Shelby's Secret (Once a Marine, Always a Marine Book 4) Read Online Free PDF

sorts, but she didn’t think it turned out the way he’d intended. God knows it hadn’t for her. She’d been prepared for an assault when he’d pulled her closer, and maybe she felt like she deserved it. But that’s not what happened. His lips had touched hers, and a fiery heat ignited low in her, from a place long grown cold.
    She sighed. She hadn’t thought seeing Mike would be a reality, but she’d harbored a secret yearning. Leaning her head against the warm glass of the window, she stared sightlessly now, lost in the past. Lost to a time when life was rough, but she’d been young and in love with a bad boy. A boy who’d loved her more than she’d loved him, she realized now. She’d been selfish. She hadn’t understood that her dreams would crush his.
    As a woman, she knew her choices had consequences and coming home would be much harder than she’d thought. She shook her head and admonished herself for being a silly girl.
    She was here, and the past was just that. Past. Time to build her future, and nothing and no one was going to stop her.

Chapter 4

    A noise penetrated the quiet. An urgent chirp that didn’t make sense at first. And when it did, Mike reached over and grabbed the offending noise maker. His cell phone. He didn’t even bother opening his eyes, knowing it was the middle of the night.
    Hitting the on button with his thumb, he held it up to his ear, ready to chew someone’s ass for waking him. “Hanson.”
    “Mike,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry to wake you.”
    “Shelby?” Just like that he was awake. His eyes popped open in the semi dark of his room, and he sat up. Her voice quivered, and her breath came in rapid spurts causing his grip to tighten on the phone. “What’s wrong?”
    “He did it again.”
    “Who did what?”
    “He murdered another woman.”
    Mike was already off the bed and had one leg into a pair of jeans that he’d left on the floor.
    “And it looks like my third video.” She started crying.
    The sound knifed through him, but he pushed through the pain so that he could focus. Get to her. “Did you get another email?”
    “Yes,” she sobbed. “It’s horrible. Can you come over, please?”
    “I’ll be right there. Don’t touch anything, hopefully it won’t delete this time.”
    “It already did.”
    Mike paused on his way to the door and closed his eyes. “Damn.” He heard some sniffs and a deep breath. She was getting herself under control while they talked.
    “I recorded some of it on my phone when I realized what it was. Is that okay?”
    Mike was glad she sounded stronger. And what she’d done was brilliant. “That’s amazing, Shel. I’m out the door now. Make sure your guards know I’m coming. Tell them to look for a black Ford F-250 truck.”
    “Thank you, Mike.”
    Once the line disconnected, he grabbed a clean shirt and raked his fingers through his hair. Shoes, keys, notepad, his gun and he was out the door.
    The time was exactly one a.m. Once he was in his truck, he placed a call to his lead detective.
    “Wolfe.”
    “Our boy killed again,” Mike said. “Shelby Lynn just got another email.”
    “Shit.”
    There was a pause, and Mike could hear fabric rustling in the background.
    “That’s two in less than a week. Same M.O.?”
    “I’m on my way to Shelby’s now. The bastard’s email deleted itself again, but Shelby recorded some of it on her phone.”
    “Someone was using her head.”
    The tone was admiring, and Mike had to agree. Not many folks could think under pressure, especially when the situation involved something gruesome. Like a murder. Seasoned cops wouldn’t have reacted so fast. He was damned proud of her, and he’d tell her so when he got there.
    “As soon as I get it, I’ll forward it to you. I want a hard copy ASAP that we can give to Casey as well. Also check with dispatch, see if they’ve had questionable or suspicious calls that are holding around abandoned buildings. I want anything, especially