“Riley Ann Hamilton. What is wrong with you?”

“That seems to be the question of the day, Maxwell Steven Hamilton,” she said back, grinning widely.

It didn’t work. Max just scowled harder. “You told me it wasn’t anything serious. You said you had it covered. I thought you were ticked at Jason. I thought he was a prick. I didn’t know you were being stalked.”

She laughed to prevent herself from shouting back. Or crying. Crying seemed to be the thing she was doing a lot of lately. In the shower, when no one was around. No need for anyone to think she was weak.

“I didn’t think it was anything serious at first. I thought I had it covered. I don’t even know if ‘stalked’ is the correct word, though. Yes, Jason is a prick, so right again.”

“Don’t be a wise ass.” Max turned to Trevor. “What are you doing about this?”

“Don’t go getting all in Trevor’s face. I’ve seen him take a man down faster than you can blink.”

Max and Trevor both snorted at once.

“I’ve been talking to a few of my army buddies and one detective for the NYPD. My parents will be here tomorrow, and my father will help me look into a few things.”

“Trevor’s father was the previous police chief here,” she told Max.

“I know who his father is,” Max said, not looking really happy at the moment.

Quinn was calmly sitting next to Max on the couch and reached her hand over to place it on his. “Relax, Max. I’m sure Trevor knows what he’s doing.”

Max turned to his wife. “You’d do the same thing as Riley, wouldn’t you? Admit it.”

“I probably would. I wouldn’t want anyone to worry,” Quinn said.

“Just what I need. Two women in my life like that.”

“You wouldn’t want us any other way and you know it,” Riley said, to the accompaniment of two more snorts from Trevor and Max.

“What I want you to do is move back in here with us so you aren’t alone,” Max said.

“Absolutely not. I’m not bringing this into your house or around the kids. Out of the question,” she said, losing the good mood she was trying to maintain.

Trevor turned to Max. “Sorry, Max, but I agree with Riley on this. I’ll be with her. We’re rotating houses. I’ll give you my personal cell to call me at any time if you think of anything, hear of anything, or can’t reach Riley.”

Max looked at her, then at Trevor. “It seems I don’t have much of a choice in this.”

“Relax, Max. I’m sure it’s not that big of a deal. It’s probably just an infatuation. It happens,” she said, grinning. “Once they realize who I’m sleeping with, they’ll stop. Jason was nothing more than a wuss, so most likely they weren’t nervous back then.”

“It’s not funny, Riley,” Max said.

“I’m not laughing. No one in this room is laughing. I’m scared. Are you happy to hear me admit that? Whoever this guy is, he hasn’t done anything more than hang up on phone calls and send me empty envelopes or flowers.”

“You got a letter that said he was sorry,” Max said.

“That was Jason,” Trevor said.

“What? It looked like his handwriting, but do you know for sure?” Riley asked him.

“Yeah. I found out on my way here, or I would have told you sooner.”

She wanted to be annoyed that she was hearing this for the first time just now. “How did you find out?”

 

***

 

Trevor sighed, wishing he didn’t just say that right now. But he wanted to relieve Max’s mind. He understood where the guy was coming from. He also understood that Max was probably frustrated, knowing his wife would handle this the same way Riley was. Quinn had gone out on her own trying to fix a problem, and got herself in one heck of a legal mix-up in the process.

He adjusted himself against the wall where he’d been leaning. “The army buddy of mine, the detective for the NYPD? Logan gave me a call about twenty minutes ago. He went and had a little chat with your ex.”

“Oh really?” Riley said. “How’d that go over?”

“Not well.” Trevor wasn’t going to say that Logan told him Jason just about shit his pants when he’d showed up after school was out and met Jason in the parking lot. Jason had been nervous and jerky, but answered all the questions asked of him. Said he’d honestly thought Riley was making the whole thing up to get attention. That she’d always been a drama queen.

“Was he really sorry? I mean, what was he sorry about?” Riley asked.

“Said he wanted you back.” Trevor tried not to let that bother him, especially since Jason insulted Riley during the conversation with Logan. “He realized that your work had to come first and he didn’t think you’d actually leave.”

“I don’t believe it. He just wanted a sugar momma. Sorry, he can find another one.”

“What?” Max asked, looking outraged. “Did you give him money? Loan him money? You paid his way?”

“Never mind, Max,” Riley said, then she turned to Trevor. “Why didn’t he sign his name? I don’t get that.”

Trevor wanted to address all those questions that Max asked, but decided it was best not to. He didn’t think Riley would be someone to be taken advantage of to that extent. At least he hoped not.

“He thought he was being cute just saying those two words. That you always got mad at him when he tried to explain why he was sorry when you two fought before.”

“He’s right. I hated that he would talk in circles and never tell me what was really going on. That doesn’t mean he should have done what he did.”

“Agreed,” Trevor said. He wasn’t telling Riley that Jason wanted her number and wanted to call her. To check and see if she was okay. When Logan told him that was out of the question, Jason made noises about coming to Lake Placid. It was a good thing Logan knew him so well and shot that chance down. He didn’t ask Logan what he said to Jason, but he could only imagine.

“So now what?” Riley asked.

“Logan is looking into a few more things. The state police have the envelopes and they’re checking for prints.”

“You involved the state police?” Riley asked, her voice starting to rise. Here we go again.

“I did. I told you what I was doing with the envelopes and you were fine with it,” he argued.

“You didn’t tell me who was going to get them,” she said, crossing her arms.

Trevor sighed. “Is she always like this?” he asked Max.

“Always,” Max said. “Sometimes there’s no winning.”

“Not true,” Riley said. “I just want to know what’s going on. It’s my life.”

Not just her life, but he wasn’t going to say that in front of her brother. It was too personal right now. “We’re in this together. I tell you what I’m doing. I thought you didn’t want names and ranks,” he said, tilting his head.

“What is he talking about?” Max asked.

“Nothing important,” Riley said. “So Cole knows then, right?”

“He does. Only because he was there when I went over. Your whole office is going to know tomorrow anyway. You might as well tell those closest to you.”

Riley groaned and dropped her head back on the couch. “Do we really need to tell my office?”

“Yes,” both Max and Trevor said at once.

“Great. Just what I need. Both of you thinking the same way.”

“Riley,” Quinn said. “I understand how hard this is. I did a lot of running in my life too. I kept a lot of it hidden from those around me. In the end, I was the one who got hurt. Trust everyone to be there for you. No one wants this over with more than you, we understand that. But it won’t end unless we work together.”

“Finally, the voice of reason,” Trevor said.

“I’m outnumbered here, aren’t I?” Riley asked.

“No one is counting, Riley. Like Quinn said, we have to work together.” He walked over to her, pulled her up and into his arms. “I just want to keep you safe. Let me do my job.”

“You better be damn good at your job,” she said, laughing.

“I’m the best,” he said. He’d known all along there was a reason he felt the pull back here and he was holding that reason tight.