Fate of the Alpha: The Complete Bundle Read Free Page A

happened to him?”
    “He ran. No one has seen him since.”
    Which was also true. Grace’s gun hadn’t been loaded with silver. She’d taken him down, but in the confusion, he’d slipped away and fled.
    “Why do you think he did that?”
    “Why does anyone have a mental breakdown?”
    “No, I mean why did he shoot at Ainsley in particular?”
    “Um… I don’t really know. He wasn’t in a sound state of mind.”
    “And how did he miss, aren’t you guys trained?”
    The buzz of Grace’s cell phone cut through the bevy of questions - a welcome excuse from answering any more.
    “It’s work - sorry.”
    “Aren’t you were supposed to be off tonight?”
    She shrugged.
    For better or for worse, things were a mess without the sheriff. Now Grace reported to Dale Evans, who acted as the interim sheriff. Dale was a good man, but he wasn’t as sharp as he used to be.
    “This is Officer Kwan-Cortez,” she said as she scooted out of the booth.
    “Gracie, thank goodness you picked up!”
    She winced at the nickname. Dale had known her since she was a girl, and sometimes he still treated her like one.
    “What can I do for you, Dale?”
    “It’s about Sadie Epstein-Walker, her daughter called from Boston. Said her mom wasn’t picking up the phone. She was worried sick.”
    Sadie’s daughter from Boston was a pain in the ass. She had them over to check on her mother at the house on Princeton Avenue every other week. Sadie probably didn’t pick up the phone because she didn’t want to talk to her daughter any more than Grace did.
    “Is Dylan over there?” she asked.
    “Yes, he is. She didn’t come to the door but he says the lights are on and Camilla Parker Bowles is barking like crazy.”
    That was something different. Sadie Epstein-Walker didn’t leave lights on, and she never went anywhere without Camilla Parker Bowles.
    The King Charles spaniel accompanied her all over Tarker’s Hollow, and was allowed in many places that normally frowned on dogs. Sadie had buried both Misters Epstein and Walker, and it seemed to be understood that her line was drawn at being separated from the dog.
    “Tell Dylan I’m on my way.”
    “Gracie, you’re an angel from heaven.”
    She turned to head back and almost jumped out of her shoes. Landon had been standing right behind her.
    “Whoa, are you okay?” he asked.
    “You just startled me. I thought you were still inside.”
    “You seemed worried. I wanted to be there for you.”
    She looked up at him. His face was so kind. The afternoon sunlight made a halo around his head.
    Before she could think the better of it, she put her hands on his chest and went up on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek.
    He turned his head at the last moment and took her face in his hands. His mouth was warm on hers and the gentle kiss felt just like she’d imagined it might. He tasted like maple syrup.
    When she pulled away, he kept his arms around her.
    “That was nice,” he said simply.
    “I have to go check on an old lady.”
    “Me too.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I drove, remember?”
    The door to the diner banged open.
    “Just cause you’re a cop doesn’t mean you get free stuff.” Cressida yelled after them, one hand planted on her hip defiantly, the other holding their check.
    “Sorry,” Landon called back. “We weren’t pulling a dine-and-dash. Grace just got a phone call, but we’ll be right back in to settle up.”
    His words seemed to placate Cressida, she turned to the door and went back in after giving Grace one last glare.
    “I’ll take care of her,” Landon offered, handing Grace the keys. “You get the car started?”
    “Perfect.”
    Five minutes later, they pulled up to the old Victorian house on Princeton. Grace had made this trip about a thousand times before, since Sadie lived directly across the street from Ainsley.
    Grace was out of the car and up Sadie’s front steps in a flash. On the other side of the door, Camilla Parker Bowles yipped in