Page 100 of What Doesn't Kill You…

With a frustrated growl, Violet scanned the floor, and found the ring under the chair he'd been tied to. She steadied Max before picking it up. She secured it in one of her many pockets and returned to propping up her husband.

"I can't believe you wore an ill-fitting wedding ring to spy on Damien."

"You don't take off your ring, Vi," the idiot said. "Everybody knows that. It’s a commitment.”

“Whatever,” she muttered moving him forward.

“What are you doing?” Max refused to help her. “We can't leave yet. We need to get photos of Damien's partner."

"Max," Violet gritted out, losing what little patience she had left. "The meeting was moved, remember? We can't get photos because they’re on a bloody boat. Now, can we leave before someone else comes to kill us?"

"No," he said, his dark puppy dog eyes pleading with her. "You don't understand. The meeting isn’t on the boat. They changed it again and it’s happening right now. Here. In the sitting room. I need to get photos. I need to know who his partner is." He lowered his head and whispered, "Please, Vi, we can't let him get away with all of this. Please, help me put him in jail."

She ground her teeth. "You are going to get us killed," she hissed at him.

"Trust me," he tried to smile and winced. "That isn't my intention. But Vi, I can't walk away. You understand, don't you?"

Unfortunately, she did. "I'm adding this to the list of your offenses."

"Understood."

"There will be a penalty to pay."

"Not a problem." The fool smiled at her. And winced again. He was a danger to himself.

"I can't take you with me," she said. "You'll only slow me down. I need to get you to safety first."

Oh, he didn't like that one bit, but thankfully he kept his mouth shut about it.

It was so unlike him.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Violet helped Max outside and across the lawn to the bushes where she'd left her stalker. The wind had picked up and it buffeted them, almost knocking them off their feet. She braced Max against herself, afraid he would fall if she let him go.

"Alan?" she hissed when they were close to the tree line.

She didn't have to call twice. Her stalker stepped out into the open, his eyes going to Max before coming back to her.

"Six men just went in the front door," he said. "Looked like a VIP protection detail. I couldn't get a good look at the man they were protecting, but I can tell you his guards were heavily armed."

"Thanks. That helps. We need to get Max out of sight of the house. Help me."

Alan instantly went to the other side of Max, wrapped an arm around his waist and took most of his weight.

"Uh, Vi, honey," Max said while looking up at Alan. "Want to introduce me to your friend?"

She almost smiled at his bewildered tone. "Max meet Alan Thomas, my guardian angel."

Max stiffened and turned back to her. He mouthed the word, "Stalker?"

She nodded.

He groaned.

At least he wasn't dumb enough to call the man a stalker to his face. Looked like he was learning.

They got Max into the bushes and positioned him at the base of a large palm tree. It was the best she could do for shelter under the circumstances. Once he was settled, she handed him the handgun she'd taken from Arlo.