The Only Way Out. Susan Mallery

to notice she was a woman. He sure as hell didn’t want to feel his blood flowing hotter and faster through his aroused body. In the five years Jeanne had been gone, he’d avoided women and any connections, even the brief impersonal kind. He hadn’t needed anything but his pain and memories. He hated that his body chose this moment to come back to life. So what if she was attractive? She was Kray’s wife. She’d chosen to marry a killer. She and her kid were alive while his family was dead.

      Refusing to look at her or acknowledge her, he drove down the coast toward town. As they got closer to the port, he began to check his mirrors. Up ahead, a white cruise ship sat in the harbor, an elegant vessel dwarfing not only the other boats, but the harbor itself.

      “Do you think Kray already has men in town?” Andie asked.

      He was still angry about getting turned on. “Yes,” he said, the single word curt.

      “If the man at the airport phoned about me, they’ll be looking for us in a Jeep.”

      “I know that.”

      He continued on the waterfront road until they reached the edge of the shopping district. On the left were ancient stone buildings with low ceilings and small windows. Tourists swarmed along the narrow sidewalks. Laughter and bits of conversation carried to him. Everyone was having a wonderful time. Brightly flowered dresses and shopping bags blended into a kaleidoscope of colors. Tour buses lined up across from the shops, while cruise passengers disembarked.

      Jeff scanned the vehicles in front of him, then checked the mirrors again. Kray’s men could be anywhere. There was an alley between a linen shop and one of the many jewelry stores. He turned left into the alley and parked next to three other Jeeps. Only then did he look at Andie.

      She clutched her purse to her stomach. Her skin was pale under her tan. Her sunglasses hid her eyes, but the fear was still tangible.

      “Look like you’re having a good time,” he said, getting out of the driver’s side. Bobby scrambled after him.

      “I wanna hot dog!” the boy announced.

      “I know you do, sport.” Jeff tugged on the brim of the kid’s baseball cap. “We’ll find one here.”

      Bobby’s smile was brilliant. And exactly like his mother’s. Jeff stared at the child, seeing instead another boy. J.J. had had Jeanne’s smile. The flash of pain was an explosion in his chest. Jeff swallowed hard and fought to keep his face expressionless. When this was over, when Andie and her kid were gone, he would remember one last time. He would recall the face of his wife and his child, remember their laughter; then he would have his vengeance. Maybe then he could lay his ghosts to rest.

      Andie joined them. She settled her purse on her shoulder and took Bobby’s hand. “I’m ready,” she said.