

The creeper approached and positioned himself in front of the door. He was hunched over, his back to Ian, who could only assume the man intended to pick the locks.

Jonna was in danger.

Ian acted on instinct and, remaining in stealth mode, rushed forward, then snuck up behind him. His thick, black coat and hood left no exposed area. Not that that mattered. Ian didn’t have to see skin to know where to thrust his weapon.

He lifted the Glock and jabbed the muzzle into the base of the man’s skull. The perpetrator instantly stiffened.

“Hold it right there.” Ian forced the threatening words out through gritted teeth, remembering earlier in the day when someone had tried to kill Jonna. Was this that man?

Ian’s nerve-endings prickled, aware the trespasser prepared to make a move.

“Don’t even think about it. I’ll put a bullet in your brain before you can move.” Ian stepped a few feet back, putting space between him and his target so the man couldn’t go on the offensive with a head butt or a kick. “Now, slowly back away from the door.”

Suddenly it swung open.

Jonna!

Ian couldn’t fire his weapon or he’d risk shooting Jonna. The criminal ducked into the shadows, leaving Ian standing with Jonna pointing her weapon at him. Hadn’t she seen the intruder at the door?

“Put your weapon down or I swear I’ll shoot you.” Her voice sounded every bit as threatening as his had sounded moments ago.

“Jonna. It’s me. Don’t shoot me, please. I’m lowering my weapon. In the meantime, the guy I found breaking into your cabin is getting away.” Ian slowly lowered his weapon. She could have killed him.

“Ian?”

“Yes, it’s me. Didn’t you see him? He was picking your lock, Jonna. He slipped into the shadows when you opened the door. I’m sorry but I have to go after him. Stay inside and lock your door!” Ian backed away and then sprinted after the invader.

He feared he was too late, except for the footfalls pounding the ground resounded along the parking lot and indicated the man headed across the street.

Ian gave chase.

Behind him, Jonna shouted. “Ian, come back!”

Ignoring her, he headed across the street. A bullet whizzed by him. Uh-oh. From the dark forest, the criminal had the advantage now. Ian ducked behind a car. Jonna ran toward him as if she would crouch next to him. “Ian!”

But she wouldn’t make it.

“Jonna, get down!” Ian dashed toward her and shoved her to the ground. A bullet grazed over his back, shredding his coat. He covered her body with his—an instinctive reaction. He hoped she understood. “It’s not safe. Whoever this guy is, he fired a couple of shots using a silencer. You didn’t hear them?”

“Not over the surf, no.” Her breaths still came fast—she was like a frightened bird beneath him. She could definitely handle herself, but someone had targeted her tonight. Again. That was enough to rattle anyone. Ian’s protectiveness kicked in, and this had nothing at all to do with the job his uncle had hired him to do. He felt personally compelled to keep her safe.

You can do this, Ian. You’ve got the skills. I trust you to protect someone special to me. Uncle Gil’s vote of confidence rang in his ears now. Ian realized this assignment might have had something to do with building Ian’s confidence again to begin with, but today, everything had changed.

Jonna’s life was in danger. Ian was back in the line of fire. Would he be enough to protect her?

“You can get off me now, Ian.”

“What?” He peered down into her gorgeous eyes and stunning features. Not what he needed to be thinking about.

“I’m safe now. You can stop covering me.”

He shook off the daze. “Right. But let’s stay down in case he hasn’t gone.”

“I don’t want him to get away.” She tried to free herself from Ian’s protective cover. “Let’s go after him.”

Ian refused to release her. Not yet. “I’m not getting up unless you promise me you’re not going to follow him. It’s dark and dangerous. It’s too risky. Our only option now is to call the sheriff again and tell him the guy returned for you.” Looked like she was a deliberate target after all, and not necessarily a random victim on the beach earlier. He wasn’t sure which was worse.

“What? You want me to have the sheriff come out here and wake my guests? They’re not in trouble. I am. Besides, the sheriff won’t be looking for him tonight either.”

“Promise me.”

Jonna jabbed him in the solar plexus and pushed him off. Ian groaned. He grabbed her arm. “You’re not going to chase him.”

She stiffly nodded her agreement and he slowly removed himself from protecting her. “You shouldn’t stay in your cabin tonight. It’s too exposed. Move into one of your guest rooms.”

“I’m booked.”

“You can take my room. I’ll stay in the cabin.”

She shook her head. “I won’t put you at risk.”

“We’ll figure it out tomorrow. Just for tonight, I’ll sleep on the couch in my suite.”

Jonna hung her head. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

“We can talk about it inside,” Ian said. “Let’s get you out of harm’s way.”

“I’m sure the guy is long gone by now.” She crouched behind a vehicle as if uncertain of her words.

“We can’t be sure.” He peered into the woods.

“We can be sure of one thing,” she said. “He wants to kill me.”

Unfortunately, he agreed. He wanted to go search for the man and end this, but Jonna would insist on coming too. He wouldn’t be in a good position to protect her if that were the case. “How about it, then? I’ll watch your back tonight and sleep on the sofa.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“How about yes ?” Still wary of the dark woods across the street, Ian climbed to his feet, weapon at the ready. “Besides, it’s almost morning.”

After the day they’d had, Ian suspected that daylight wouldn’t chase the bad guys away, and Jonna would remain in danger.

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