“This is a safe house. We’ll use it for tonight,” US Marshal Ball announced, closing the door. He waved Aspen over to the couch while his partner disappeared into the kitchen.

Declan took in the space. The windows were covered with drapes, and a small couch and love seat faced each other. The decor was plain, but it wouldn’t be decorated as if a family lived here. He walked around the room intent on ensuring that this was a safe environment for Aspen.

The car ride had been silent and full of tension. He didn’t know what the hell was going on, but she had a lot of explaining to do.

Why the hell would those men be after her?

He turned, cataloging every detail of the house that was visible.

“I hope it’s to your liking,” Ball drawled, leaning against the wall.

“It will do,” he replied, his gaze landing on Aspen.

Her eyes were cast down to the floor, and he bit back a snarl. Her hands were collapsed together in her lap. The look on her face was of a person who had lost everything. He let loose a sigh and moved to her.

She needed him.

Even with them in the room, she seemed alone.

“I trust what is shared with you will be upheld with the strictest of confidence. I looked into you, Sergeant Owen, and you’re well-respected in the law community.”

“You’re damn right I am,” Declan said, settling on the coffee table in front of Aspen. He reached for her hand and entwined their fingers.

Her eyes flew to him in shock.

He gave her a tight squeeze to let her know that he was there for her. “Now tell me. What is going on?”

“Aspen has been in the witness protection program. She was the witness of a murder. The person charged with the murder is up for a lot of federal charges. She is the one person who can assure the bad guy is put away for a long time.”

Declan glanced at the federal agent. The other one, US Marshal Williams, entered the room.

“I’m going to double-check out back to make sure we’re good for the night.” He left out the front door and shut it behind him.

Declan returned his attention to Aspen who remained quiet on the couch. He was slightly relaxed knowing the feds were making sure Aspen was protected.

“That sounds like a lot. What happened, baby?” he asked.

She blew out a deep breath and kept her eyes lowered. “My name is not Aspen Hale. My real name is Aspen Irwin, and I’m from California.”

“Nice to meet you, Aspen Irwin,” he murmured, squeezing her hand.

Her lips tilted up in a small smile, and he was slightly relieved she could smile. Her eyes softened when she gazed at him.

“I was at work late one evening. I am—or at least I used to be—a forensic accountant, one of the best. My father runs a Fortune 500 company and asked me to look into some dealings and monies that seemed to have disappeared.” Her eyes glassed over as she told her story.

He watched her become lost in the tale. He remained quiet while she continued speaking, not wanting to interrupt her.

“I had figured it out. I couldn’t believe who was stealing from my father. He’d worked so hard to get his company to where it was supposed to be, and for me to find out it was his best friend, I was just in shock.

“I went to confront him. I had thought of him as an uncle. He and my father had been as close as brothers, but he chose to turn to the life of crime and stabbed my father in the back.”

This started sounding familiar to Declan. He swerved his eyes to the federal agent who crossed his arms in front of his chest and leaned against the wall. He’d remember hearing about something in California about a high-profile case of an executive. He turned back to Aspen. His heart raced, seeing the fresh trail of tears burning their way down her cheeks.

“I should have waited and gone to my father first, but I was just so angry and wasn’t thinking. I walked up to his office, and as I was about to push the door open, I heard angry voices. It was slightly open, and I watched Ray shoot that man.”

Declan knew the case. It was all over the news. He gazed at Aspen with a new understanding of who she was.

Holy shit.

“Ray Acosta?”

Aspen was shocked Declan knew who she was speaking of. But then, the case had been all over the national news. When she’d first been pulled from her home, she hadn’t been able to watch television without seeing his face splashed crossed the screens.

“Yes, he’s currently sitting in prison awaiting his trial. We have to keep Ms. Hale alive so she may testify against him,” Ball stated, breaking the shocked silence.

“Declan, there’s so much I want to say, but—”

“You’re not leaving.” His tone was hard and clipped.

“You don’t get to decide that, Sergeant.” Ball’s eyes narrowed on Declan’s back.

“I have to go,” she whispered.

Declan’s sharp eyes lingered on her. They softened the longer they stared at each other. Even with the shadow of the bruising appearing on his face, she thought he was the most handsome man she’d ever met. She reached out and cupped his jaw. His shadow of a beard prickled against her hand. “If this was any other time—”

“What are you going to do? Keep moving her from city to city, hiding her?” Declan snapped, turning his attention to Ball.

“That’s exactly what we are going to do. My job is to make sure that she stays alive and can testify.”

“And after she does that, then what?”

Her breath caught in her throat at Declan’s question.

She already knew what she would do. She couldn’t live her life forever staying in protective custody. This was no way to live her life. The money they provided her with wasn’t enough to live off of. With her bleak work history, the only jobs she would qualify for would offer minimum wage.

No. She couldn’t continue her life like that.

She’d been a damn good accountant and always planned for the what-ifs. She’d taken her own money and hid it far away, and no one had a clue. The government never knew that she’d taken enough of her own money that she’d received from her parents when she’d graduated from college and hid it in offshore accounts.

Aspen had always had a plan. Testify, see her family one last time, and disappear. Ray had ties to dangerous men, and once they found out she was alive, they’d go after her. She’d never be safe here in the States.

She’d have to relocate to another country. Anything to ensure she was safe, she’d be willing to do it, and if starting life on a different continent was the only way, she’d do that, too.

“After she testifies, we’ll hide her deep. She’ll receive a new identity and will live a quiet life.”

Declan ran his hands through his hair and closed his eyes. She stared at him, torn. Her heart was breaking watching the frustration appear on his face.

“She doesn’t have to leave yet,” Declan stated. He stood and paced the floor, concentrating on something unseen.

“If you have forgotten, she and you were attacked in a public area. Someone knows she’s alive. We have to move her. Tonight.”

Aspen jumped at the news they were wanting to relocate her tonight. It shouldn’t have been a surprise. They usually moved her under the cover of darkness. She should be used to it by now, but this time, she was losing someone she had come to care for.

“I can protect her.” Declan stopped and faced Marshal Ball.

Aspen’s breath caught in her throat at the look on Declan’s face. He had slipped into his fierce SWAT officer role, and she had no doubt he would never let anything happen to her.

“You and what army? This is more than the local boys in blue can handle.”

“You know I’m more than qualified. Me and my men can protect her,” Declan snapped. He stalked up to Marshal Ball and glared at him.

“You and your men don’t have clearance—”

“You can deputize me,” Declan interrupted Ball, who paused. “I’m law enforcement and fit the criteria to be deputized.”

Aspen held her breath, wanting what Declan offered, but yet she didn’t want to drag him into the middle of this chaos. She wouldn’t be able to live with herself if something were to happen to him.

“This isn’t something to take lightly, Sergeant. There is paperwork to fill out, and your captain would have to sign off on this.”

“He already has. Captain Spook has friends in high places. Just don’t take her away tonight.”

Aspen stood from her seat, her heart racing. She wiped her sweaty hands on her pants and walked over to Declan. She placed a hand on his arm and stood by him.

“Please. He and his men are good. We wouldn’t have to move at all. Between the marshals and the local police, I’ll be well protected. I just can’t move again,” she pleaded.

“One more night, and if this doesn’t go through, we are gone.”