Chapter 9
“WHO THE FUCK IS ANNA?” Mason held his ground, staring at Harmony, hands firmly planted on his hips. His heart thumped so hard that he had to clutch his chest. “And what the hell does she have to do with my family?” He peered over her shoulder, noting the suitcase in the back seat.
“Just let me go and you’ll never have to find out,” Harmony said, her blue eyes pleading with him as if she were a beggar desperate for a sip of water. The timbre of her voice screamed fear and a lack of confidence he wasn’t accustomed to when it came to her and how she carried herself.
“I can’t let you just leave in the middle of the night without an explanation.”
“You have to let me leave. Trust me on that. And frankly, I owe you nothing.”
“I beg to differ. You just said my sister’s kids are in danger. If you think I’m letting that slide—”
“They will be fine if I go now,” she said, turning on her heels, taking a long step in the direction of the car.
Coop wailed like a sad puppy at the back door. His thick paws scratched at the door as he demanded to be let out.
“How will my family be hurt?” he asked, grabbing her by the arms, holding her biceps a little too tightly. “I can’t help you unless you tell me what is going on.” He eased his grip as her slightly parted lips drew into a tight, angry line.
“Get your hands off me.”
He let go. “If I let you drive away, I’m jumping in my truck, following you, and calling my boss, so please, just tell me what is happening.”
Tears pooled in the corners of her sea-blue eyes. She opened and closed her mouth a few times before clearing her throat.
“I have to make a phone call,” she whispered.
“Your handler?” he asked, taking a chance that this time his gut was right on the money. It didn’t happen often when it came to women, but he prayed that this time he was right.
Then again, if he was, she’d probably have to walk out of his life.
For good.
Coop howled as if he could read his thoughts.
“Come inside.” He reached behind her, leaning into the car, and shutting off the engine.
“I only have until six before something terrible happens,” she said with a shaky voice.
“I’m not going to let anything bad happen.” He yanked out his phone as he guided her up the path.
His sister picked up on the first ring. “It’s late. Is something wrong?”
Oh boy, that was a loaded question. “I don’t know yet, but I need you to head over to Mom and Dad’s for the night with the kids. I’m going to have Jonah drive by a few times, but I’m also going to call in a buddy from the fire department to hang outside the house.”
“You’re scaring me. What’s going on? Does this have to anything to do with the break-ins? With Harmony?” Kate spoke quietly, but quickly.
“I don’t know yet, but better safe than sorry.” He pushed open the door, and Coop went nuts, running in circles, jumping up and down. No amount of commands would calm that beast down, so Mason let him do his thing.
Besides, Harmony seemed to have him under control.
For now.
“If you think it’s too late to move the kids, I can have Mom and Dad—”
“No. They took Jessica for the night and the boys are still awake. Way too much candy and they are wired, so this will be good.”
“Thanks. Text me when you get there, okay?”
He tapped the end button.
Harmony held her cell up. He shook his head. “Don’t call yet,” he said.
“Why not?”
“Because we don’t know if we really need to yet.” He had no idea what he was dealing with or why she’d been placed in the Witness Protection Program, but he intended to find out.
“Read this email.” She handed him her phone and then plopped herself down at the kitchen table, Coop sitting protectively at her side. Coop had only been a few months old, but from the beginning, he hated Julia. Wouldn’t go near her, listen to her, or even let her pet him. He didn’t like Lilly any better.
Harmony was different and if Coop sensed a kindness in her that deserved his affection, then Mason would give her a chance.
He scrolled through the threatening email, swallowing the bile that bubbled in the pit of his stomach. He didn’t take too kindly to intimidation, especially when his family was involved. But this went beyond that.
“In five sentences or less, tell me the history here,” he said, not looking up. He had no desire to see Harmony’s face. He wanted to hear the words first, then he’d gauge her facial expressions.
“Anna is my ex’s sister. She blames me for his incarceration,” Harmony said with an even, yet tight tone, a flare of anger dropping from each syllable.
“Who is your ex?”
“Lucas Montana.”
“Who is he and what did he do?” The name didn’t ring any bells. Mason didn’t know if that was good or bad.
“He and I ran poker tables together.”
Mason snapped his gaze to meet Harmony’s. “Who started them?”
“He did, but I willingly participated, and I was good. But I had no idea about his drug running until I was in over my head. The FBI offered me a deal, and I ran with it.”
Christ. She’d just broken that contract, and they could cut her loose. He should have let her call her handler. Then again, he was a cop and duty-bound to protect her, and he would do exactly that.
“So, that picture is you and your ex,” he said, leaning back and folding his arms across his chest. “What happened to your baby?” He lowered his eyelids, glaring.
“I lost him,” she said, choking on a guttural sob, her hands covering her belly. “When I miscarried, that’s when I decided I needed to work with the Feds.”
“I’m sorry,” Mason said. “I can’t imagine that kind of loss.”
She pressed her hands against the table. “No. You can’t. And I had to go back and take two more beatings—”
“What!?” Mason stood, kicking back the chair. “He hit you and that’s why you lost the baby?”
She wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Yes.” Her single word hung in the air like thick, black smoke.
He breathed in deeply through his nose and exhaled slowly, counting to ten. Any man who hit a woman was no man at all.
And what this Lucas did was nothing shy of the murder of a potential life.
“He’s behind bars?”
Harmony nodded. “I never had to testify because he took a plea.” She smoothed down the front of her dress, which she hadn’t changed from yet. “If I’m not going to meet Anna, then I really need to make that phone call.”
“You’re not going to make it,” he said.
“I have to. I’m putting your family at risk if I don’t.”
“I said you’re not going to make the call. I am.”
She shook her head.
Coop followed suit.
Damn dog was always going to take her side.
“You can’t. I’m breaking all the rules telling you any of this.”
“Let’s not forget I’m a cop. That changes things, and my boss and I will deal with the Feds and this Anna chick. But the bigger question is how did she find out where you were? That takes some skill.” He scratched the back of his head. “Or maybe there is a leak.”
“You mean someone in the FBI told her where I was?” Harmony’s voice screeched.
Coop pushed his nose up under her hand, licking wildly, as if that would make this situation any better.
“I’d like to believe that couldn’t be the case, but money talks,” he said. This changed things and calling the Feds might not be a good idea.
But calling a friend would be. “Hey, Siri, call Tim Winser.”
“Who’s that?” Harmony asked.
“An ex-marine I served with who married a Federal Agent. They live in LA, and I bet she can help.”
“Betting is what got me into this mess,” she mumbled.
“Well, taking a calculated risk is going to get you out of it and make sure you can keep your life here.” He inched forward, holding out his arms. “I’d like a second date.”
“This is no time to be having this conversation.”
He pulled her to his chest, running his fingers through her hair.
She shivered.
“I need to call my buddy, and my boss. Then you and I are going to pay this Anna bitch a visit.”