Hunting Season (Aurora Sky by Nikki Jefford

it.”
    My heart sunk down to the covers.
    With Valerie once more operational, Melcher might assign her back to the lodge, or worse, the palace. She could throw a great big wrench into our plans.
    â€œMaybe I could talk to her,” I said. “She has as much motivation to take down Jared as I. and as for the trade, Giselle still has her boyfriend.”
    â€œDo not get her involved,” Fane said.
    I bristled at his command.
    â€œBut if I sent her a text…”
    â€œAurora, you need to stay as far away from her as possible.”
    Even though I knew he was right—Valerie was beyond reasoning with—I didn’t appreciate his tone. Fane wasn’t Melcher. He couldn’t order me around. I didn't have a choice in the matter if she and I were put on assignment together. Wouldn’t it be better if we were on the same page?
    â€œShe could screw everything up,” I cried into the phone.
    â€œAnd you can bet that if she knew what we were up to, she’d screw it up worse,” Fane said.
    I inhaled and held it to the count of five before releasing slowly. I knew he was right; I just found the whole thing frustrating. Why did Valerie have to be such a psychotic bitch? We could have teamed up. If only she’d listened to reason when I tried to explain what happened with Fane at the tasting. It was as though she expected any guy who ever dated her never to care about another woman again. What a prima donna.
    â€œOkay,” I said. “The less people who know about our plan, the better. We need to be on our toes—you especially.”
    â€œSo long as she stays away from Stanton’s Friday, I can handle her and any stones she throws my way.”
    â€œFine,” I said. “Just promise you’ll be careful.”
    â€œOnly if you promise first.”
    â€œI promise,” I said.
    The trap had been set. All that was left was for Jared to take the bait and for Valerie to keep the hell away. I hated having to worry about her.
    Just what we needed this week—Evil Red resurrected, released, and raising hell while we were in the midst of a rescue mission.

6
Hit Squad

    A single snowflake flew at the windshield and melted as soon as it touched the glass. Another wet flake quickly followed, then another, until a whole flurry flew at my face like spittle. I blinked despite the protection of the windshield. I fumbled for the lever to activate the windshield wipers, but they didn’t budge. I tried to slow the vehicle down, but my foot hit empty air where the gas pedal and brake should have been.
    Then, through the blizzard, a dark SUV appeared, barreling straight toward me. My hands dropped to the steering wheel, which had been driving itself a moment before. I cranked the wheel to the right then noticed it hadn’t moved at all, only my hands—sliding along the surface.
    Frantically, I attempted to open the door only to find it lacking a handle.
    Fear seized me by the throat.
    I looked up even though the oncoming vehicle was the last thing I wanted to face.
    The SUV had closed in enough to see inside—to notice that no one manned the vehicle. Headlights glared into my eyes.
    No, not again. Not when I’d faced my fears and taken the wheel.
    A movement to my right caught my eye. I saw the blue bandana tied around his forehead first.
    Jared sat in the passenger’s seat, a bag of theater popcorn in his lap. He pulled a puffy kernel out and plopped it inside his mouth, followed by a crunch .
    Jared didn’t look at me. He stared ahead.
    â€œThis is going to hurt,” he said in a matter-of-fact voice.
    I turned my head just as the SUV came at us full speed.
    My body jerked, reaching out on both sides for anything to grab hold of. This time, my fingers slid over cool, smooth bed sheets.
    Slowly, my ragged breaths abated. I opened my eyes to find no blinding headlines aimed at my pupils, only darkness inside my bedroom.
    It was only a