Alyson dropped the nutcracker that she’d just purchased on the second floor. It was for her Christmas collection, so she was annoyed that she was forced to break it over Gooch’s head.
She rolled him over so that she could drive her boot into his nose. “Doesn’t feel too good, does it?” she shouted at the unconscious hitman.
She picked up his gun and moved to the victims—three men in suits, and a pretty blonde who was going to miss out on her big break. She checked their pulses, and reported to the others, “They’re fine—it was a taser. It’s going to feel like they got hit by a truck when they wake up, but it just knocked them out.”
She dragged them into the dressing room and locked the door. It should keep them safe until security could arrive. She then tied up Gooch. But there was no time to waste, so she guided Candi and the stunned group back into the busy department store. She held up Gooch’s taser and yelled, “Security—out of the way. Move it!”
The heavy Christmas crowds parted at the sight of the gun, clearing the way for them to run down the moving escalators. When the shoppers spotted Candi Kane, a buzz began to ripple through the store.
“Will you slow down—it’s not exactly easy to run in these Christian Louboutin heels,” Candi whined. “Some of us have a fashion image to uphold—we can’t be running around in combat boots.”
Alyson stopped in her tracks and whipped around. “If you haven’t noticed, I’m trying to save your sorry ass.”
“If you haven’t noticed, my ass is far from sorry.”
“You would know—your head is usually so far up it that you can’t see reality.”
They started moving again, but the sniping didn’t stop. “You barely know me,” Candi said as they hit the fourth floor.
“I know the damage you’ve caused to people’s lives.”
“And by people, you mean Kris. He’s a grown man, he doesn’t need you to protect him.”
“You’re right—he needed a full suit of armor and a shot of penicillin to protect himself from you.”
Upon reaching the main floor, they made a mad dash out onto 34th Street.
Despite the cold temperatures, Alyson remained hot under the collar. She couldn’t believe she was risking her life to save this narcissistic home-wrecker. Kris really owed her. But when she caught a glimpse of a scared and shivering Hope Roberts, huddled next to her dazed mother, she found motivation.
“Stay here—I’m going to flag down a cab,” she instructed the group, as they stood curbside.
“No cab—we need to stay right here,” Candi argued.
“Sorry—there’s no limo service today, princess. You’re going to have to rough it.”
“Are you deaf? I said no cabs.”
Alyson ignored her as she viewed the surrounding scene. Anyone in the bustling shopping crowds could be one of the bad guys—the socialite-looking woman draped in shopping bags, the bell ringer from the Salvation Army. The possibilities were endless. And none of them were good.
Her attention returned to Candi. “This isn’t Hollywood fantasy world—you don’t know who you’re dealing with in Scroggie!”
“I know exactly who I’m dealing with.”
“I forgot—of course you do. Your usual way of moving up the ladder.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I just think it’s interesting how you’ve suddenly made a career comeback after you started sleeping with Stone Scroggie.”
“You have no idea what went on, but I don’t respond to the haters.”
“If that means you’ll finally shut up, then I’m all for it. Now I’m going to get that cab before Gooch wakes up and decides to give you that loyalty test—I’m betting that wasn’t your best subject in school.”
“Do what you want—I’m staying here.”
Alyson successfully flagged a cab, helped by the taser gun she brandished as if it were a Glock. She ushered Hope Roberts and her mother into the back, but Candi wasn’t budging from the curb. So Alyson forcefully grabbed her by the hair extensions and shoved her inside the cab.
As they began to drive away, the driver asked, “Where to?”
But when he turned back to face them, they knew they had no choice in the matter. They all edged back in their seats.
It was Gooch.