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EW can exclusively reveal an excerpt from the first chapter ofDevils Cut,below.
Jonathan Tulane Baldwine squinted and leaned closer into his bedroom window.
Credit: Random House
Turning away from the wavy old glass, he looked to his bed.
Funny, these moments of clarity, he thought while he pulled on a pair of boxer shorts.
if anybody tried to hurt her?
He would put them in a grave faster than his next heartbeat.
The nine millimeter was compact, but it had a laser sight, and it was fully loaded.
He disengaged the safety.
And then of course, Lane and Gins mother, Little Virginia Elizabeth.
It was possible that any of them could be down there for a two a.m. stroll.
Well, except for his mother.
In the last three years, Little V.E.
So it was unlikely it was her.
And as for staff?
No one else should have been on the property.
The security alarm was not going off down below .
but he hadnt put the system on when he and Lizzie had gotten home from the hospital.
Hell, had he even bothered to lock the thousand or so doors on the lower level?
There were no lights on, and he stopped again and listened.
Not around the slate skirt of the house, at least.
Somewhere out in the greenery, however, a person was stalking his family.
Narrowing his eyes, he scanned the darkness as he exited and carefully shut things up behind himself.
Thank you, Father, you sonofabitch.
Stayed quiet as he waited for his target to present itself.
Edward was in jail for the murder of their dreadful father.
Gin was in a hatefilled marriage for money.
Maybe Max had come up here to the big house for .
God only knew what.
A cup of sugar.
Perhaps to steal some silverware?
But how could he have gotten into the gardens?
Gotcha, Lane thought as his heart kicked into high gear.
It was definitely a man.
Those shoulders were too broad to be a womans.
And the bastard was coming this way.
and thought of his extremely estranged, soontobe exwife, Chantal.
Or perhaps Edward had broken out of jail and was coming home.
Doubtful on that one.
The trespasser made a last turn and then was coming right for Lane.
But his head was down, a baseball cap pulled low.
Lane kept tight until he was absolutely sure he could hit the chest.
Lane spoke up, loud and clear.
I really dont care if I kill you.
The man stopped so quick, his feet skipped on the brick.
And those hands popped up like whoever it was had mattress springs in their armpits.
Lane frowned as he finally saw the face.
What are you doing out here?
Excerpted fromDevils Cutby J.R. Ward Copyright 2017 by J.R. Ward.
No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
