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Belly down across the desktop, Lauren was at a disadvantage But she fought him like a wildcat He was as drunk with self-pity as he ith bourbon She had to save him from this insane act that, once done, could never be undone Mike’s death had taught her that lesson all too well

His free hand smacked the side of her face Pain shi with her weight against his ar to pin it to the desk But he was too strong for her His hand twisted, angling the pistol upward, aihtened on the trigger

In a surge of desperation, Lauren sank her teeth into his wrist, biting doith all her strength She heard a yelp, a curse, and then, inches fro revolver

Head ringing, she collapsed acros

s the desk For athat whatever had happened was hers to face, she opened her eyes and raised her head

Her father sprawled in his leather banker’s chair, his face ashen, his jaw clenched Blood strealy wound below his collarbone

“Dairl,” he muttered “Why couldn’t you jus’ let me die?”

Lauren could barely hear hi to her feet, she rushed around the desk, pulled the chair back, and slid him to the floor So much blood The den’s wet bar had a store of clean towels After grabbing the stack of them off the shelf, she wadded theroaned and swore

“Hold this in place,” she said “I’ to call nine-one-one”

“No!” His hand clamped her wrist “With those buzzards out front, just waitin’ for somethin’ like this, I won’t have the medics come screamin’ in to haul me away”

“But you’re losing so ht over the towels, which were already seeping red “You’ll die if we don’t get you to a hospital”

“Then I’ll die, daive those shit-eaters a feeding frenzy!”

And he would do just that if she let him, Lauren knew But she wanted hi out

Her purse had fallen to the floor in the struggle Finding it within reach under the desk, she opened the clasp One bloodstained hand found her cell phone Whether her father liked it or not, she had to get hiency care

She was about to punch in 911 when she saw thean extra second, she pressed the key