Second Burn Cowboy (Second Chance Series Book 6) (23 page)

Robert and Lilith Wall had started counseling six months ago when he was caught cheating with his secretary. After Lilith had threatened divorce, he’d pleaded for her to attend counseling with him. That’s when Karsyn came into the picture. At first, Robert seemed like a typical mid-life crisis victim, until he stopped taking his meds for psychosis. He then discontinued the weekly sessions when Karsyn suggested that he should seek individual counseling to handle some underlying issues from his past.

Her mind quickly filtered through his case file. It’d been a while since she’d seen him. His wife had complained of his temper, but he’d never been violent, at least as far as Karsyn knew.

“Lilith left me.” He drove a shaking hand through his disheveled hair. His piercing green eyes were cold and distant.

“Robert, I’m sorry, but since you’re no longer accompanying Lilith to counseling sessions, I can’t discuss the issues. If you two decide to start again, I’d be glad to schedule you.” The corner of his mouth lowered. His glare made her instincts strike full alert. In the five years that she’d been a therapist, she’d never encountered a disgruntled client, but she knew what signs to look for.

His pupils were dilated. Sweat covered his forehead and dampened the armpits of his shirt. His breathing was shallow. He had all of the signs of danger. She impulsively took a side- step to gain some safe distance.

“She left me and it’s your fault. You told her to leave, and now the bitch is seeing someone else!” His breathing grew heavier.

Karsyn’s adrenaline spiked as she talked her nerves down. She’d been trained on manic patients, but now, faced with the encounter, some of her confidence was lost. “Why don’t we go to my office and discuss things? I’m sure we’d both be more comfortable there. I can get you a glass of water.” Where was the security guard? She subtly looked over Robert’s shoulder and scanned the empty garage. Any other time, the guard would be tripping over himself gawking at her.

“We tried that, remember? It didn’t work. You two cunts schemed against me. I should have made her stop coming to see you. I should have taken care of this long ago.” He paced on the balls of his feet, rocking back and forth, as one brow twitched. Beads of sweat ran down his cheeks.

“Robert, I understand you’re angry and upset. You and Lilith have problems that are difficult to work through. When faced with—”

“Shut up, you bitch! No more of your two-cent theories on how to make my marriage work. I wonder how many other relationships you’ve destroyed in your career of making people miserable.” He clenched his hands into fists and the air left Karsyn’s lungs.

Realizing she couldn’t talk him down, she focused on getting away. Her keys were on the floor, useless as a weapon. Her three-inch heel would be a second choice, but by the time she got it off her foot, he’d be on her. She took another step to her left, but this time he stepped with her, blocking her. “Whatever you plan to do, Robert, you need to think over the consequences. If you do something to harm me, you’ll go to prison and there won’t be an opportunity to work things out with Lilith.” Her mind sifted through logical reasoning.

He shoved a hand deep into his back pocket, and when he brought it out, he opened his palm, showing her the small knife. The sharp blade glistened in warning. “My relationship is over.”

Karsyn threw her purse at his face, which gave her a second head start, but she didn’t get far in her high heels on the slippery cement floor. His heavy footsteps quickened as her breathing grew louder in her ears. She reached the elevator door, slammed the button, and just as the doors came open she felt a sharp blow to her back, sending her to her knees. Liquid heat streamed down her waist and into a puddle around her.
Blood.

She fell face-first into the elevator compartment.

“Put the knife down or I’ll shoot!” Through a fuzzy tunnel, Karsyn heard the booming voice.
Too late for help. I’m dying.

Her body became weightless.

A shot splintered the air as everything turned black.