Yuletide Fugitive Threat. Sandra Robbins

      Lucas’s stomach clenched. This explained how Chapman knew Ryan had come to his house. The memory of seeing Mrs. Peterson’s car pulling out of her garage flashed into Lucas’s mind, and he sucked in his breath. How could he have dismissed what he’d seen without checking on it? He hadn’t even looked to see if Mrs. Peterson’s car had followed him to the hotel. He had to get to Mia right away. But he might already be too late. If his negligence had caused anything to happen to her, he would never forgive himself.

      “I’m heading back to the hotel,” he yelled as he floored the accelerator and did a quick turn onto the street from where he had just come.

      Swerving in and out of traffic, his hand pressed to the car’s horn and his caution lights blinking, he drove like a madman toward the hotel. Behind him he could hear sirens. The police had to be after him for speeding. Good. He increased his speed. Now to lead them right to the hotel.

      He roared into the hotel driveway and screeched to a stop at the front door. He was out of the car by the time the engine died. Suddenly the front door of the hotel swung open, and Mia ran outside, her face a mask of terror.

      Her eyes grew wide when she saw him. “Lucas!” she screamed. “Tony Chapman’s after me.”

      He reached her in two steps, grabbed her by the arm and propelled her behind him. He held her with one arm protectively as he shielded her with his body and pulled his gun from its holster with his other hand. Behind him three police cars and two ambulances came to a halt, and suddenly officers swarmed around them.

      “Where is the shooter, ma’am?” one of the men asked.

      Mia raised a shaking hand and pointed toward the hotel entrance. “Inside.”

      Lucas glanced at the door, and the image of a man holding a gun was visible through the glass. A surprised look flashed on his face before he turned and disappeared from sight.

      Mia had seen the same thing. “That’s him!” she screamed.

      The police officers fanned out, some going around the side of the hotel and others toward the door. As they moved forward, their guns drawn, Lucas pulled Mia back toward his car. Two EMTs jumped from each of the ambulances, and the four crouched low as they followed the lawmen to the door. Evidently they expected a large number of injuries and had come prepared. Within minutes all of them disappeared into the building.

      Lucas pulled Mia around to the far side of his car, using the vehicle as somewhat of a shield for them. He stopped beside the car’s back door, shoved his gun in its holster and grasped her by both arms. “Are you okay?”

      She nodded, and then it was as if the fight went out of her body. She sagged and would have dropped to the ground if he hadn’t been holding her. His grip on her tightened, and he pulled her to him. She clutched his jacket with both hands and buried her face in his chest as she sobbed. He wrapped one arm around her waist and held her as his other hand stroked the back of her head. She’d taken her hair down from its earlier ponytail, and the strands felt like silk slipping through his fingers. He swallowed at the memory that hit him in the pit of his stomach, but he couldn’t pull his hand away.

      “Don’t cry,” he whispered. “It’s over now. The police will catch him.”

      “H-he shot two people inside, and he was going to kill me.”

      A shiver went through her, and her fingers tightened on his coat. After a moment she quieted, and he loosened his hold on her. “Tell me what happened.”

      She took a deep breath and pulled away. Another tear trickled from her eye, and she swiped at it with her fingers. “I shouldn’t have opened the door,” she said.

      He listened as she told him what had transpired in her room after he had left. When she’d finished, he shook his head in regret. “I shouldn’t have brought you here and left you alone. I’m sorry.”

      “It wasn’t your fault. I didn’t think it would be so easy for him to find me.”

      Lucas exhaled. “I’m afraid that’s my fault, too.”

      Her eyes grew wide as he related what Ryan had told him on the phone. “So, I made a mistake, and you almost died because of it,” he said. “I’m so sorry, Mia, but I promise you it won’t happen again. I’m going to protect you until this guy is caught.”

      At that moment the hotel door opened, and one of the policemen walked outside. Mia straightened her shoulders and took a deep breath. “Maybe they already have captured him.”