Page 97 of Capture My Heart

“I need a shower. I might need protection. You should join me.” He pulled off his shirt and gave a cocky grin that might work on a coed but not her.

Amy rolled her eyes and stepped past him. He fell in behind her. She spun on her heels, hand on gun, and glared at him. “I will check the premises for intruders but don’t get your hopes up for anything else.”

He dropped back and waited as she made sure the two small rooms were clear. It didn’t take long. He only had a bed and chest of drawers—no art or spare chair for clothes, just a couple photos of his family and Brie on his dresser.

“All clear.” She stepped back to her position on the back wall.

He sighed as he schlepped by her. “You don’t know what you’re missing.”

Oh, she could guess, and it wasn’t much.

The door closed and the sound of water running had her shoulders relax. Now, she could snoop.

Pizza boxes and beer bottles littered his trash. He had two place settings and some paper plates in the cupboard. He paid for the premium sports channels. She snorted. More likely, he pirated them from a neighbor.

The water turned off, and she moved back to her post by the wall. Not that she couldn’t sit but looking at the stains on his couch, there was no way she was sitting on it. No, she’d take one of the two wooden chairs at the table. The white painted wood screamed mom’s hand-me-down. Yup, your typical college apartment, minus the textbooks. He even had a case of energy drinks in the ancient refrigerator. The thing made a whining sound. Amy doubted it would make it to the end of Adam’s lease, assuming he rented on the school schedule.

Adam strolled into the room in low slung gray sweats. He rubbed a towel over his head.

“Are you going to stand there all night?”

She shrugged. “Maybe.”

He rolled his eyes. “Well, I’m hungry. I got a frozen pizza in the freezer if you want some.”

Nope, he didn’t, but Amy would let him find out himself.

His next words were muffled as he stuck his head in the fridge, but they sounded like a curse. The freezer door slammed, and he stood there holding a frozen pot pie in his hand.

“I only have one left.” His brow slid up and a greasy smile crossed his lips. “I’ll share.”

“Thanks, but I’m good.”

“Suit yourself.” He dropped the box on the counter and reached across the coiled burners to turn on the oven.

It clicked. Over and over, then Amy’s brain clicked in. A minute too late.

“NO!” She reached out for him as she moved, but the jolt of the explosion slammed her back. Her head ricocheted off the wall. Pain flooded her and she slumped to the floor.

She blinked. Flames licked up the walls and across the counters. Adam’s body was lying lifeless on the other side of the room from where he had been.

With as much strength as she could muster, she tried to crawl. She had to get out. Get him out. The room swam in her vision. Her arm crumbled under her as pain shot through her shoulder. She fell. Her face crashed on the floor.

She freed her phone from her pocket with her good hand. The screen blurred. A red haze stifled her attempts to dial. Warm liquid ran down her face. She blinked again. Blood?

Fighting the pain, she cocked her head and wiped her face on her sleeve. The phone, coated with blood, slipped as she pushed the buttons. Fuck. Her vision blurred and she slid to the floor.

She opened her mouth to call for help. It was doubtful anyone would hear, even if her voice had been louder than a croak. Her head listed to the side. Her nose mashed into the carpet. The strong smell of stale beer and urine filled her nostrils as the world went black.

A flash bang echoed in her head. The smell of charred wood and burnt rubber gagged her. Amy’s arms and legs were lead. She struggled to move. The noise was deafening, but she couldn’t say what it was. Sirens wailed in the distance. Her eyes itched but she couldn’t see. Couldn’t open them. There was a voice. She focused on the voice. It was low and familiar but she couldn’t place it. She strained to hear it. Could only catch every other word or phrase.

“What… are… doing here?” It was the first clear thing her mind processed.

A phone buzzed. “Yeah. He’s dead.”

Who? Adam?

“Larson was here… That wasn’t part of the deal.”