Gotcha! Read Online Free PDF

legal philosophy had taught her that cops were not above breaking the law. Her time on the Earth had taught her trusting men could get her hurt.
    “What do you mean, what happened?” A sudden suspicion pulled at his eyebrows. “And why do I get a funny feeling in my gut about you?” He leaned his arm on her car roof. His blue shirt stretched taut across wide shoulders.
    “Could be because I kneed you.” But now wasn’t the time to showcase her smart mouth, so she added, “Er, which I’m very sorry about.” She met his eyes. They were blue. Dark blue. And instead of the anger she expected, they almost held amusement. Taken aback, she asked again, “Can I go?”
    He nodded. “If I need you, I know where to find you, Pizza Girl.”
    “But you won’t,” she said before she thought.
    “Won’t what?” he asked.
    She hesitated. “Need me.”
    His eyes crinkled into that almost smile again. “I might. I really like pizza.”
    Not answering, she got in her car and took off. She didn’t look back. Okay, she looked one time in the rearview mirror. But not because he was male, or gorgeous, and not because she could still remember how his hand had felt on her thigh, how his body had felt pressed atop hers. She looked back because…just because.
    She hadn’t made it all the way down the block when his almost smile flashed again in her mind. She switched on the radio to chase away her thoughts. Disturbing thoughts. Downright gorgeous—
    The radio announcer’s voice pumped through the airwaves. “Continued breaking news: three Huntsville Prison inmates have escaped.”
    Macy immediately slowed her car, shocked.
    “A guard and an inmate were shot during the escape,” the broadcaster continued. “Both are listed in critical condition. Police—Wait. We’ve just received another report. The inmate has died.”
    The inmate died?
    Died? Died! Macy told herself it wasn’t Billy, but all she could hear was her brother saying, And now he wants to kill me.
    Then she remembered her mother calling work. She remembered the police pulling into Papa’s Pizza.
    Slamming on her brakes, she turned the car around and headed straight to Nan’s.

C HAPTER T HREE
    Macy came to a tire-screeching halt in front of her grandmother’s house. Tears dampened her cheeks. She’d passed the two-tissue limit about four stop signs ago, but that hardly mattered. Nothing did but Billy. She needed to know her baby brother was okay.
    She bolted out of her car and raced to the front porch. Intent only on talking to her mom, she didn’t even jump when someone caught her arm. She swung around and came face to face with a uniformed Harris County deputy. Breathing became almost impossible.
    “Slow down,” he commanded. “Who…?” His eyes widened.
    She ignored the commanding grip, disregarded his awkward expression, and yanked open the door. “Mom? Nan?”
    The grasp on her arm tightened. Swerving, she glared at the officer. She’d brought one cop to the ground tonight. What was one more?
    “Macy?” her mom called from inside.
    The cop released her but followed her inside. Another man, dressed in a suit, stood beside her crying mother. Nan jumped up from the green sofa. The look of anguish in her eyes wrenched a sob from Macy’s throat.
    “Tell me it’s not him. Tell me!” She made her hands into fists. Her nails cut into her palms.
    Nan rushed over and placed a hand on each of Macy’s shoulders, but she didn’t say a word. Pain exploded in Macy’s chest.
    “No.” She dropped to the floor and buried her face into her knees. “Nooooo.”
    Behind her closed eyelids, she saw her brother as a boy standing at the foot of her bed, teddy bear clutched in his arms. I’m scared Daddy will come home. She heard his whispered words and knew she’d failed him for good this time.
    Macy’s mom joined her on the carpet. “Go ahead and cry,” she said.
    “Oh, Mace.” Nan plopped down beside Macy. “It’s gonna be okay.” Her grandma’s