Savage Ice (Ice Breaker Cold Case #10)

Epilogue

“The place looks incredible,” Royal told Beau right before he let out an admiring whistle. “Seriously. I love this joint even more than I did the original.” He lifted his flute of champagne and saluted. “Congratulations, bro. The new LeBlanc’s is killer.”

Smiling, Beau’s gaze swept the crowd. The old building—what little remained—had been torn down. He could have just opened a different bar somewhere else. But Beau had decided to rebuild.

LeBlanc’s was back. And, as a tribute to his now fiancée, he even had a bonus back room in the place for VIP’s. One that had been designed to feature a Jag hurtling through the wall. A bit tricky to get the aesthetics just right, but in the end, a creative builder had taken care of things for him.

It was really just the front end of the Jag. There was a wall behind it. Clever tricks just made it look as if the Jag were barreling forward. When Avalon had seen the special room, her laughter had warmed his heart.

He caught sight of her as she walked through the crowd. A gorgeous red dress hugged her curves. The people present for the big reopening were all at their glamorous best. Men in suits and tuxes. Women in evening gowns and cocktail dresses as jewels dripped from their necks and fingers.

This scene was a far, far cry from the rough streets Beau had once known. A lifetime away from them.

Avalon paused to talk with Ophelia and Lane. Ophelia hugged her tightly.

I even had some upgrades included when I made space upstairs for Ophelia and Lane’s new PI office. They’d helped him out so much. They deserved all the fancy upgrades.

Avalon pulled from Ophelia. Her head turned. Her gaze met Beau’s.

“She loves you,” Royal said.

Avalon flashed her dimples at Beau.

“Don’t screw this shit up,” Royal warned him. “You wanted her for too long. Don’t do anything to throw this chance away.”

Like he had to be warned. “She wants me.”

“Yeah, I got that.”

“She loves me.”

“Yeah, got that, too, you lucky bastard.” Royal sipped his champagne. “You’re on the straight and narrow now. Living that crime-free life. Living the picket-fence dream.”

Beau slanted his friend—his brother—a glance. “We’re both living that crime-free life. We gave up our extracurriculars, remember?” Especially since those extracurriculars had been part of the damn problem that led to an inferno.

Royal didn’t sip his champagne this time. He drained it. Then put it on a nearby table. “Absolutely. Living it and loving it.”

Avalon was almost close enough to hear their conversation. Almost close enough to touch.

“Got to make sure the staff has everything under control. Congrats, again, on the engagement and on the reopening.” Royal’s eyes glinted. “Glad you have the life you want.”

Then he was gone. Ducking through the crowd. He paused long enough to slap Kai on the back and shake his hand.

And Avalon was there. Right in front of Beau. Smiling for him. Staring at him with love clear to see in her gorgeous green eyes.

Yes, he had the life he wanted. He had the woman he wanted.

He pulled Avalon into his arms.

Sonofabitch, he actually had a happy ending.

How about that?

Lying had always come easily to Royal. Second nature. But he still hated lying to his brother.

Maybe he should duck out of Savannah for a while. He’d always gone in and out of Beau’s life over the years. After the wedding, he’d take a trip. Give Beau and Avalon some time on their own.

And go some other place for my hunts.

Because his extracurricular activities? Nope. He had not stopped them. They were too important to stop.

Slowly, he crept through the darkness. He’d slipped out of LeBlanc’s and gone on the trail of new prey. Prey he believed would be alone and vulnerable that particular night. He was currently in the middle of nowhere. An old winery that had long since been abandoned. His prey’s vehicle waited. A faded sedan that most people wouldn’t look at twice.

Royal eased past the sedan. His eyes were on the ramshackle building up ahead. He?—

Thud.

Royal tensed. His head turned back at the sound.

Thud.

He focused on the sedan.

Thud.

Was that his heart? Or was that thud seriously coming from the trunk of the sedan? Slowly, carefully, he approached the vehicle.

Thud.

Shit. That was from inside the trunk. He hurried to the driver’s side. The window was half down. He shoved his hand inside. Opened the door. Found the little lever that would pop the trunk.

And even as that trunk was rising up, he ran back to the rear of the sedan. He pulled out his flashlight and shone it inside.

Holy shit.

A bound woman stared back at him. Duct tape over her mouth. Raised hands tied together. Her wide, desperate eyes stared into his.

Terrified, beautiful eyes. A terrified, beautiful woman.

A beautiful woman who was trapped in the trunk of a killer’s car.

With his free hand, Royal carefully removed the tape from her mouth. But she winced. Shuddered.

“Are you…going to kill me?” A low whisper.

Royal shook his head. “No.” He scooped her out of the trunk. Into his arms. Then said something he never, ever expected to say, “I’m going to save you.”

Don’t miss Royal’s story in brUTAL ICE.