“A shift in strategy?”

“I figured you’d hide out in the shadows, waiting to jump out and shoot me when I least expected it,” she said. “You know, like you did back in New York.”

He chuckled low. “Are you still hung up on that? You know, they say that living in the past robs you of the beauty of the present,” he said. “And I must say, you have built quite a life for yourself here, Spenser. New job, new boyfriend—”

“What do you want, Alex?”

“Do you really need to ask?”

“Humor me.”

He slipped his hands into his pockets and looked away for a moment, a thoughtful look on his face. When he turned back to her, he had a cold, dead smile on his face.

“You know, I thought I wanted to kill you for everything you’ve done to my brother.”

“I didn’t do anything to your brother,” she said coldly. “Your brother is going to prison for crimes he committed—some of them because he was trying to protect you and some of them because he just got greedy.”

“No, he’s going to prison for murdering your husband, which you and I both know he did not do,” Alex corrected her.

“That has nothing to do with me.”

“You didn’t lift a finger to help him when you could have,” he snapped. “Derrick’s lawyer called and asked you to testify on his behalf—”

“Like I told you, your brother’s case has nothing to do with me. I wasn’t going to intervene on his behalf because he belongs in prison for the crimes he committed—”

“And yet, he’s going to prison for a crime he didn’t commit.”

“I didn’t testify for the prosecution either because I wasn’t going to be a party to that farce.”

“How noble of you.”

“What do you want from me, Alex? The US Attorney was going to prosecute him with or without me—as he’s obviously doing. There was nothing I could do to stop it.”

“But you didn’t even try.”

“You will never know what I did and didn’t do,” Spenser growled. “But make no mistake, this is on you. Not me. You could have stopped your brother from going to prison.”

“No. You could have stopped this, and you didn’t,” he said. “You’re so self-righteous and make a big show of being all about justice, doing the right thing, and having this strong moral compass. You’re nothing but a hypocrite, Spenser.”

“Again, what in the hell do you want from me?”

“For so long, I thought I wanted to kill you. I thought I wanted to peel the skin from your bones and listen to you scream,” he said. “But now? Now I want something else.”

“And what is that?”

“I know how much your badge means to you. I know your job is what you live for. So, I want to destroy you, Spenser. I want to take everything from you. I want the people of this town to cast you out. To exile you,” he said. “I want you to slink away with your reputation tarnished forever. I want to make you so toxic, nobody will ever give you a badge again. I want to strip you of all meaning in your life and leave you directionless with no prospects and no life.”

“Is that all?” she asked dryly.

“It’s why I’ve pulled together this loose association with Rafe and Kyra. Between the three of us, we should be able to make you a pariah in this town. When we’re done with you, you will be lucky if you can get hired on as a meter maid.”

Spenser stared at him, resisting the overwhelming urge to pull her Glock and shoot him in the face. That would most definitely be giving him what he ultimately wanted. He grinned at her with a sinister gleam in his eyes.

“Shattering your entire world will be a lot more fun and a hell of a lot more satisfying than putting you down,” he said. “This way, I’ll get to watch you suffer. For a long time. And when you’re at your lowest and have absolutely nothing left to live for, maybe, just maybe, I’ll show up and finally put that bullet in you and end your suffering. You could consider it an act of mercy.”

“You’re never going to get that chance because one of two things is going to happen,” Spenser countered. “I’m going to either have you in a cell for the rest of your life, or I’m going to put you down once and for all.”

“I do love your optimism.”

“Rafe Johansen isn’t going to be able to save you. Neither is Kyra Foster. I’m going to trounce all three of you. I give you my word on that.”

He laughed and shook his head. “Derrick always said he admired your feistiness and determination. He always said you’re like a vicious little Chihuahua. I can see what he’s talking about now. It’s absolutely adorable.”

“You need to get the hell out of here.”

Alex and Spenser both turned to find Ryker emerging from the shadows and heading their way with a full head of steam and a scowl on his face. His eyes were narrow slits as he glared hard at Alex, his hands balled into fists.

“Oh good, it’s the boyfriend,” Alex cracked.

Ryker stopped, putting himself between Spenser and Alex, his body drawn up and taut. Alex looked him up and down, and for the first time, she saw a flicker of uncertainty flash through his eyes. As skilled as he was as a killer, he relied on the element of surprise. Standing face to face with somebody as imposing as Ryker seemed to be something new to him. But he drew himself up to his full height and put a smug smile on his face.

“Relax, friend. We were just having a little chat,” he said.

“I’m not your friend,” Ryker growled. “And the chat’s over. Get the hell out of here.”

Alex grinned. “So, do you fight all of Spenser’s battles for her?”

Ryker let out a low grumble. “I’m not protecting her, idiot. I’m protecting you. If I let Spenser at you, she would tear you limb from limb and I don’t want her to have to explain to the town council why she beat you half to death.”

“That’s adorable. Really. Absolutely adorable.”

“Time to go,” Ryker repeated.

“I’m going,” he said. “But don’t worry, I’ll see you both around.”

Spenser and Ryker watched as Alex walked across the park, eventually melting into the shadows, and disappeared. When he was gone, he turned and took her hands in his, looking down at her with concern in his eyes.

“Are you okay?”

She nodded. “How did you know?”

“Maggie called and told me what happened at the town hall. She said you took off walking,” he said. “I drove around looking for you for a while before I saw you standing here with that creep.”

“I’m glad you showed up. Thank you.”

“I’m glad I found you,” he said. “I meant it when I said I was protecting that clown. You have got one wicked temper.”

Spenser laughed and leaned against him, laying her head on his chest. Ryker wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tight. Spenser looked up into Ryker’s dark eyes as a queasy, wavering smile touched her lips.