Hot Pursuit (Book Three): Hot Pursuit, #3

By Layla Valentine

He's an oasis in the desert
And I'm going in for a dip
I'm riding on top, down under…

Her:

I've traveled the world, reached the top of my field,
But something's missing.,
I'm a lone star, far from home
And now I'm lost in the most desolate climate on earth, caught up in a kidnapping plot meant for someone else
The Australian Outback is dangerous enough without a bunch of hired goons on your tail
The hot-as-hell SEAL claims he can protect me
I hope he's going to do much more than that…

Him:

I came back to this dusty town to settle some old business
The last thing I expected was to meet a gorgeous fellow Texan
Now, she's in danger, and it's all my fault.
I'm the only one who can protect her,
But to do that I have to resist her.
It gets mighty cold in the desert at night,
But for the two of us, things are about to get scorching hot…

This is the third book in the Hot Pursuit series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Layla Valentine
• Release date: Feb 18, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201678432

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

JUSTIN

We inched across the bridge as carefully as we’d made the first trek to the middle. My heart thudded in my chest, which was a shock to me. I’d been in trickier situations than this before. That’s when I realized that it wasn’t my own safety I was nervous about—it was Delaney’s. The idea of something happening to her was enough to make me sick to my stomach. And as we moved across the bridge, I vowed that I wouldn’t let either one of those goons lay a single hand on her.

Good boy, said the goon on the far end of the bridge as we approached, a cunning glint in his eye and a shark smile on his face.

He tossed the machete from one hand to the other, looking ready to use it at the slightest provocation. As we approached the end of the bridge, he held out his hand, ready to grab onto Delaney. But I glared at him hard and spoke.

Neither of you touches her, I said. New addition to the deal.

The man shot daggers at me, waiting to see if I’d flinch or lower my eyes. But I didn’t back down. He shrugged, likely realizing it was less hassle for me to have my way. Once Delaney and I stepped off the end of the bridge and onto the ground, the man waved to the shaved-head goon, letting him know it was safe to come across.

You’ve been a real pain in the ass for us, Gable, the goon said, glaring at me with narrowed, mean little eyes. You’re lucky this girl’s worth so much goddamn cash or I’d have a good mind to toss both of you down into the river for causing us so much trouble.

I snorted.

I’m still wondering what the hell you’re gonna tell your boss when you bring this girl to them and they realize it’s the wrong one. Might dock your pay for that little screw-up.

The goon reached into his wallet and pulled out a small, black-and-white picture. It was of Delaney walking into the hotel in Longbridge.

That’s the girl we’re getting paid for, he said. Looks pretty freakin’ close to me.

Then the screw-up goes all the way up the ladder, I see, I said.

Just shut your goddamn trap, Gable, he said.

I glanced over at Delaney. Her eyes were still wide, her mouth tight and flat. Her hand shook in mine, and I held it firm to keep her calm.

What are we going to do? she asked.

Just stay calm, I said. I’ve got this.

So damn sure of himself, said the goon.

He waved to the shaved-head thug on the other side of the bridge, who was already on his way over. I knew that I needed to time this right—one misstep might be all it would take for both of us to be sunk.

Just hand her over, he said. You’re gonna have to eventually. Might as well do it now.

I said nothing, instead glaring at him hard and making it clear that my terms weren’t up for debate. He snorted as he realized that I wasn’t going to budge.

I glanced back over my shoulder and watched as the shaved-head thug moved closer and closer still, now near enough to see the yellowed teeth in his jagged smile.

Justin, Delaney whispered.

I could only imagine how afraid she was. Desperately, I wanted to tell her exactly what I had in mind, that she didn’t need to worry about a thing. But for now, all I could do was hope that she kept calm.

Grab her! the shaved-head thug shouted to his comrade. Grab her until I get there!

You heard the man, said the goon on my side. Hand her over.

Delaney shot me another expression of total fear.

Not going to tell you again, I said. Don’t touch her. Unless you want serious trouble, that is.

The goon gave me another narrow-eyed look before glancing down to Delaney’s arm.

Just grab her! the other man shouted out. No time to screw around!

All right, the man on my side said. Enough of this bullshit.

With that, he shot his hand out and grabbed onto the upper part of Delaney’s arm. She let out a gasp as he touched her.

Now, I said. What did I tell you about touching her?

Screw you, he said.

Wrong answer.

One more look over my shoulder let me know that the shaved-head goon was right where I wanted him still on the bridge. I turned my attention back to the thug holding Delaney’s arm and made my move. With lightning-quick precision, I jabbed him hard in the stomach, his eyes shooting open with surprise and the air escaping out of his lungs with a deep Oof.

Delaney’s arm slipped out of his grasp, and her eyes locked onto mine.

Run! I said.

No way! she responded.

I didn’t have time to argue; the thug I’d just hit tried to steady himself, but a knee to the breadbasket knocked the rest of the fight out of him. He dropped to his knees, the machete falling out of his hand and into the dust with a soft thud. One more kick to the face sent him