Royal Wedding Threat Read Online Free PDF Page A

ran toward her. She was already in progress crossing the street. The car approachedin the same lane he’d been driving in, on the side of the street opposite her apartment. If she hurried, she’d be out of the way in time.
    But even as Jason bounded toward her, he glimpsed the car swerving toward them, into the other lane. Ava was hobbling far too slowly in her three-inch heels. She’d never make it.
    With only half a second to act, Jason scooped an arm around Ava’s waistand leaped with her toward the curb. He had her nearly to the sidewalk when the Jetta, oblivious of the curb or the neat little flower patch in front of Ava’s apartment, swerved onto the sidewalk, knocking his legs out from under him and sending his back smashing into the windshield and side mirror.
    It was a glancing blow, but the force was enough to send them both airborne for several feet.Jason tightened his arms around Ava, tucking her head into the relative safety of his chest as they hit the sidewalk and rolled.
    He looked for the car, fearful the vehicle might swing around and take a second pass. The two of them were high up on the sidewalk now, nearly against the steps of Ava’s building, but the curb hadn’t stopped the car before, and if it decided to pin them to the concretesteps, not even his embrace would shield the wedding planner from injury.
    To his relief, he saw the Jetta disappear over the rim of the hill, speeding away. Unfortunately, given the distance, he couldn’t make out the plate number.
    Jason turned his attention to Ava next. “Are you okay?” He had her still tucked tight against him, but pulled back just far enough so he could see her face.
    One red-nailed hand clutched his shirt. She blinked up at him. “What was that?”
    Even more disheveled than after her last brush with death, the wedding planner didn’t look at all her usual prickly, put-together self. Jason felt his heart twist with sympathy. “That,” he groaned as he rolled onto his back in preparation for sitting up, “is proof that whoever bombed your car this morningis targeting you specifically.”
    * * *
    Ava pinched her eyes shut and held tight to Captain Selini’s shirt. She didn’t like the man—couldn’t stand him most days—but right now she’d have gladly buried her face against his shoulder and sobbed.
    The captain spoke rapidly into his earpiece, instructing his dispatcher to send men in a car. But his words came in shallow gasps and his faceturned deep red as he struggled to breathe.
    “Are you okay?” Ava asked in a whisper, scrutinizing his features as she awaited his response. Had the car simply knocked the wind from his lungs, or was he seriously injured?
    Her conscience stabbed her. If she’d waited to cross the street with him as he’d said, would they still have been hit? The car had struck him directly and thrown himhard against the cement. What if he died because she hadn’t listened?
    It occurred to Ava as she stared at his face that the captain wasn’t as old as she’d assumed him to be, in spite of the early gray that flecked his hair. For all the times she’d argued with him, she’d never bothered to look at him closely—part of her personal policy against getting close to any person in any way. But nowas she watched him from inches away, she realized he was hardly any older than she was.
    Jason Selini groaned as he sucked in a breath.
    Ava rolled onto her side, out of his way as he struggled to sit up. “Can I help you?” she asked, extending one hand, realizing only when she saw that her hands were empty that she’d left the plans for Princess Anastasia’s wedding in the car. Suddenlythe plans didn’t seem so important. The captain appeared to be in real pain.
    “Is your back broken?”
    Jason winced. “I’m wearing body armor.” He strained to breathe. “That took the bulk of the blow, probably saved us both, but my steel plate is dented now.” Captain Selini grasped the steps as he pulled himself