Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense March 2021--Box Set 2 of 2 by Dana Mentink (novels to improve english txt) 📗

Layke’s other men crashed through the back of the house. More gunfire erupted.

Hannah plowed into Doyle, knocking the gun out of his hand.

Layke rushed into the room. “Police! Stand down.”

Perry pivoted and raised his gun.

A shot rang out and the mafia king dropped.

Elias had made his way around and came through a different entrance. He pointed his weapon at the other men. “Don’t move. It’s over.”

Constable Antoine rushed in with his weapon raised, Constable Yellowhead behind him.

Doyle dove for the Glock on the floor. He turned it toward Hannah.

It was like a movie playing in slow motion.

“Gun!” Layke pushed forward and fired, hitting Doyle’s arm.

He dropped the weapon and clutched his limb. He let out a cry and grabbed the woman’s cane, rushing toward Hannah. “You’ll pay for ruining everything.”

Layke sprinted across the room, catapulting over chairs into the air and threw himself on top of Doyle.

They crashed to the floor with a thud. Layke’s head cracked on the hard surface. White spots sparkled in his vision like stars twinkling in the night.

Doyle moaned in pain.

Hannah rushed over to Layke and pulled him into her arms. “You saved me.”

He tried to sit, but the room spun and darkness threatened to pull him under. He fell back down.

“Layke! Stay with me.”

He inhaled and counted before exhaling. His vision cleared and he eased himself up. “I’m okay.”

Elias pulled Doyle up and shoved him into a chair, aiming his gun at his head. “Move and you’ll be sorry.”

Doyle sneered and pointed toward the door. “She might have something to say about that.”

“Let him go,” boomed a menacing voice.

They turned.

Martha Bakker stood with a Glock in her manicured hands.

* * *

Hannah bolted to her feet. “Martha, what are you doing?”

“Drop the gun, Elias.” Gone was the sweet mother figure everyone in Beaver Creek knew. Or thought they knew.

Elias let his gun fall to the floor. It clunked on the hardwood. “Why, my love? Didn’t I give you everything?”

She laughed a heinous laugh.

It sent chills through Hannah’s body. How had she been deceived by both Doyle and Martha? Their betrayal reached to her core. How would she ever come back from this?

Then she glanced at Layke. The man she’d fallen for. She had to save him. Save Gabe and the others. But how?

“I fooled you all.” She stepped farther into the room, stopping beside Elias. She raised the gun to his head. “Especially you.”

“Why?” Elias’s whispered question was barely audible.

“My family was right. I never should have married you. I deserved more than just a simple policeman’s salary. I had a lifestyle to uphold. Doyle knew I wasn’t happy and told me about Jennifer’s worsened condition. He shared his plan to make money to find a cure. We came up with my involvement of pretending to work on the books at the detachment to feed them information. No one was the wiser.” She rushed over to Gabe. “And then you got away, you brat.” She hauled him by the collar.

“No!” Layke yelled before he fell back down.

“Layke?” Had his hit to the head taken over? She had to act.

Gabe whimpered.

Hannah’s motherly instinct emerged as a memory flashed before her. Layke’s ankle gun!

She dropped to her knees and pulled it out of his holster before whipping it up in Martha’s direction. “Stop, Martha! It’s over.”

“You really think you can save everyone, dear Hannah? You should have died from the poison I’d arranged.” She raised her Glock. “But you will now.”

Hannah was able to take a shot before Martha could pull the trigger.

The woman fell to the floor.

Elias yelled and rushed over to his dying wife. “Why? Why? Why?” He rocked her in his arms.

Constable Antoine scrambled to where Doyle sat and pulled him from the chair. “You’re done.” He escorted him out of the room.

Hannah fell beside Layke. “Don’t leave me.”

A scurry of activity sounded behind her.

A man rushed forward with a bag and squatted by them. “I’m a medic. Let me look.” He felt for a pulse. “Good. It’s steady.”

Relief showered her with hope.

The medic pulled out a light and opened Layke’s eyes, shining it in. “Pupils look good. I think the fall knocked him out. Probably a concussion. He’ll need to be checked out at a hospital.”

“Mr. Layke!” Gabe yelled. “Is he going to be okay, Miss Hannah?”

She pulled the boy into her arms. “God’s got this,” she said, finally believing in His sovereignty. He wouldn’t leave her now. He had a plan for her life. Whether or not it was with Layke, she didn’t know. Yes, she couldn’t have children, but maybe there were other options. She believed. Her identity in Him once again secured. Forever.

Layke stirred. “Hannah?”

She let go of Gabe and caressed the constable’s face. “I’m here.”

Constable Yellowhead held out his hand to Gabe. “Son, how about we go find the rest of the boys? Can you show me where they are?”

Gabe jumped up. “Let’s go find my friends!”

The medic helped the crying Jennifer up and they shuffled out behind them, leaving the chaotic room in silence.

Layke eased himself into a seated position. “I’m sorry about Doyle. I had no idea he was Broderick.”

“He fooled all of us. Martha, too.” Hannah scooted herself closer to him. “I was so scared I’d lost you.”

“You didn’t.” He reached up his hand and rubbed her cheek. “How can I leave you when I just found you?”

“Even when you know my condition?”

“Hannah, there’s always adoption. I want you in my life.”

She snickered. “But you’ll hate winter here in the Yukon.”

“It will grow on me as long as you’re by my side.”

Their gaze held. “I could get lost in your ocean-blue eyes,” she said.

He cupped his hand at the back of her head and pulled her closer. “I love you, Hannah Morgan.”

Her breath hitched as her heart pounded in anticipation of his mouth on hers. She closed her eyes.

His lips met hers in a tender kiss.

They ended their embrace but touched forehead to forehead.

Hannah caressed the stubble on his chin. “I love