Miami, Mistletoe & Murder (Red Stone Security #4) Read Free

climb a fence, whatever it takes. Just stay hidden and call the cops. They’ll listen to you when you tell them what’s happening.” There was no room for argument in Travis’s voice.
    Noel was so grateful for his presence. She’d been scared of having to face that jerk alone and now she was just worried for Juanita and her mom. “Juanita, listen to what he says. I know you want to help your mom, but there’s nothing you can do now. Get out of that house. We’ll be there in two minutes.”
    “Okay,” she whispered. “Stay on the line with me.”
    “We’re not going anywhere, honey.” Out of the corner of her eye, Noel watched as Travis pulled out his cell phone. He began texting furiously then asked for Juanita’s address. Noel gave it to him while listening to Juanita moving through her house. She heard the squeak of a door opening. She could faintly hear shouting in the background.
    “I can hear them,” Juanita whispered.
    “I can too. Just do what I say. Your mom will want you to be safe more than anything.” The young girl’s mother, Alisa, worked two jobs to provide for Juanita. She was caring, hardworking and though she’d never said it, Noel was pretty certain the reason she’d ended things with Dwight was because of the way he’d been eyeing her daughter. Noel knew from past girls she’d mentored that not all moms were that caring. Sad, but true.
    “Okay, I’m climbing the fence to my neighbor’s yard. I’ve got to put the phone down for a sec, don’t hang up!”
    “I won’t, I promise.” They’d be there in less than thirty seconds. “We’re close, Travis.”
    There was a rustling sound then she was back on the line. “Okay, I’m hiding behind the shed in my neighbor’s backyard. He won’t be home for another two hours.”
    “Good, stay there. And don’t worry about contacting the police. I’ve taken care of it,” Travis said.
    Noel wondered who he’d texted, but figured it must be someone he worked with. She didn’t know all the specifics of who exactly ran Red Stone Security but she’d heard rumors and she knew for a fact that a lot of former military people—Travis being one—and law enforcement worked for them to protect really wealthy people. She guessed Travis must have connections or something.
    Before Noel could say anything she heard a loud boom in the background. Next to her Travis tensed, his entire body going on alert.
    “Juanita, do not get out of your hiding place,” Travis ordered.
    “But, what was that? Did you guys hear—”
    “Stay where you are!” Noel shouted as realization dawned. That had been a gunshot. Her heart beat an erratic tattoo as they turned down Juanita’s street. It was a nice neighborhood with neatly kept lawns. Lower middle class with all working families and a lot of kids.
    “Park here and stay on the phone with her. Whatever happens, don’t you dare follow me.” Travis motioned to a yellow one-story ranch style house with red trim on the shutters. The two palm trees in the yard were strung up with Christmas lights.
    Noel nodded, stark fear latching onto her chest. “What are you going to do?” she asked even though she was pretty sure she knew the answer. There was a determined glint in his dark eyes she’d never seen before.
    He didn’t respond, just slid from her car like a ghost. She watched as he crept down the sidewalk toward Juanita’s house, four homes down. Taking her by surprise, he hurried into a neighbor’s yard then disappeared from sight. In the distance she could hear sirens and just prayed they were coming for them. If Alisa had been injured…Noel shuddered, unwilling to think that. She said a silent prayer that everyone would be fine.
     
    * * * * *
     
    Even with his lack of sleep, the adrenaline that pumped through Travis’s system had completely revived him. That had definitely been a gunshot and he hoped he got to Juanita’s mother in time. To think that Noel had planned to come over here on her