Page 115 of Savage Ice

And Avalon was there. Right in front of Beau. Smiling for him. Staring at him with love clear to see in her gorgeous green eyes.

Yes, he had the life he wanted. He had the woman he wanted.

He pulled Avalon into his arms.

Sonofabitch, he actually had a happy ending.

How about that?

Lying had always come easily to Royal. Second nature. But he still hated lying to his brother.

Maybe he should duck out of Savannah for a while. He’d always gone in and out of Beau’s life over the years. After the wedding, he’d take a trip. Give Beau and Avalon some time on their own.

And go some other place for my hunts.

Because his extracurricular activities? Nope. He had not stopped them. They were too important to stop.

Slowly, he crept through the darkness. He’d slipped out of LeBlanc’s and gone on the trail of new prey. Prey he believed would be alone and vulnerable that particular night. He was currently in the middle of nowhere. An old winery that had long since been abandoned. His prey’s vehicle waited. A faded sedan that most people wouldn’t look at twice.

Royal eased past the sedan. His eyes were on the ramshackle building up ahead. He?—

Thud.

Royal tensed. His head turned back at the sound.

Thud.

He focused on the sedan.

Thud.

Was that his heart? Or was that thud seriously coming from the trunk of the sedan? Slowly, carefully, he approached the vehicle.

Thud.

Shit. That was from inside the trunk. He hurried to the driver’s side. The window was half down. He shoved his hand inside. Opened the door. Found the little lever that would pop the trunk.

And even as that trunk was rising up, he ran back to the rear of the sedan. He pulled out his flashlight and shone it inside.

Holy shit.

A bound woman stared back at him. Duct tape over her mouth. Raised hands tied together. Her wide, desperate eyes stared into his.

Terrified, beautiful eyes. A terrified, beautiful woman.

A beautiful woman who was trapped in the trunk of a killer’s car.

With his free hand, Royal carefully removed the tape from her mouth. But she winced. Shuddered.

“Are you…going to kill me?” A low whisper.

Royal shook his head. “No.” He scooped her out of the trunk. Into his arms. Then said something he never, ever expected to say, “I’m going to save you.”