"Lance…"

"Lie to me and I'll tan your hide," he snapped. "Get into my office and, by God, explanations are due."

_________

Dane ground his teeth together at the sound of the sheriff's voice, before motioning Ryan through the shadows of the adjoining park.

No sooner had they moved from the side of the building than two deputies rounded a corner as overhead lights flared on.

The sheriff was a cautious man, and a damned uncanny one at that. How could he have suspected?

Sliding through the shadows, he and Ryan made their way back to the dark SUV parked on the opposite block.

"What now?" Ryan asked as they closed the doors behind them.

"Hell!" Dane clenched the steering wheel as frustration ate at him. "She's never disobeyed me like this."

She would have left immediately at any other time.

"The mating is strong," Ryan murmured. "You can smell him all over her. It's even changed her scent."

"It's going to get her killed." He started the SUV, slid it into gear and pulled silently into the street before turning the headlights on. "That killing in Pinon was just a warning."

"Should we call the old man?"

Dane growled. "Do that and we'll end up with a war here. He's fond of the girl, Rye, you know that."

"He'll kick your ass if she gets hurt," Ryan pointed out.

That wasn't an understatement.

"Shit. We'll take turns and keep an eye on her." He shook his head in resignation. "I knew I shouldn't have taken her home that time. Big, big mistake." Unfortunately, it had been take her home or let her die. Letting her die hadn't been an option.

"Why not just ask her for the files and be done with it?" Ryan suggested. "Tell her the truth."

Dane shook his head. "She won't give those files up that easily. Besides, it wouldn't save her life. She has the information in her head as well. And Jonas knows it. What Jonas knows, that fucking spy in Sanctuary knows. I'll drop you off at the hotel and pull duty tonight. Let's just hope we can take care of this fast; otherwise the old man just might decide to check it out himself anyway."

That situation was seriously getting on his nerves. If it weren't for the danger Harmony was in at present, he would clean house there himself. He just might do it anyway once this little job was over. His father was getting riled, and when the old man got worked up, his mother wasn't far behind. And in her condition, that wasn't good for any of them. One of these days, Dane promised himself, Jonas was going to have quite a bit to answer for.

CHAPTER 16

What the hell was going on?

Harmony allowed Lance to retain his hold on her as they entered his office, turning to face him as the door slammed shut behind him.

"You have reports to finish." His voice was hard, simmering with anger. "Get them done so we can head home."

"Lance…"

"Et." The sudden finger he raised, the chastisement of whatever she was going to say had her eyes widening as she stared back at him.

"What…"

"Reports." His tone was dark, dominant.

A frown snapped between her brows. She would be damned if she was going to let this attitude continue.

"Argue with me right now, and I promise you, that spanking I keep threatening you with is going to happen." His face was suddenly in hers, his nose almost touching hers.

"Until the sheer terror evaporates from my system from whatever the fuck was going on out there, then I'd suggest you tread lightly."

"I was going to tell you…"

"I heard enough!" He stomped away from her, his shoulders stiff, every line of his body radiating rage. "For God's sake, Harmony." He turned back to her as he raked his fingers through his hair in frustration. "Just do the damned reports." The words were pushed between clenched teeth as anger sizzled in the air between them. What had he heard? And why was he so furious?

"You know, Lance, the alpha thing is a real turn-on," she pointed out. And it was. She was getting wet, fast. "But to be perfectly honest, you are overreacting. I was going to tell you…"

"What?" His voice rasped like dark velvet. "That you were in serious danger of being taken from me?" It was obvious he was holding onto his control by a thread. "That whatever or whoever you decided to secretly meet with was within seconds of hurting you?"

Her eyes widened. "Dane wouldn't hurt me."

"Dane!" His lists were clenched as he leaned them on the desk, staring across it as a thread of jealousy stole into his voice. "Let me guess. The same man who's rescued you for the past ten years? The one who keeps a close enough eye on you that he steals you from beneath Coyotes' noses with an inch of your life to spare?" Her brows arched. "Yeah, that's the one," she answered mockingly. "Should I also point out he's the one who saved my life, countless times…"

"The same one who was within seconds of kidnapping your ass," he snarled.

"I wouldn't let that happen…"

"This time, you couldn't have stopped it." His jaw bunched as she watched him forcibly restrain himself from saying more. "Go do the damned reports, Harmony. Now. Please." She inhaled slowly.

"I'm a big girl, Lance," she said slowly. "I've been taking care of myself for a long time."

"Yes, you have." He nodded shortly as he straightened. "And several times those bastards hunting you have damned near killed you. Until I can get a handle on the sheer terror clenching my balls right now, then I'd suggest you drop this subject." He was impossible.

"Fine." She waved her hand dismissively as she turned her back on him and headed to her office. "I'll go do the damned reports. But later, I'm going to kick your ass for being so stubborn."

He was stubborn? Lance stared at her retreating back in amazement. She had the nerve to call him stubborn? The woman could have written the book on stubborn. Breathing in roughly, he sat down in his chair, staring at the closed door in disbelief. She had no idea how close she'd come to being taken. Within seconds. He could still remember the imperative cry that suddenly filled the air, making his knees weak as the sound of danger, of Harmony's absence, began to shriek through his mind. If she resists, we 'll take her… The hard voice had drifted past his ears as he came out of his chair. Knock her out and we 'll have her on the heli-jet before she awakens. It was the first time in his life that actual words had whispered past his ear as the air called to him. She had no idea the danger she had been in. The man who had rescued her for ten years was now intent on taking her.

Why?

He rose from his chair and paced the office, pausing at the window and staring into the dark landscape of the park beyond.

The side of the department was now well lit, something Lance rarely bothered with unless there was an event in the park itself. The lights from the park illuminated the area enough for safety's sake, but there were still shadows to hide within. Shadows that suddenly seemed ominous.

He braced his hands on the window frame as he stared into them, searching for answers, for movement. He should have let her explain, but he'd be damned if he could handle her confidence in the unknown Dane right now.

She was smart, and she was damned tough. But that bastard had been her savior for too many years. That kind of relationship built a trust that could so easily be used against her.

Jonas. Dane. The killing in Pinon. They were all connected somewhere. Somehow. And Alonzo. He had seen the fanatical hatred in the reverend's eyes and knew they hadn't seen the last of him.

"I'm finished." Harmony stalked into the office and slapped the reports on his desk as he turned to her.

He glanced at the clock. It was close enough to midnight to leave for the night. He had finished the paperwork waiting on him and his second-in-command had shown up early.

"Did you have dinner?" he asked with a frown.

She didn't eat enough, and that bothered him. How she managed to keep going on the amount of food and rest she took in amazed the hell out of him.

"Yes. I ate." She frowned heavily. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Nothing, because I doubt you ate enough to keep a bird alive. Let's go. You can eat with me before we head to the house."

"I'm not hungry."

"Well, I am, and I hate eating alone." At least she was following him—that surprised him.

"You're getting too bossy to suit me," she informed him, moving to his side as they neared the lobby doors.

"I'm not bossy, ask anyone," he growled. "I'm as easygoing as they come."

"I'm glad I wasn't eating when you made that little statement." She gave a mock cough.

"I would have choked."

He threw her a glare as they moved through the night, the summer night surrounding them, the hint of rain bringing a relief from summer's heat.

"Let's go—"

"Sheriff Jacobs?"

Lance turned at the sound of the county prosecutor's voice.

He turned to watch as she moved out of her vehicle and walked toward them.

"Stephanie." He nodded in greeting. "You're out late."

"I had to come into the office late." Her smile was strained as she nodded in Harmony's direction. "Alonzo's lawyer just bailed out Ms. Lancaster's assailant."

"He was slow," Lance grunted. "I expected that earlier."

"He also bailed Tommy Mason." She dropped her bombshell with a grimace. "We just released him from lockup."

"Well, low and behold, the U.S. justice system prevails once again." Harmony's snide comment had Lance mirroring Stephanie's grimace.

"He's only out on bail," she assured Harmony. "The trial will be another matter."

"Good luck there." Harmony leaned against the front of the Raider, watching the prosecutor mockingly. "Personally, my money is on Alonzo. He knows how to hire lawyers, Ms. Atwater, and if Mason is part of his organization, then Alonzo will see to it that he goes free."

"Like hell." Lance turned to her then. "Not here, Harmony. Not in this case. Tommy fired on officers and we have your testimony that he was holding his wife hostage. He won't get out of it."

"Then he'll disappear into Alonzo's organization and you'll be lucky if you ever catch up with him." She shrugged as though it didn't matter. "So much for the promise I made to that kid, huh? I bet he's real safe right now." Lance saw the shadows of pain and rage burning in her eyes when she turned that bright, false smile up at him. "So, did you mention dinner? I'm hungry."

She wasn't hungry, she was brooding. He could see it in her.

"Lance, I'm really sorry about this," Stephanie said softly. "The bail was ridiculously high. We had no idea Alonzo would step in like this."

Lance sighed wearily. "Let's pray he sticks to his routine and spends a few nights drinking and having fun before he goes home. I'll have the deputies keep an eye on him and see if we can't pull him back in."

Stephanie nodded her dark head in agreement, her brown eyes concerned as she stared at Harmony.

"Bring him back in, Lance, and we'll keep him this time."

Harmony snorted at that.

"Thanks again, Stephanie."

She nodded again before turning and moving back to her car. Lance turned to Harmony, taking in her emotionless features, her raging eyes as she watched the other woman leave.

"Have you slept with her?" She turned her gaze to him, arching her brow as though curious.