Betrayed (A CORE Sector Novel Book 1) Read online

  He put his hands up, palms facing her, to look like a surrender. Suddenly someone bolted in from behind some crates and body slammed her. The gun went off, but they still struggled and rolled on the floor. Frank ran up to grab her. The gun fired again. The person fighting her now had her hands, bending her arm, trying to get the gun to point to her. Just as he got the gun pointed at her gut, it fired again. Denise's body went lifeless and the gun slid from her hand. Frank ran to grab it. He turned to see who her attacker was. Gabe Lawler stood with his hands over his head.

  "I didn't come for you, Frank. I had to stop her. I couldn't let her kill you too."

  Frank’s mind was reeling. He looked at Gabe and saw a look of sincerity. "You busted out of prison to save me?"

  "Yea. Kinda crazy isn't it?"

  "Why the hell would you do that? You were up for parole in a few months."

  Gabe shuffled his feet, but his hands remained in the air. "You busting me was the best thing that ever happened to me. You got me away from that crazy bitch," he pointed at the body on the floor and quickly put his hand back over his head. "You showed me I could have a better life. I didn't have to be a thug.” He let out a chuckle, “I’ve even been working towards my psychology degree. I just figured I owed you. If I have to go back to the pen, so be it, but I couldn't live with myself if she'd succeeded in killing you."

  Frank stood in shock. In all his life, and time on the force, he'd never heard of a low-life criminal actually being reformed, at least not to this degree. Jon came up behind him with the shotgun pointed at Lawler. Frank explained to Jon what Gabe had said before turning to face Lawler again. "I'll have to check your story, on the degree and all. And you'll probably have to finish your time up, but if what you're saying is true, I'll put in a good word to the parole board."

  "You don't have to. You don't owe me anything, Frank but I appreciate it."

  Jon shook his head as he pulled out his cuffs and looked at Lawler, "I have to cuff you." Gabe turned and put his hands behind his back. They led Lawler to Frank's car and put him in the back seat. Frank pulled out his cell phone and called the authorities.

  FRANK WAS FINALLY free to live out his life with a new direction. He knew the dreams would never haunt him again and for the first time, in a long time, life was sweet. Frank enjoyed the peace that had washed over him. In a few weeks, he'd be returning to England to start a new life with Charlotte and maybe a new line of work.

  ALSO BY KP STAFFORD

  Cozy Mystery:

  Money, Murder and Mayhem - A Cryptic Cove Cozy Mystery

  Medieval Romance:

  The Chieftain’s Daughter

  Sweet Romance:

  The Hope of Dawn

  Coming Soon…

  Cozy Mystery:

  Murder & Menace - Book 2 of the Cryptic Cove Series

  The Honeydew Queen - A Red Hat Bookstore Cozy Mystery

  Join my Reader’s List for updates on these future titles

  http://kpstafford.com/join-the-readers-list/

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  KP Stafford is a Mom, Nana and Musician’s wife!

  Music is a huge part of her life. When she’s not writing, she’s off doing music stuff with her husband.

  KP writes with music playing. Depending on her mood or the mood she wants to create within her writing, she has certain playlists she works with.

  She’s often found writing to Iron Maiden. Other music includes Rainbow–with Ronnie James Dio on vocals, and other 80s hair metal. But, she also listens to classical music. Vivaldi is her favorite.

  In a name–Vincent Price!

  That’s who started her on this road of wanting to be a writer—and lover of all things creepy and spooky and haunted–although she doesn’t necessarily write haunted tales…yet

  Follow KP on social media:

  @kpstafford1

  kpstaffordbooks

  www.kpstafford.com

  [email protected]

  Table of Contents

  Copyright

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Also by KP Stafford

  About the Author