Devoted Defender Read Online Free PDF

better?”
    “You’re very perceptive, Annie.”
    A customer walked in and took a seat. Jen came out of the back to go take his order.
    “Looks like you need to get back to work,” Gabby said. “I’ll be in touch. And be careful, Annie. These guys are dangerous.”
    Annie walked back to the kitchen as a wave of unease washed over her. It was clear that Gabby didn’t trust her. But hopefully Gabby could find out information—information that might save her life.
    For the next hour, Annie busied herself in the kitchen. Trying to keep her mind off of Silva and on cleaning up from her shift, she only had about an hour left to work when Jen walked into the kitchen. Jen stood a few inches taller than her, and she wore her long blonde hair pulled back in a low ponytail. Annie had instantly liked her.
    “Can you hold down the fort for a minute?” Jen asked. “I need to run up to the store and pick up some cough medicine for Cindy.”
    “Sure. I don’t think the dinner crowd will come in for a bit.”
    “Thank you. It’s easier for me to pick it up before I get her from her after school program. I hope she’s not coming down with something.”
    “Don’t worry about it at all. I’ll be fine here until you get back.” Annie had a good idea of how hard it was to be a single mom because she had been raised by one.
    Jen surprised her by grabbing her into a tight hug. “Thank you.”
    Jen left, leaving Annie to finish up her work. Annie could get used to having a friend like Jen. She couldn’t remember the last time she had been hugged by anyone. It was part of her solitary lifestyle.
    A couple of minutes later, she heard a sound behind her. “You’re back super quick.” Annie turned expecting to see Jen. But her heart skipped a beat when she saw the familiar blond muscle man who had murdered Doc.
    She took a step back, but he caught her with a lunge forward. “It was a smart move to try to hide out in a town like this, Annie.”
    At the sound of him using her name, a chill shot down her arm. Dear Lord, please save me from this man. “How did you find me?” she asked. She had no connection to this town. That’s why she thought it was safe to hide out in Maxwell.
    “Your license was run by a police officer in this town. And I happen to have access into multiple law enforcement electronic systems.”
    “What do you want from me?” she asked. “I’m a nobody. I’m just a cook.” Was there anyway she could talk him out of hurting her?
    He smiled. “You don’t expect me to believe that your presence at the Perry’s was purely coincidental do you?”
    “It w-was,” she stuttered, hoping she could keep him talking.
    But she also feared for Jen’s life. The last thing she wanted to do was get Jen killed too. Jen had a little girl. Annie had to do everything in her power to stop this man. She had to think of a way out of this—and quick.
    “I really am just a cook. I don’t want to be involved in your business.”
    “Unfortunately for you, Mr. Silva doesn’t feel that way. You were employed by a traitor. That’s two strikes against you right there.”
    “I can’t do anything to you. I don’t even know who this Silva person is. I’d never even heard of him until the other night. Don’t you understand that I have no interest in any of this? I’m not a part of that world, and I have no interest in becoming a part of it.”
    He took another step closing the gap between them. Her pulse kicked up even more.
    “That isn’t what Phil told me.”
    She let out a breath. “I didn’t even think Phil was involved with his father’s business. I’m telling you. I’m the one in the dark here, and I’m absolutely not a threat to anyone else.”
    He raised an eyebrow. “I have a job to do, and I can’t take that chance.”
    Before she could take another breath, he wrapped his strong hands tightly around her neck and squeezed tightly, causing her vision to blur.
    “I can make this quick. Or you can resist