In the privacy of her own room, Bellamy threw herself onto the bed and groaned, the sound muffled by the pillow. How could she be so awkward? Luci jumped up on the bed and barked.

“I’m so weird, Luce. He probably thinks I’m a stupid kid.”

The dog rolled to her back and huffed.

“My sentiments exactly. But I told him about what I wanted to do with my life and he didn’t think I was crazy. In fact, he quoted Homer.”

Luci tilted her head as if to ask who that was.

“He wrote The Iliad. It’s Greek literature. No man or woman born, coward or brave, can shun his destiny. Pretty deep, huh? And he’s right. I can’t shun my destiny, but I also can’t hurt Mom and Dad either. Aside from his on-point advice, he said something that I totally shouldn’t be reading into.”

Bellamy shifted off her stomach to her back and Luci nestled into her side. “He said I’m here to do more than protect you. What does that even mean? And why am I so damned attracted to him?” She giggled. “You’re not the one to ask, are you, Luce? You’ve been smitten with him since the beginning.”

The dog’s lids grew heavy with the need to sleep and they began to close.

“Go to sleep, girl. I’m not far behind.” Bellamy’s chemistry with Locke was palpable, yet she wondered if he was equally as engaging with all his clients. Certainly, he had to be, and certainly, none of his words went beyond their face value meaning. Or did they? Bellamy shouldn’t be reading between the lines. Yet by his own admission, if Locke were in this position, he would focus on the details.

When she’d finished in the bathroom, she took off her robe and slid into bed. Half an hour later, she still wasn’t asleep, her mind fixated on Locke. Bellamy smiled as she thought of the Bird of Paradise flower and remembered they hadn’t watered it before they put it on the balcony. Not bothering with her robe, she tiptoed down the hall, careful not to disturb Locke. The light was off in his bedroom and she assumed he was asleep.

After filling a glass from the tap, she pushed the sliding door open and poured the water in the terracotta pot. She couldn’t wait to see this flower bloom. Locke had said it might be orange and she wanted to see if he was right. In the distance, Bellamy saw a white flash of light, almost like a flashlight. At first, it didn’t set off any alarms in her mind. People use flashlights all the time. But when the red laser appeared on her chest, she nearly screamed. Arms wrapped around her waist and jerked her inside. Instinctively, Bellamy elbowed her assailant in the gut, then heard Locke groan in pain.

“Holy shit, woman.”

“Oh my God! Locke! I’m so sorry.” By the light in the hallway, she saw him hunched over, clutching his stomach, and despite the commotion, she noticed he was clad only in boxers. If she thought he was hot with his clothes on, nothing could prepare the visceral reaction her body had to him wearing next to nothing. As she had suspected, tattoos covered his entire body. Most noticeable were the words Each Morning We Are Born Again across his chest. Army insignias, dog tags, and an assortment of other body art lined his arms and legs. “Are you okay?”

“I may be bruised tomorrow, but I’m okay. Remind me never to sneak up on you again. Damn!” He shut the balcony blinds, then grabbed her hand, pulling her into the hallway. “We need to get away from the glass just in case.”

“What’s going on? I saw a red laser.”

“Yeah, the guys saw it too and texted me that you were outside. What in the world were you doing?” Locke stepped into his bedroom and took a shirt from the closet and his phone and a walkie-talkie from the bed.

Suddenly self-conscious in her flimsy shorts and thin tank top that left little to the imagination, Bellamy edged down the hall, but Locke followed behind.

“Well?”

“I was watering the flower. I forgot to earlier.” She swung a robe around her shoulders. “I’m sorry.”

“No, don’t be. It’s my fault. I should have made it clear to stay inside unless I’m with you. I’m so sorry it happened. Ben and Matt are on the job now. If the jerk can be found, they’ll do it.”

After she sat on the bed, she patted and invited him to sit. “Well, look at it this way: the police will take it seriously now. It was stupid of me to go out by myself, and it won’t happen again. You have my word.”

Luci stretched and stood from her pillow, then plopped in Locke’s lap.

“You’ve made a friend.”

He scratched underneath the dog’s neck. “She’s a good one to have. Listen, Bellamy, I hope I didn’t overstep my bounds earlier. It’s just that I take pride in living my life without any regret, and I believe everyone would be happier if we followed our hearts. On a side note, I think you’d make a kick-ass police officer. You’ve got great instincts and you seem to be calm under pressure.”

“If only I didn’t go outside when I wasn’t supposed to…”

“Could’ve happened to anyone.”

“I didn’t think you were overstepping bounds. Not at all. It’s refreshing to talk to someone like you.”

Locke’s head tilted. “What do you mean someone like me?”

“Hey, boss?” Ben said over the walkie-talkie. In the background, they could hear sirens. “We found him, but another one got away.”

“And?”

“He’s dead.”

“Dead?” Bellamy repeated.

“Cyanide, like the first guy.”

Locke and Bellamy exchanged glances.

“What about the other one?” Locke asked.

“Matt said there was no trace of him, but the police are checking into it now. Agent Martin just radioed in and he’s going to give you a call in about an hour.”

“We’ll be waiting.”

“Ten-four,” Ben said before they disconnected.

For several seconds, Locke and Bellamy were quiet, both realizing the breadth of what happened. Someone was truly after Bellamy. Someone wanted to cause her harm. But who? And why? Locke spoke first. “Let’s call your parents and tell them what happened.”

“Are you crazy? They’ll freak.”

“I’d rather have them overreact than find out from someone else, wouldn’t you?”

She shrugged. “I guess you’re right.”

“Afterward, I’ll talk to Agent Martin while you get some sleep. And then tomorrow when you’re done with classes, we’re going to see an old friend of mine. I’d like to get his counsel on what to do.”

The next afternoon, Locke and Weston stood on the back porch of Weston’s Atlanta home and watched Bellamy and the two Davis children swinging in the hammock. As always, Luci was present too, running around chasing a butterfly.

“You’re falling for her, aren’t you?” Weston asked after a drink of beer.

“Am I that obvious?”

Weston’s head lulled back and he laughed. “To me, yes. But that’s only because I know what love looks like.”

Locke opened the grill to check the burgers. “There are so many reasons this is wrong…”

“Name them,” he challenged.

“She’s my client, for one.”

“Is there something in your contract that forbids you and Bellamy from dating?”

“I’m sure the no fraternization clause exists somewhere. Also, these feelings are developing way too quickly. I’ve never experienced anything like this and it has me questioning everything.”

Again, Weston’s booming laugh carried throughout the entire backyard. “See that woman there?” He pointed inside to his wife, Aspen, cutting vegetables at the sink. “I knew the second I saw her she was mine. No ifs, ands, or buts. Aspen Kennedy was meant for me alone.”

“And you were certain?”

“Not one doubt in my mind. Let me ask you this: if you hadn’t taken her case, would you be conflicted?”

“No.” Locke’s head shook definitively. “I wouldn’t. She’s special, Weston. She’s deep and intense and everything I need. I want her to be my wife.”

“But first, we’ve got to figure out who wants to hurt her.” Weston opened the file Locke had brought him. “A second death last night, huh? Whatever they are after must be worth a lot.”

Frustrated, Locke threw his hands up. “That’s just it, man. She doesn’t have anything. My guys have searched her family, the roommate’s family. Everything. Nothing has panned out. But obviously, we’re missing something, otherwise she wouldn’t have been targeted last night.”

“So they were waiting for her, to see if she’d come outside?”

“Yep.”

Deep in thought, Weston wrinkled his brow. “Have you delved into every single detail of Bellamy’s last month? Any purchases made? Any gifts received?”

“We’ve all done extensive checks, but apparently we’re not doing a good job.” Locke’s gaze settled on Bellamy with Weston’s children, and he imagined her with their future son or daughter. With renewed determination, he vowed to solve this mystery. Bellamy’s future depended on it.