Daphne’s eyes narrowed. “If something happens to me, Maya’s father will have to raise her.” A frown tugged her brow downward, and a sick feeling settled in her belly. “Is that what you’re afraid of? Afraid you’ll be stuck with a baby to raise? A little girl who’ll need you to brush her hair and get her ready for school every day? Someone who will be forced to rely on you to provide for, care for and love her for as long as you live?”

Boomer didn’t move. He stared at her, a muscle twitching in his jaw.

“That’s it, isn’t it?” Daphne snorted. “You’re the highly trained SEAL with the ability to gun down a man at four hundred meters without blinking an eye. You can kill a man with your bare hands, and you can race into an enemy-infested building without fear.” She shook her head. “But when it comes to that little baby in there—your little girl—you can’t handle the thought of being responsible for her life.”

“You don’t understand,” he said, his voice choked, and turned away.

“Maybe I don’t, but you’re not doing anything to help clarify.” She touched his arm. “Tell me.”

He spun and gripped her arm so hard, it hurt. “I’ve seen things.” His Adam’s apple rose and fell as he swallowed hard. “I’ve done things I’m not proud of. Things I can’t undo or take back.”

The anguish in Boomer’s eyes cut through Daphne’s heart. “That’s the past.” She pointed toward the house. “You have a possible future in there. One where you’re a part of your daughter’s life.” Daphne held up her hands. “But if you can’t or don’t want to be included in her upbringing, I can’t force you, nor will I try.” She dropped her arms to her sides, her chest aching with longing for this man to take part in his daughter’s life. “I don’t expect you to be a part of my life if you can’t find it in your heart to love me. But Maya is your daughter. A piece of you lives inside of her. For so long, I hoped you could love her, and that she would know her father.”

Daphne drew in a deep breath and turned to look over the mountains. She should be filled with joy at the beauty of her surroundings, but her heart hurt too much for her to see it.

“Daphne, I need time,” Boomer said. He touched her arm.

She flinched.

His hand fell away from her. “I don’t know if I’ll be a fit parent to Maya.” He paused. “Chuck loves you and Maya. He’d make a much better father for her.”

Daphne spun, anger replacing sadness. “But he’s not her father.” She poked her finger into his chest. “You are.”

Boomer grabbed her finger and held it, his eyes widening, his gaze shooting past her. “Shh.”

“I will not be shushed,” Daphne said, her voice rising. “That little girl needs a father. She needs you.”

Boomer touched a finger to her lips and then spun her around, pushing her behind him. “Be quiet.” He leaned on the porch railing and stared up at the sky.

For a moment, Daphne’s anger burned until she realized Boomer was staring up at the sky, his head tilted as if he were listening to something.

Then Daphne picked up on the soft humming sound. Her anger disappeared, and she leaned toward Boomer. “What is it?”

“An engine. It’s too quiet to be an airplane or helicopter. But it sounds like it’s in the sky.”

“Are you sure it’s not echoing off the hillsides? Could it be a vehicle coming up the road?”

Boomer shook his head. “I’ve heard this sound before. “Get back in the shadows,” he commanded. “Damn. There it is.” He pointed toward the cloud-laden sky.

Daphne stared hard but couldn’t see what he was seeing.

“I don’t see anything.”

“It’s a drone.” He backed away from the railing, flung open the front door and ushered Daphne into the chalet.

Hank and Chuck looked up from where they sat at the table. “Did you two get everything ironed out between you,” Chuck asked.

Boomer shook his head. “I think they’ve found us.”

Daphne’s heart slipped into her belly. Her gaze went to Maya in Chuck’s arms. “I thought we’d have more time.”

“Apparently not,” Boomer said. “There’s a drone hovering nearby.”

Hank pushed to his feet and strode toward the door. “Could you tell if it was equipped with anything more than a camera?”

“It appeared to be something that could be purchased by anyone. Not like the weaponized UAVs we flew over Iraq and Afghanistan.” Boomer held the door for his boss, balancing the sniper rifle in his other hand. He glanced at Daphne. “Will you please stay inside for now?”

She nodded.

Hank and Boomer stepped out on the porch, closing the door to keep the warm air in and the cool air out.

Daphne paced the living room floor. “I can’t keep dragging Maya all over the countryside. The weather’s too cold, and the roads are too dangerous.

“Then we’ll have to come up with another plan,” Chuck said. He cradled Maya in one of his big arms.

“They want me, and they’re ruthless enough to kill anyone in the way.” Her heart flipped over. “I need to get Maya away from me. I could never live with myself if she becomes collateral damage.” Daphne choked on the last word and stared at Chuck through blurred eyes. A single tear slipped down her cheek. “If I have to send her away from me, so be it. Until we stop these attacks, I need to take the danger away from her.”

Chuck nodded. “You have a good point.”

A loud bang sounded from the porch.

Daphne jumped. “What the hell?”

Chuck dropped to his knees on the floor, clutching Maya to his chest.

Boomer and Hank entered the chalet, their faces set in tight lines.

“What was the gunfire all about?” Chuck asked.

“I shot at the drone, but it was already dropping below the horizon,” Boomer said. “It got away.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Hank said. “The damage is already done. They know we’re here.”

Daphne held out her hands toward Chuck.

The older SEAL handed Maya over to her.

She held her baby against her breast, her heart racing, the fear threatening to overwhelm her. “What’s to keep them from targeting this entire chalet? They killed a guard last time and blew up the safe house. We were lucky to get out in time.”

“We don’t know how they will attack next,” Hank said.

“Exactly. And we can’t keep running. Maya made one mountain escape, but she’s a baby. We can’t keep jerking her around.”

Hank nodded. “My men should be here by morning.”

“That might be too late,” Boomer pointed out, his gaze on the baby in Daphne’s arms.

“We need to get Cooper’s killers away from this cabin. Away from Maya,” Daphne said. “The only way to do that is to get me away from Maya.” She stared down at her child. Maya had only been with her for three months, but she couldn’t conceive of life without her. She loved her little girl more than she ever could have imagined.

“What can we do to draw them away from Maya?” Hank asked.

“Use me as bait,” Daphne answered without hesitation. “We have the two snowmobiles. If I’m on the back of one of them, I can leave my hair free. It’ll let them know for certain it’s me.”

Boomer was already shaking his head. “If you’re on the back, you aren’t protected.”

She looked from Boomer to Chuck to Hank. “Then give me a bullet-proof vest. The hair has to be out, or they won’t fall for it.”

Boomer gripped her arms. “I was okay with you being on the snowmobile when you would be bundled up like one of the men. But you’re painting a target on your back for them to aim at.”

She stared up into his face, her jaw tightening. “I’d die rather than put my daughter at risk of being caught in the middle. She deserves to live a full and happy life.”

“Yes, she does. But we can get her down the mountain and to safety without you sacrificing yourself.” Boomer smoothed a hand along her cheek. “Your life is just as important.”

“What if they bring in men on a helicopter?” Daphne asked.

Boomer snorted. “Then we’re all in trouble.”

“Exactly.” Daphne gripped his hands. “And all the more reason for me to get as far away from Maya as possible, draw them away, until we know she’s in a safe place.”

“The possibility of Cooper’s men getting their hands on a helicopter gunship is slim to none,” Boomer said.

“But he had a drone,” Hank said. “They know where we are. Maybe they won’t have a helicopter, but who says they won’t have some kind of rocket-propelled grenade? They could lob a rocket into the chalet and kill us all.”

Chuck shook his head. “You’re getting ahead of the situation.”

“Well, it beats being in reaction mode.” She stared around the room at the three men. “I know it might seem farfetched, but these men mean business. They’ve proven effective at squelching others. I have to take them away from Maya. If we can distract them long enough, Chuck could drive Maya to Hank’s ranch where the other Brotherhood Protectors could provide support.”

“That leaves Maya with only one protector,” Hank reminded her.

Daphne patted her chest. “But it’s me they’re after.”

Boomer and Hank exchanged glances.

“We could wait it out here until morning. We don’t even know if Cooper’s cleanup crew is close. The drone could have been a probe. They might not be close enough to cause trouble yet.”

Daphne held Maya closer. “Or they might be over the next hill, ready to hit this place hard with whatever they have. At the very least, they could have automatic rifles or machine guns that could cut this building into pieces, like we see in the documentaries on the wars in the Middle East. I’m not willing to sit around and wait to find out.”

Hank walked to the window. “Daphne has a point. But if we do this and use her as bait, we have to be sure they know she’s on the snowmobile, or they’ll attack the house anyway.”

“So we wait and watch for them to arrive,” Daphne leaned forward. “But we have to be ready to go and keep them on our trail, but far enough ahead, so they won’t be able to shoot us.”

“I don’t like it,” Boomer said. “Just because you wear a vest doesn’t protect all of you. If these guys are worth their salt, they could go for the head.”

“She can wear a helmet,” Hank said.

Boomer glared at his boss. “I thought we were here to protect her, not put her out there for the crazies to take pot shots at.”

Daphne planted a fist on her hip. “Would you rather they shoot at me, or blow up this house with Maya in it?”

Boomer frowned. “I’d rather not have either scenario happen.”

“And I’d do anything to protect my child.” Daphne threw the words at him, knowing it was a challenge. She wanted him to care about Maya.

Maya, sensing her mother’s distress, whimpered.

Instead of holding her close, Daphne held the baby out to Boomer. “You choose who will die. Me or Maya, or both.”

Boomer took the child shoved into his hands and held her out in front of him.

Maya squirmed and then stared at Boomer, her eyes wide. At first she appeared frightened and ready to let out a wail, but she continued to stare until a smile curled the corners of her lips, and she batted at Boomer with a chubby fist.

Daphne’s heart squeezed hard in her chest. She willed the man to hold the baby close and love her like a regular father. After a couple minutes, she’d almost given up hope, when he pulled the baby in, wrapped his arms around her and smiled down at Maya.

Boomer couldn’t get over how much Maya looked like him. It thrilled and scared him all in the same breath.

Maya swung her arm and caught him on his chin.

Boomer grabbed her fist with his free hand and laid it against his cheek.

Maya giggled and bunched her fingers, then tried to grab a handful of Boomer’s face.

His lips twitched as if he fought a smile. “Are all babies this soft?” he asked in wonder.

Daphne’s eyes glazed, and she nodded.

“Don’t let that soft skin and sweet baby scent deceive you,” Chuck said with a smile. “Maya’s got quite a swing.” He rubbed the corner of his eye. “She almost gave me a black eye the other day. She’ll give the boys a run for their money when she’s old enough to date.”

Boomer frowned.

Daphne touched his arm. “Please. I want her to live to date. Even if it’s hard to let her out of the house with a teenage boy. She deserves a life.”

Boomer looked across the baby’s soft dark hair to her mother and then to Chuck. “Do you think you could get her down the mountain without any trouble?”

Chuck nodded. “If you keep the cleanup team busy, I’ll get her down and take her to Hank’s ranch.”

“The arms room is a reinforced bunker,” Hank said. “If you can get Maya there, you two will be all right until the other Brotherhood Protectors arrive.” Hank gave him the access code and the workaround for the fingerprint.

Chuck glanced toward the window. “Days are getting shorter. We have what’s left of the afternoon to make this happen. And that’s assuming the cleanup team isn’t right behind the drone.”

“We should get the snowmobiles ready,” Hank said. “We can pull them up to the house so we can make our move if we hear anything.”

“Or we can go out and see what we can find,” Daphne suggested.

Boomer arched a brow, impressed with her courage, even as her confidence rankled. He wanted her safe, not daring some spec ops bastard to take a bead on her. “We don’t want to stumble on the attack team.”

“No, but we don’t want to wait until they get in position to blow up the chalet,” Daphne reminded the men. “The sooner they think we’re out of here, the better.”

“You’ll need snow pants, the protective vest and warm gloves.” Boomer studied her. “Have you ever driven a snowmobile?”

She shook her head. “I’m good with the four-wheeler, but I don’t have any experience on a snowmobile. Besides, I need to be on the back with my hair flying out for them to take the bait.”

Boomer clenched his teeth. He didn’t say anything for a moment or two. Using Daphne as bait to pull Cooper’s cleanup team way from the chalet went against everything in his heart. But Daphne was adamant about getting them away from the house. With a sigh, he repeated his earlier order, “You’ll ride with me.”

“I’ll be on the other vehicle to ride interference, should they get too close,” Hank said.

Chuck held out his hands to Boomer. “And I’ll be ready to take this little girl down the mountain when you get the bad guys away from here.”

Boomer was reluctant to release Maya, but he did, a frown pulling his brow low. “I don’t like leaving you alone with the baby.”

Daphne slipped a hand into Boomer’s. “Chuck will take care of Maya. He’s her godfather.”

“Damn right, I’ll take care of her. She has a way of growing on you.” Chuck smiled down at her and tickled her cheek.

Maya giggled and grabbed for Chuck’s finger.

“I’ll gather her things.” Daphne hurried toward the bedroom.

“Put them in my truck,” Hank said. “The one you came up in still has the trailer hitched to the bumper.”

Daphne stuffed a bag full of diapers, warm clothing and the emergency can of formula powder. She draped baby blankets over the bag and hurried out into the living room. “We’ll have to move the car seat into Hank’s truck.”

“I’ll help with it,” Boomer offered.

Daphne blinked, then gave a little smile of pleasure. “Thanks.”

“We’ll be back in a minute.” Boomer held the door open.

Hank stepped through. “I’ll stand watch while you take care of things.” He carried the rifle he’d brought with him and took a position on the corner of the porch, staring out over the hillside sloping away from the house.

Boomer hooked Daphne’s arm and hurried her out to the shed where they’d unloaded the two snowmobiles. The truck they’d brought them up on stood beside the shed, covered in twelve inches of snow.

“Stand between me and the shed.”

She did as he said.

Still, Boomer shook his head. “I don’t know why I let you talk me into this craziness.”

“Because you know it’s what we have to do if they come after us.” She stared up at him. “We have to protect our baby.”

Her bright green eyes captured his gaze for a moment, before his focus shifted to the soft rose of her lips. God, she was beautiful.

“I never stopped thinking of you after you disappeared.” He pulled her into his arms. “Even in the desert, so far away from Cozumel. I remembered how your lips felt against mine.”

She cupped his cheek. “I wanted to tell you where we’d gone, but it was too dangerous.”

“We haven’t seen each other in a year, but last night felt like we picked up where we left off. As if twelve months hadn’t slipped away.”

“Then why did you leave me?” she asked.

He pulled her close, crushing the bags between them, and lowered his head until his lips were a breath away from hers. “Because I’m an idiot. I don’t want to fail you.”

“The only way you’ll fail me is if you push me away.”

“I’m not the same man you met in Cozumel. There are things you don’t know.”

“You’re right,” Daphne said. “You aren’t the same man. You’re better. More mature, and even more handsome than before. So, shut up and kiss me. We don’t have much time.” She leaned up on her toes and pressed her lips to his.

Boomer clutched a handful of her hair and tugged, pulling her head back just a little. He crushed her lips with his, pushing his tongue past her teeth to slide along hers in a long, sensuous caress.

For a long moment, he held her like he should have the night before. When he came up for air, the whisper of a distant engine teased his ear.

His heart thudded. He lifted his head. “Do you hear that?”

She blinked open her eyes and tilted her head. “I do.”

“We need to move. If they’re on their way here, we have to be ready.”

She nodded and hiked the diaper bag up on her arm. “It’s time to get this show on the road.”

Boomer knocked the snow off the roof and opened the back door. He unbuckled the car seat and backed out. As quickly as he could, he placed the baby’s car seat in the back seat of Hank’s truck and secured it. As he did, he prayed this insane plan would work, and Chuck would safely get Maya to that bunker in Hank’s house. With Chuck watching out for Maya, Boomer would do his best to keep Daphne from becoming a sniper’s target practice.