Texas Takedown Read Online Free PDF Page A

she’d always known there was something good about him deep inside.
    â€œI was careful not to leave a trail.” The blood was finally returning to her shoulders. Bruising would be the least of her problems.
    â€œYour lack of a path helped narrow the search. You were somewhere within driving distance because you used your car. I also knew you’d want an internet connection. Austin’s your favorite city, so I took a chance. From there, all I had to do was figure out which house you’d rented.”
    She’d been that transparent? So much for thinking she could hide. Frustration burned through her. Too bad she didn’t have the criminal tendencies of her mother’s side of the family.
    â€œI’m truly sorry about earlier. You know I would never hurt you on purpose,” he said.
    She did know. Dylan was a good guy.
    â€œI’m going to ask you again. What’s going on?” His brow arched and he was examining her face as if her head was about to start spinning.
    Could she risk telling Dylan anything else? He already looked ready to strap her into the first straitjacket he could find. And what if she told Dylan what she feared? That her father was somehow involved or at least covering for someone else that night Rebecca and Shane had gone missing fifteen years ago? Or that if she shared what she feared, Dylan would be in this as deeply as she was?
    The crackle of a branch breaking sent both of them to the front window.
    â€œDon’t let anyone see you.” Dylan pulled her down, his strong hands firmly on her hips.
    In the street, the screech of tires sent her adrenaline into overdrive. “We can’t stay here.”
    Dylan opened the curtain in the front window and cursed. “I can’t help you if I don’t know what you’ve gotten yourself into. You haven’t given me anything to work with yet.”
    â€œI don’t know who I can trust anymore. All I know is this whole thing is bigger than we originally thought.” Kramer was believed to have acted alone. What if he hadn’t? What if others had been involved in the crime or the cover-up?
    â€œWhat ‘thing,’ Samantha? What are you talking about?” He stared at her for a long moment.
    Could she tell him? She wanted to talk to someone. The past four days had been terrifying alone. She shook her head.
    â€œThis is a college town. There are people everywhere, so the noise outside might be nothing.” Dylan’s voice came out in a whisper as he surveyed the area through the windows.
    She had to admit, having Dylan with her steadied her fried nerves. “Do you really think I’m crazy? Or involved in something illegal?”
    â€œNo. But I’ve never seen you this scared.” Dylan held out his hand. “Come back to Mason Ridge with me and we’ll sort this out.”
    â€œI can’t go home.” She didn’t take it.
    â€œYou can stay at my house.” His expression had her thinking he believed she needed to be locked up in one of those high-priced sanctuaries by the ocean rather than his place, but to his credit, he didn’t say it.
    Even so, she dared to allow a small bubble of hope to expand, the first since this nightmare had begun a week ago.
    Another crunch noise came from just outside the glass.
    â€œStay down.” His gaze ping-ponged from her to the window as he tightened his grip on the handle of his gun. His movements were assured, graceful.
    Even with him there, Samantha couldn’t relax. Not when a man could reach out from the grave, as Kramer had. What if the guy really was dead and all logic said he was? What if someone else was involved? How big could this thing be?
    The little bubble of hope burst. Despair pressed heavy on her chest.
    â€œSeveral men are headed this way.” The concern in his voice was enough to fry what was left of her nerves. “What aren’t you telling me?”
    â€œI told you