SAFE BY HIS SIDE (MANHUNT) Read Online Free PDF

weeks, but she just got back.”
    “I’ll talk to Lenora,” Micah said. “Maybe they can leave her in charge. I can always put a guard at the shop in case Simpleton shows up there.”
    “We can’t do that.” Lenora’s voice cut into the room, and Micah glanced up and saw her and Jenny standing side by side as if they’d already planned their strategy.
    Micah had a bad feeling he wasn’t going to like it.
     

     
    Lenora had to stand her ground. “I know what you’re going to suggest, but he wants me, Micah. If I hide, he’ll only hurt others until he can have me.”
    “He may do that anyway,” Micah said. “So you’re sure as hell not going to offer yourself as bait.”
    “I’m not talking about that,” Lenora said. “But we have a big wedding in a couple of weeks. I can’t just leave my client in a bind.” Because when this was over, her business might be the only thing she had left.
    His jaw tightened, his features rigid with anger. And something else she couldn’t quite define.
    “I want you out of here,” Troy said to Jenny.
    “Troy—”
    “I read about the things he did to those women,” Troy said, his tone harsh. Then, as if he realized Lenora had been one of those women, he gave her a contrite look. “I’m sorry, Lenora. I just don’t want Jenny hurt.”
    “Neither do I,” Lenora said, battling a wave of emotions crowding her chest. Sucking in a breath of courage, she turned to her friend. “Jenny, please leave town with Troy. We’ll stay in touch and I’ll call you as soon as they find Simpleton.”
    Jenny shook her head. “I want to be here and help you, Lenora.”
    Lenora gripped her friend’s hands. “You will help me by easing my mind. Please, Jenny. I know what this man is capable of.” She swallowed revulsion at the memories tearing at her mind. “I couldn’t live with myself if he hurt you.”
    Troy wrapped a possessive arm around Jenny’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. No one is going to hurt my sweetheart.”
    “But—”
    “No argument.” Troy’s eyes heated with the kind of love and lust that Lenora had read about only in books. “I’ve been wanting a little time away with you. Now’s we can have it.”
    Jenny looked reluctant, but Troy kissed her, and she finally agreed.
    Lenora’s heart pounded with relief. At least if Jenny stayed with Troy, she’d be safe.
     

     
    Micah was grateful he and Troy had won that battle and the women decided to let Wilma handle the shop, but he was still worried about Lenora. He wanted to whisk her away and make sure Simpleton couldn’t find her.
    He wanted to hold her and kiss her.
    Idiot . He absolutely could not do the latter.
    Why was she getting to him so badly? He’d been assigned to protect other women before; witnesses to crimes, women in danger from stalkers. But none of them had wormed their way into his head, and his heart, like she had.
    “Where does the woman who helped Simpleton live?” Lenora asked as he shifted into gear and pulled away from Jenny’s house.
    “An apartment in Austin.”
    “Did she know Simpleton before he was incarcerated?”
    “No. She met him in prison when she was visiting her brother.” Hell, maybe they’d luck up and find Simpleton with her. Then he could lock his sorry ass back up where it belonged.
    Or kill him if Simpleton resisted.
    He hoped the bastard resisted.
    After all, Simpleton had escaped once. He could escape again. The only way Lenora would be truly safe was if the monster was dead.
    “Apparently she was a hairdresser. She worked at the beauty shop down the street for a couple of weeks.”
    Lenora gasped. “She was stalking me so she could report to Simpleton?”
    “It appears that way.”
    Lenora lapsed into silence as he drove, the tension between them palpable. The city lights of Austin gleamed ahead, and Micah could almost hear the country music blaring from the bars.
    His GPS indicated for him to turn on to a side street before they reached the city