“Suzy?”

Levi pushed back his Stetson and leaned close, looking straight into her eyes, his gaze compelling and demanding. Unyielding in a way she hadn’t remembered.

And it was enough to pull her away from the edge, out of the panic.

“I’m fine.”

He looked unconvinced, his brow furrowed, a five o’clock shadow giving him a tough edge that hadn’t been there when they were kids. “Suzy—”

“Let’s call it a day and say good-night.”

Levi was still standing under the streetlight as she pulled out of the parking lot. The rose was on the ground beside him, a dark line on the pavement.

She hated roses.

She turned on the radio. Tomorrow would be another long day, and she needed to be ready for it.

Prayed she’d be ready for it.

TEXAS RANGER JUSTICE:

Keeping the Lone Star State safe

Out of Time—Shirlee McCoy, June 2011

SHIRLEE MCCOY

has always loved making up stories. As a child, she daydreamed elaborate tales in which she was the heroine—gutsy, strong and invincible. Though she soon grew out of her superhero fantasies, her love for storytelling never diminished. She knew early that she wanted to write inspirational fiction, and she began writing her first novel when she was a teenager. Still, it wasn’t until her third son was born that she truly began pursuing her dream of being published. Three years later she sold her first book. Now a busy mother of five, Shirlee is a homeschool mom by day and an inspirational author by night. She and her husband and children live in Washington and share their house with a dog, two cats and a bird. You can visit her website at www.shirleemccoy.com, or email her at shirlee@shirleemccoy.com.

Out of Time
Shirlee McCoy

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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Therefore do not go on passing judgment before

the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will

both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness

and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then

each man’s praise will come to him from God.

—1 Corinthians 4:5

Sarah Rodgers. Keep working toward your goal,

and eventually you’ll reach it!

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

EPILOGUE

LETTER TO READER

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

ONE

Silence told its own story, and Alamo Ranger Susannah Jorgenson listened as she hurried across the bridge that led to the chapel. Darkness had fallen hours ago and the air held a hint of rain. The shadows seemed deeper than usual, the darkness just a little blacker. Or maybe it was simply her imagination that made the Alamo complex seem so forbidding.

Imagination and too many sleepless nights.

Six months since Aaron Simons had attacked her, five months since he was killed in a police standoff just outside of San Antonio, and Susannah was still jumping at shadows. People were starting to notice. Her fellow park rangers were beginning to talk. Her life, the one she’d planned so carefully, the one she’d wanted ever since she was a kid, was slowly unraveling, and she felt helpless to stop it.

She shivered. Not from the cold. Not from the chilly breeze. From the darkness, the silence, the endless echo of her fear as she made her final rounds. She’d never known terror before Aaron. Now, it was her closest friend. Not something she was proud of, but something she acknowledged as she jogged to the chapel and flashed the beam of her light along the corners of the building.

Nothing.

No movement, no sounds, no reason to think she wasn’t alone, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being watched. That somewhere beyond the beam of her light, danger waited.

Her cell phone rang as she walked into the building, and she jumped, her heart pounding, her pulse racing. Everything out of proportion to the moment. That seemed to be the story of her life lately.

“Hello?” Her voice bounced off the stone walls of the chapel, and something skittered in a dark corner to her right. She turned, her flashlight revealing nothing but tile floor and emptiness.

“Susannah? It’s Chad Morran.”

“What’s up?”

“Just got a call from Captain Ben Fritz with the Texas Rangers.”

“Let me guess. He wanted to know about our security plans for the 175th anniversary of the Battle of the Alamo celebration.” A soft sound carried through the cavernous room. Rustling papers? Fabric brushing against stone? Susannah cocked her head, listening, but heard nothing but her rapid heartbeat.

“Partially. He also wanted to let me know he’s sending a man out to the compound. They want to do a security sweep. See where our areas of weakness are.”

“They’re assuming we have them.”

“Aside from Fort Knox, I doubt there’s a place that doesn’t. With the 175th anniversary of the Battle of the Alamo coming up, we can’t afford to be too careful. The opening ceremony has to go off without a hitch.”

“I know.” There were more than a few high-level politicians scheduled to speak at a ceremony that would be hosted by the Alamo Planning Committee, and protecting them was the first priority of the Alamo Rangers.

“So you won’t mind staying at the compound a little late tonight? You are head of the security team for the event, after all.”

“You don’t need to convince me, Chad. I’m happy to do it.” Though staying alone at the compound after dark had become one of her least favorite things to do.

“Good. Good. Captain Fritz said his man should be there within the hour. I can come and help with the briefing if you want me to, or we can touch base tomorrow before we open.”

“No need for you to come. I’ll handle things.”

“You’re sure?” That he would ask made Susannah’s cheeks heat.

“It’s my job, Chad. If I can’t do it, I shouldn’t be working here.” Something she’d reminded herself of one too many times during the past few months.

“I wasn’t implying that you couldn’t handle it, Susannah. Just giving you an opportunity to ask for backup if you need it. This event is a big deal. We can’t afford to have anything go wrong.”

“Nothing will.”

She hoped.

She prayed.

But things went wrong all the time.

Good days turned bad in a blink of an eye.

“All right. I’ll leave it in your hands, then, and I’ll want a full report tomorrow.”

“No problem.” She slid the phone back in her pocket, did a full sweep of the chapel and of the office area beyond. Nothing, of course. There was never anything. She should be relieved, but all she felt was disgust at herself and her fear.

She ran a hand over her hair and tapped her Stetson against her thigh. What she needed was a little fresh air. A few minutes outside of the compound listening to the sound of people and the action drifting up from the River Walk and she’d feel more like herself.

“Sure you will,” she muttered as she opened the chapel door and stepped straight into a broad, muscular chest.

Someone grabbed her upper arms, holding her in place when she would have fallen.

And she was back in time, hands wrapped around her throat, cutting off air, fetid breath washing over her face. Alcohol and evil and every nightmare come to life.

She gagged, shoving forward into her attacker, pushing her weight into a solid wall of strength as she tried to un-balance him.

“Hey. Calm down. I was just trying to keep you from falling.” The soothing tone washed over her, the words rumbling near her ear as the man released his hold and stepped back.

Broad-shouldered.

A wide-brimmed cowboy hat hiding his eyes.

Not Aaron.

Of course, not Aaron.

“Sorry about that. I wasn’t expecting anyone to be standing near the door. We’re closed for the day, but we’ll be open again at seven tomorrow morning.” She cleared her throat, wiped a sweaty palm against her khaki slacks.

“No need to apologize. I should have knocked as soon as I got here. I’m Ranger Levi McDonall. My captain said he was going to call and let you know I was on the way.”

“Levi McDonall?” Her childhood hero? Her best guy friend? Her first teenage crush?

No way could they be the same.

“That’s right. You were told that I’d be coming, weren’t you?”

“Just a few minutes ago. Come on in.” She hurried into the chapel, trying to pull herself together. This was the Texas Ranger she’d be working with for the next nine days, and she couldn’t afford to look like she didn’t have things under control.

Didn’t have herself under control.

She flipped on a light, turned to face McDonall.

He’d pulled off his hat, and his strong, handsome face was exactly the one she hadn’t believed it could be.

Levi McDonall.

Her Levi McDonall.

At least, that’s how she’d once thought of him.

He met her gaze, his eyes a richer brown than she’d remembered, his lashes long and thick. He’d changed. Filled out. Gone from brash teenager to confident man.

“Susannah Jorgenson?” He took a step toward her, his eyes reflecting her surprise, his full lips curving into a smile.

“That’s right.”

“Of course it is. I’d know you anywhere.”

“I guess so. I spent the better part of nine years annoying you.”

“Annoying? I wouldn’t exactly say that.” He smiled again, flashing dimples that would have melted the hardest of hearts.

“I’m sure you would if you weren’t afraid of sounding rude.”

“When have you ever known me to be afraid of that?”

“I haven’t known you for years. As a matter of fact, the last time I saw you, you were a teenager with big dreams.”

“And the last time I saw you, you had pigtails and braces.” He grinned, moving farther into the room, light reflecting off his black hair and simmering in his eyes.

“I never had braces,” she responded, not resisting as he pulled her into a bear hug, bracing for what she knew she would feel. Trapped. Panicked.

But the feelings didn’t come, and she let herself relax into his embrace, let his warmth seep into her and chase away the chill that had dogged her for the better part of the evening.

“That’s better.” He stepped back, looked down into her face, his gaze touching her hair, her cheeks, her lips before returning to her eyes.

“What?”

“You were wound up tighter than a caged tiger.”

“Not really. I was just—” Afraid of nothing? Jumping at shadows? She couldn’t say any of those things. “It’s been a long day. I’m ready for it to be over.”

“I’ll make this as quick as possible, but I can’t promise that we won’t be here awhile. The Alamo Planning Committee is anxious for security measures to be worked up and in place for the upcoming ceremony. My captain asked me to come by and do a security sweep, check to see if there are any weaknesses that we’ll need to address during the event.”

“I’ll give you a tour. Let you get a feel for the compound. Then, we can go over things in detail.” She followed his lead, focusing on the task at hand. Secure the compound for the ceremony. Get through the next nine days. She could make a decision about her future as an Alamo Ranger after that.

“You have some security plans in place already, right?”

“Of course. We’ve been working on them since we were told the opening ceremony would be held at the Alamo.” She led him into the office, gestured for him to take a seat while she pulled a file from her desk. “We can take a look at the plans before we do the tour if you’d like.”

“Better to see the place first, I think. I moved back to San Antonio a couple of years ago, but I haven’t been to the Alamo since I was a kid. Walking around the compound will familiarize me with it again. That will make visualizing security measures a little easier.”

“Let’s get started, then.” She led him through the chapel and into the compound. Shadows still edged the path, but they seemed less sinister, the silence less ominous.

She wasn’t sure she liked what that said about her.

She’d been an Alamo Ranger for four years, and she’d never been afraid to walk the compound alone at night. That she was ate at her, turned her inside out, made her wonder if being a security officer really was what she should be doing. Made her question everything she believed about herself, her goals, her passions.

“You’ve changed, Susannah.” Levi broke into her thoughts, and she met his eyes, saw that he was studying her with an intensity that made her shiver.

“We’ve both changed.”

“We’ve both matured, sure, but there’s something else. Used to be you were bubbly and excitable. Talkative to the point of frustration. Now, you’re subdued. Quiet.”

“And you’re reading a lot into five minutes of reconnecting.” She offered a smile that she hoped looked more natural than it felt.

“Maybe, but—”

“It doesn’t really matter, does it? We’re both here to do a job. How we’ve changed, why we’ve changed, if we’ve changed, none of those things are important.” She cut him off, not wanting speculation to lead to a discussion she didn’t want to have. Not with Levi. Not with anyone.

“Then we’ll call my observation a point of interest and move on. How big is the compound?”

“A little over four acres. The ceremony will take place in the gardens. We’ll have a stage set up there.”

“And you have enough people on your security team to keep the area protected?”

“Yes. We—” A loud bang shattered the quiet, the discordant sound so completely unexpected Susannah didn’t have time to think, didn’t have time to panic. She ran, skirting the long barracks, Levi close on her heels. Another bang followed the first, and she changed course, racing toward the sound. A figure lurched out from behind the giant oak that had stood for centuries in the compound, and Susannah called out a warning, her hand on her gun, her body humming with adrenaline.

The intruder didn’t heed the warning to freeze, didn’t stop bulldozing toward her. Wobbling, but coming fast, knocking into Susannah before she could decide if deadly force was necessary.

She stumbled and went down hard, the pungent scent of alcohol and sweat swirling around her, threatening to drag her back to that night, back into terror.

And then he was gone, pulled up and away, slammed down onto the ground, Levi crouching over him, a gun pressed to his head. “Don’t move. Don’t even breathe. You okay, Susannah?”

“Fine.” She managed to get to her feet, managed to cross the small area that separated them. Managed to do it all without shattering into a million pieces.

But she wanted to shatter.

Wanted to fall into a heap of blubbering fear and let Levi handle the intruder.

“Susie. Suze. You tell him to let me go. You tell him he’s got no right to treat me like this.” The slurred words, the voice, they were familiar. The alcohol. The sweat. The stumbling, fumbling steps.

Mitch.

She should have known.

She hadn’t.

Fear had clouded her judgment, had almost made her pull a weapon she didn’t need.

The knowledge was a heavy weight as she crouched next to Mitch and signaled for Levi to let him go.

TWO

“You can let him up.” Susannah’s voice seeped through the haze of Levi’s rage as he leaned over her attacker. The acrid scent of alcohol and sweat drifted up from the prone man, mixing with the softer, subtler scent of Susannah’s perfume.

Susannah Jorgenson.

He still couldn’t quite believe the stunningly beautiful Alamo Ranger he was going to be working with for the next nine days was the knobby-kneed tomboy who’d followed him around when he was a kid.

“He’s trespassing on private property.” And he’d knocked Susannah to the ground.

“Trespassing? You know I wouldn’t do something like that, Susannah.” The words were slurred, the man obviously drunk as a skunk.

“You are trespassing, Mitch. And you know it.” Susannah nudged Levi’s arm away, then helped the man turn over and sit up. Deep wrinkles and hollow cheeks told the story of too much excess. Threadbare clothes and duct-taped shoes told the story of something else. Desperation. Helplessness.

Levi knew the feeling of both those things.

Had known them since the day five months ago when his former captain, Gregory Pike, had been shot and killed in his own home.

“I fell asleep. You know how that happens with me sometimes.”

“You didn’t fall asleep. You passed out, and I told you that the next time you passed out on the compound I was going to call the police and have them take you away and dry you out.”

“Now, you wouldn’t do that to me, would you, girl?” The man ambled to his feet, his movements slow and ungainly.

“I should. I really should.” Susannah reached out and grabbed the guy’s arm, holding him steady when it looked like he might tip over.

“Fell asleep is all. Woke up and thought I’d better get out of here before I got myself into trouble. Tripped and fell into the door. Knocked the lid off a trash can near the barracks. Sorry about that.”

“Passing out, falling asleep, neither of them are things I want you doing here. Especially not after hours. Now, where were you? I checked this compound twice in the past couple of hours, and I didn’t see you.”

“Behind the barracks.”

“You weren’t there when we closed.”

“Don’t know about that, doll. I came right in the gate. Just like I always do.”

“Which gate?” She took Mitch by the arm, leading him back toward the chapel.

“Houston Street. Came in near the museum. Couldn’t get inside the building, though.”

“Because we’re closed.”

“Then why’s the gate open?” Mitch’s words were barely intelligible, and Levi was surprised he was still on his feet.

“That’s a good question.” Susannah led Mitch through the chapel, ushered him to the doors, barely meeting Levi’s eyes. He could sense her tension, see the frown line between her brows.

She’d said she’d locked up, checked to make sure no one was there. Now they were escorting a drunk off the premises. That didn’t bode well for the overall security of the compound, but Levi wouldn’t say that. He’d tour the area with Susannah, make a thorough assessment of its strengths and weaknesses and come up with a plan of action that would satisfy the Alamo Planning Committee and the members of Texas Rangers Company D.

“Do you want me to call you a cab? Have it take you to the mission for the night?” Susannah asked as she stepped outside the chapel with Mitch.

“I got a place to stay, doll. Don’t you worry.” The guy stumbled away. Susannah watched him go, the seconds stretching into a minute before she finally turned to face Levi.

“I need to go check that gate. You can stay in the chapel if you’d like. Look over the plans we’ve put together for March 6.” She looked drawn, her face leached of color, fear seeming to hover just beneath the surface of her eyes.

Was she afraid of Mitch?

Of Levi?

Of the fact that there’d been a trespasser on the compound while she was in charge?

“We haven’t finished the tour, so I guess I’ll come along. I wanted to see the garden where the ceremony will take place. I also need a count of gates and entrance points.”

“There are six gates plus the entrance to the chapel.” Moonlight fell across her face, highlighting deep hollows beneath her cheeks. She was thinner than Levi remembered, her face leaner, her shoulders narrow. Not delicate, but not the tough tomboy who’d played street hockey with the neighborhood boys.

“We’ll need a plan to make sure they’re secure on the day of the event.”

“Already taken care of. We’ll have a Ranger assigned to each gate.” She turned and led Levi back through the chapel and out into the compound, her silence so different from the Susannah he remembered that Levi couldn’t wrap his mind around it.

What had happened to the excitable little girl? The adolescent who’d poured her heart out to Levi as they’d sat on her parents’ porch swing?

She’d disappeared. Left a quiet, somber woman in her place.

A quiet, somber, beautiful woman in her place.

But, then, he’d always suspected that she’d grow into a beauty.

He didn’t try to fill the silence, just kept his peace as they walked toward a long, low building.

“This is the long barracks. It houses our museum. The gate Mitch was talking about is just to the east of it. I locked it after we closed for the day, so there’s no way it could be open. Mitch tends to drink too much, and then he gets confu…” Her voice trailed off as the gate came into view.

“It’s open.” Levi took the last few steps to the gate, scanning the street beyond. A few cars drove by and voices carried on the cold air.

“I closed the gate as soon as the last visitor left. Made sure it was locked.” Susannah flashed a light on the lock and examined it.

“Has it been tampered with?”

“Not that I can see.”

“Is it possible you forgot to lock it?”

“I’ve been doing this for four years, Levi. I didn’t forget.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes.”

“Maybe another security officer—”

“We don’t work that way. If another Ranger had been here, I’d have known it.” She stepped through the gate, looking up and down the street as if she expected to see someone standing there with a key.

“If you locked it, someone unlocked it.”

“Or the lock is faulty.” She closed the gate, locked it and then tried to pull it open again. It held tight.

“Looks like that’s not the case.” He gave it another tug for good measure.

“I need to call my boss. Let him know what’s going on.”

“We should get a team to scour the compound. Make sure whoever opened the gate isn’t still hanging around. Check to see if he left anything behind.”

“Right.” She pulled out her cell phone, speaking quietly as she hurried along the path that led to the chapel.

He followed more slowly, scanning the foliage and the deep shadows they created. It would be easy enough for someone to hide there. Easy at night, but easy during the day, too. He’d have security teams run sweeps of the grounds before and during the ceremony to make sure the compound was empty. Hopefully, it would be enough to keep their VIP guests safe.

He frowned, eyeing the fence that separated the Alamo from the rest of the world and the buildings that jutted up above the compound. Not good from a security standpoint.

He dialed Ben Fritz’s number, knowing his friend and the new captain of Company D would be interested in the development.

“Fritz speaking.”

“It’s Levi. I just arrived at the Alamo.”

“How do things look?”

“They’d look better if there hadn’t been an intruder on the compound.”

“What happened?”

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out. Seems one of the gates was locked and someone unlocked it.”

“Are there security cameras on-site?”

“I’ll check into it.”

“Sooner rather than later, Levi. We don’t have much time to make sure the Alamo is secure.”

“Trust me, I can hear the clock ticking.”

“Good, because Hank Zarvy is breathing down my neck, asking for a detailed plan regarding the opening ceremony.”

“He’ll get it.”

“When you’re good and ready to give it? Because if that’s the case—”

“You know I don’t work that way, Ben. Especially not when it comes to this case. Hank Zarvy is an annoyance I’m willing to deal with if it means solving Greg’s murder.” He glanced at Susannah, saw that she’d finished talking to her boss and was watching him, not even pretending that she wasn’t listening to the conversation.

That was fine. There was plenty she needed to know.

“The Lions of Texas are behind all of this. We know that. What we need to find out is what they have planned for March 6. If we don’t, more people could die.”

“We’re going to stop them, Ben, and we’re going to find out which one of them pulled the trigger on Greg. We need justice. For Greg and for Corinna.”

“No one realizes that more than I do. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t tell Corinna that we’ll find her father’s killer.” Ben and Corinna were as close as any couple Levi had ever known, their love for each other a palpable thing. They weren’t the only ones who’d found love in the months since Greg died, and Levi was sure that if his old boss could look down from Heaven and see what had happened to the men and women of Company D, he’d smile.

“We’ll get his killer. I won’t rest until we do.”

“None of us will. Keep me updated on what’s going on at the Alamo.”

“I will.”

“And, prepare yourself. Zarvy wants to meet with you and the head of Alamo security. Breakfast tomorrow at his place. Eight o’clock.”

“We don’t have time for meetings or hand-holding.”

“We don’t have time to bury our heads in the sand and pretend the Lions of Texas aren’t a widespread and growing drug-smuggling organization. Thanks to Gisella and Brock Martin, we’ve found one of their drug entry points on the border and thrown a handful of their low-level operatives in jail, but we have a long way to go before we bring them down.”

“A long way to go and not much time to accomplish it.”

“Does that mean you’re going to be at the meeting tomorrow?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“Not really.”

“Then I’ll be there.” He disconnected, met Susannah’s eyes. “We’re scheduled to meet with Hank Zarvy tomorrow morning. You know him?”

“He’s part of the Alamo Planning Committee, so we’ve met once or twice.”

“He wants a briefing on our security plans.”

“No problem. Maybe you can brief me on what’s going on while we wait for Chad to show up.”

“Chad?”

“Morran. He’s my boss. He’s called in a few other Park Rangers to help search the compound. They’ll be here shortly.”

“We can start the search now. If someone is on the compound, I’d like to have a chat with him. Do you have an extra flashlight?”

“Sure, but searching the compound isn’t going to distract me.” She met his eyes, her emerald gaze wary and filled with questions.

“From?”

“Let’s not play games, Levi. Something is going on. Something bigger than a 175th anniversary celebration and a few threatening notes.”

“My office has been investigating an organization called the Lions of Texas. We believe they’re behind the threats.”

“The Lions of Texas. Never heard of them.”

“Not many people have. They’re secretive. No one knows who their top members are, but we do know they’re working to open the Mexican border.”

“Toward what goal?”

“They’re heavily involved in drug trafficking. An open border will make that easier. My captain was investigating them before he was murdered. Now, we’re finishing the job he started.”

“Gregory Pike was your captain?”

“I guess you’ve heard of him?”

“I saw the story in the news a few months ago. I’m sorry for your loss.”

“So am I.” Greg had been a great man, a fantastic captain, a wonderful father. Now, he was gone, and there was nothing Levi wouldn’t do to find his murderer.

“Come on. We’d better get started on our search.” He pushed his sorrow aside, pushed his anger away, refused the guilt that always seemed to be just a memory away. If he’d been just a few minutes earlier, would Greg still be alive? It was a question he’d asked a dozen times a day in the weeks following the murder, but there was no answer. No way to go back and relive the moments after he’d received the text summoning him to Pike’s house.

“Do you really think whoever came in would hang around and wait to be found?” Susannah pushed her Stetson down onto her head as they stepped into the compound again.

“I don’t know what the motivation was for entering the Alamo after it closed, so I can’t say if the person would hang around. Has this kind of thing happened before?”

She hesitated just long enough to make him wonder. “Six months ago, I was scheduled to open the compound. When I got here, the Houston gate was already unlocked. Someone had stolen the keys and used them to gain access to the compound after business hours. That time, we found out who was responsible.”

“He’s in jail?”

“He’s dead. Killed during a police standoff a month later.”

“Was he a Ranger here?”

“No.”

“Then he knew a Ranger.” How else would he have gotten the keys?

“He knew me.” Her tone was stiff, her expression unreadable. Whatever she was thinking and feeling was hidden behind a mask of indifference.

Which meant it was a subject she cared deeply about.

Or felt deeply about.

“I’m sorry.”

“Not as sorry as I was.”

“He was a boyfriend?”

“He thought he was.”

Her words sparked a memory. A news story that had broken a few weeks after Greg’s death. A woman viciously attacked, clinging to life in the hospital. A suspect leading the police on a high-speed chase through downtown San Antonio. All of it ending with the suspect dead.

“He nearly killed you.” It wasn’t a question. He already knew that the girl he’d grown up looking out for had been brutalized and nearly killed. He already knew that she’d suffered things most people couldn’t even imagine.

He knew, and he wanted to pull her into his arms, tell her everything would be okay.

“Let’s try to stay focused on the present, okay?”

“Ignoring the past can’t make it go away.”

“Do you really think it’s possible for me to ignore it?” She laughed, the sound hollow and empty.

“I think that you’re a survivor. I think—”

“Don’t.” She raised her hand, stopping his words. “I’ve heard all those things a thousand times, and I really don’t want to hear them again. I just want…”

“What?”

“To go on with my life.”

“Susie? You out here?” A man called out, and Susannah turned back the way they’d come, eager, it seemed, to end the conversation.

“Near the gardens, Chad.”

Seconds later, a tall, lean man in his fifties strode into view. He met Levi’s eyes, offered a brief handshake. “Chad Morran. I’m chief of security here.”

“Ranger Levi McDonall.”

“Not a good night to be at the Alamo, I’m afraid. We usually don’t have this kind of trouble.”

“Better to have it now than on the day of the ceremony.”

“True. You’ve already checked the area?” Chad ran a hand down his jaw, his gaze jumping to Susannah.

“Not the entire compound, but we’re working toward it. So far, everything is clear.”

“Good. How about we split up? We’ll finish more quickly that way. Ranger McDonall, you want to head east? Susannah, you check the gardens. I’ll check the west gates. When Marcus and Larry get here, they can join in the fun.”

“I’m not sure I’d call this fun,” Susannah muttered under her breath, but Levi heard. She clutched a flashlight, her knuckles white as she started toward the gardens. She had a confident, brisk stride and easy movements, but he sensed her fear, wondered if it followed her the way his guilt followed him. Clinging, clutching, refusing to be ignored. If so, it was a heavy burden to bear.

He thought about going after her, asking her more about what she’d been through, what she was still going through, but he’d come to the Alamo to do a job. He couldn’t afford to be distracted.

But you already have been.

The thought followed him as he turned on his flashlight and walked across the compound.

THREE

Susannah had never been afraid of the dark. Not when she was a kid. Not when she was a teenager. Not even when she’d started her job at the Alamo and learned the shadows and silence of the compound at night. Now, twenty-eight years into her life and four years into her job, Susannah was terrified of the black corners of the garden, the dingy gray-yellow of the path.

And that made her angry.

Angry at herself.

Angry at Aaron for stealing her sense of security.

Even angry at God.

She’d spent her life believing she’d weather any storm with her faith intact, her relationship with God certain even in the face of difficulties.

And then Aaron had come along, and everything she’d believed had changed.

The beam of her light jumped across the ground as she moved through the small garden. She trained it on a line of shrubs, following the greenery to the end of the garden wall. Nothing there. No one lurking in the shadows.

Her radio sputtered to life, and she jumped, her heart pounding in her chest.

“Susannah, where are you?” Chad’s gruff voice carried over the radio.

“Just finishing in the garden.”

“Find anything?”

“No. Everything is in order.”

“Everything is clear on my end, too. Marcus and Larry are here, so if you’re done, you can head home. I want the entire team here at six tomorrow morning. We need to figure out how this happened and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

“I’ll be here, but I have a meeting with Hank Zarvy at eight. He wants a briefing on security measures for the opening ceremony.”

“When did he set that up?”

“He called the Texas Rangers to make the request, so I’m not sure.”

“Request? Not much is a request when it comes from Zarvy.”

“Fortunately, I don’t have to deal with him on a regular basis.”

“Want me to come to the meeting with you?”

“That’s not necessary. Levi will be there if I need backup.” Levi. She said the name as if they were good friends rather than business associates. If Chad noticed he didn’t comment.

“All right. You’ll let me know how it goes, right?”

“Of course.”

“Good. Now, go on home. You’ve been here long enough.”

“I don’t mind staying.”

“I know you don’t, but it’s not necessary.”

“All right. I’ll check in with Ranger McDonall, and then I’ll be on my way. See you tomorrow.” She shoved the radio back into its place on her belt. She wanted to go home. She did. What she didn’t want to do was walk out of the compound, navigate the half mile to the parking lot where she’d left her Mustang. San Antonio was safe enough, and the parking lot where she’d left her car was well lit, but she felt like a walking bull’s-eye at night, a victim waiting to be preyed upon.

She frowned, hurrying into the chapel and grabbing her purse from a locked file cabinet in the office.

A victim?

No. She was a survivor, and she wouldn’t let what she’d lived through change that. She would walk out of the Alamo, she would walk to her car, and she’d do it with ease. Just as she had before Aaron entered her life.

She shoved the folder with the security details back in her desk and opened the office door, ready to find Levi, say good-night and be on her way. Chad was right. She’d been there plenty long enough, and the thick silence and hushed stillness of the place was eating at her, making her imagine things that weren’t there.

She stepped out of the office and straight into a warm, hard chest.

“Seems like we keep running into each other.” Levi cupped her arms, the heat of his palms seeping through her jacket and racing along her nerves.

Her cheeks heated, but she didn’t jump back, didn’t try to move away. That would say too much about her state of mind, too much about how hard she had to try to keep from falling apart. “I was just coming to look for you.”

“Yeah?” He slid his hands down her arms, his fingers lingering on her elbows for a moment before he let go and stepped back. Looked down into her face.

“Chad is sending me home. I wanted to say good-night and finalize our plans for tomorrow. Did you find anything out there?”

“Not even a jackrabbit jumping through the bushes.”

“I guess finding a guy sitting on a bench holding a stolen key would have made things too easy.”

“I wouldn’t mind a little bit of easy right about now.”

“It’s been a hard couple of months for the Texas Rangers,” she said, more to keep the conversation away from her past and her problems than anything else.

“That’s putting it lightly.”

“I really am sorry about what happened to Captain Pike. I know your entire team must be desperate to find his killer.”

“Desperate is also putting it lightly.” He offered a brief smile as he opened the chapel door and ushered her out of the compound. The air was crisp and cold, the night alive with the sounds of San Antonio. Cars. People. Life going on as it always did on Friday night. She needed to go on, too. She knew it. Knew she needed to move away from the past, move into the future, but she felt cemented to that night, cemented to Aaron’s grasping hands and fetid breath.

Cemented to fear, unease, panic.

“You have a witness, right?” She’d heard that on the news recently, had been following the story with interest just like most people in San Antonio. Violent crime wasn’t common there, and a Texas Ranger being murdered in his home had left the community uneasy.

“He’s been in the hospital since the night of the attack. He’s still too weak to talk, but we’re hopeful he’ll be able to identify a suspect soon.”

“So, in all these months, you’ve gotten nothing out of him?”

“I wouldn’t say that. He’s been gesturing to a picture of the Alamo that’s on the wall of his hospital room. We believe he’s trying to warn us about a planned attack on the compound. The timing makes sense. The Alamo Planning Committee commissioned several high-ranking politicians to speak, and it would be the perfect time for the Lions of Texas to make a move.”

“A move toward what?”

“Political footing, maybe.” He shrugged, and Susannah could almost feel his frustration, could feel the tension that rolled off him.

“You’ll find your answers, Levi.” She touched his arm just as she would have fourteen years ago, felt the same instant connection, the same certainty of herself and her place in the world that she’d felt when she’d been too young to realize that the childish love she’d had for Levi couldn’t last.

That surprised her, and she let her hand drop away, rubbing her fingers against her jacket, trying to wipe away his warmth and her response to it.

“I have no doubt about that, Susie. What I’m worried about is finding answers before the opening ceremony.”

“We have over a week. That’s a good amount of time.”

“It’s nothing compared to the months we’ve already spent searching for answers, but numbering our days isn’t going to help secure the Alamo. Do you have security cameras at the compound?”

“Yes. I’m sure Chad will take a look at the tapes tonight. We’re going to meet at six in the morning to discuss what happened.”

“Just you and Chad?”

“The entire park Ranger team.”

“Good. I’d like to meet your people, and I’d like to take a look at the security footage. Someone opened that gate, and, if we’re lucky, the tapes will show us who.”

“I’ve never been real keen on luck,” Susannah said, stopping at the head of the alley that led to the parking lot and her Mustang.

She needed to say goodbye.

Let Levi go on his way.

But the dark alley seemed to pulse with life, the shadows reeked of danger.

She hated this part of her day. The shifting from busyness to quiet left her with too much time to think and too many memories waiting to drag her down into terror.

“Just a turn of phrase, Susie. God provides the answers, He orchestrates the timing. I just wish He’d move a little more quickly on this.”

“That’s the most difficult thing about faith. Holding on to it even when things don’t work out how we want or when we want. Waiting for answers to prayer? It’s killer.”

“What answers are you waiting for?”

“Healing. Peace,” she answered honestly.

“They’ll come.” His knuckles skimmed down her cheek, the touch featherlight and barely there, but she felt it to the depth of her soul. That connection, that knowing. Her body responding to memories of better times and happier days.

“I need to go.” She forced herself to move away.

“Where are you parked?”

“Just on the other side of the alley.”

“I’ll walk you to your car.” He didn’t give her a chance to protest, just took her arm and started walking.

Darkness pressed in as they moved deeper into the alley, and she shivered, her heart beating double-time. Could he feel her pounding pulse? Did he sense her terror?

Susannah tried to still her frantic breathing, hold her panic in, but it bubbled out in tremors that shook her body.

“It’s okay.” His words were as gentle as his touch had been, his voice washing over her and stealing away some of her fear.

“I know.”

“Then why are you shaking?”

“Because I hate the dark. I hate what could be hiding in it.”

“Nothing is here that we can’t deal with together.”

“You’re wrong, Levi. What’s inside of me? The fear I feel every day? That’s something I have to deal with alone.”

“Not anymore.”

“Do you think that because you’ve walked back into my life, all my problems will be solved?” She laughed, the sound as dry and used up as she felt.

“What I think is that two people together can do a whole lot more than one person alone.”

“Then maybe we should concentrate on coming up with a plan for dealing with Hank Zarvy. That seems like a lot better use of our time than worrying about how to change what I feel.”

“Worrying about you could never be a waste of my time.”

“Levi, it’s been fourteen years, and we’ve barely thought of each other in that time. I don’t think you need to worry about me.”

“Who said I’ve barely thought about you?”

“You didn’t try to contact me. I didn’t try to contact you. Once you left for college, we both went on with our lives. But, like I said, we have more important things to do than chat about the past or about my issues.”

Issues?

That made it sound like she had a penchant for dating the wrong guy or a spending problem or maybe even a tiny problem with alcohol.

Issues were little things.

Aaron was huge. What he’d done, what he’d stolen from her, had carved an empty spot in her soul, left her open and wounded and bleeding.

And desperate for the kind of healing she wasn’t sure she’d ever find.

“Like I said, ignoring the past doesn’t make it go away.”

“We need to come up with a plan for tomorrow. I’ve dealt with Zarvy on a couple of occasions. He’s not an easy personality.”

“Not a very subtle change of subjects, Susie.”

“I didn’t mean for it to be.”

“So, we’ll do things your way. Zarvy can be easygoing when he wants to be.”

“Generally, he doesn’t want to be.”

“True, but he wants to make sure the ceremony goes off without a hitch. I think he’ll be eager to cooperate with whatever plans we put into place. We didn’t get a chance to go over your security plans, but we can do that tomorrow. I’ll meet you at the Alamo before the meeting. Say five-thirty? We can drive over to Zarvy’s place together after Morran briefs your team.”

“I’ll take my car and follow you.”

“That would be a waste of gas. Besides, we can finalize any details on the way to Zarvy’s place.”

“I—” He was right. Of course he was. Riding together was reasonable, and Susannah had been trying for months to do reasonable things. Get up. Go to work. Refuse to give in to the temptation to structure every moment of every day around her fear. “All right. That sounds good.”

“Is this where you’re parked?” He gestured to a small parking lot in front of an old brick building.

“Yes.” She’d parked beneath a streetlight in the middle of the lot, and she crossed the pavement quickly, Levi keeping pace beside her. Light spilled down onto the car, bathing it in a pale yellow glow, and Susannah’s blood ran cold as she caught sight of something lying on its hood. A single rose. Deep red or black. She reached out, stopping short of picking it up.

A single rose.

Like the ones Aaron had left on her front porch, on her desk at work, on her bed. She shuddered, taking an unconscious step back and bumping into Levi.

“Looks like someone left you a gift.” His hands cupped her arms, holding her steady, but she barely felt his touch. Couldn’t feel anything but the terror that was taking hold.

“Looks like it.” Her voice was as brittle and dry as old bones.

“Are you going to take it?”

“No.”

“I guess there’s a reason why not.” He didn’t ask, though, and she didn’t say. Didn’t dare try to say. If she did, she might shatter into a million pieces.

He lifted the rose and held it up to the light. It was a perfect velvety blossom, the thorns removed from the stem.

Susannah swayed, her heart skipping one beat and then another, her breath coming so quick and fast she felt dizzy.

“Susannah?” Levi let the rose drop to the ground, and it lay there like a snake. She could almost imagine it coming to life, slithering close and striking.

“Take a deep breath, Susie. Now!” Levi pushed back his hat and leaned close, looking straight into her eyes, his gaze as compelling and demanding as his voice.

She couldn’t refuse him, and she drew in a deep breath and then another, oxygen flooding her brain.

Just a rose.

That was all it was.

No need to panic. No need to get upset.

“I’m okay. I’m fine,” she said more to herself than to Levi.

“You don’t look fine.”

“I just…don’t like roses.” She opened the car door, slid into the front seat, her muscles trembling as the panic eased.

“Maybe I should get my car and follow you home.”

“It’s a seven-mile drive to my place. I’ll be fine.” She shoved the key in the ignition, forcing herself to meet Levi’s eyes, to smile past the sick churning fear in her stomach.

“I see a lot more than dislike in your face. What’s really going on?”

She’d known he would ask, but she didn’t want to answer. Didn’t want to tell him more of her secrets. Didn’t want to see the pity in his eyes again.

“I already told you.”

“Susannah—”

“We both have to be up before dawn. Let’s call it a day and say good-night. Here’s my business card. If something comes up, and you can’t make it to the meeting tomorrow, just give me a call.”

His jaw tightened, but he took the card. “Nothing will come up. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“See you then.” She offered another smile, this one less shaky than the last, and shut the door.

Levi was still standing under the streetlight as she pulled out of the parking lot, his hat tilted back, his arms crossed over his chest.

The rose lay on the ground beside him, a dark line on the pavement.

A rose without a thorn.

She shivered, turning her gaze away.

She hated roses.

Hated them.

But that didn’t mean the rose was a harbinger of danger. Anyone could have left it there. A friend. A coworker. Someone who’d wanted to cheer her up. Maybe it hadn’t even been meant for her. Maybe some hapless suitor had left it on the wrong car.

Please, God, let that be the case.

Because Susannah didn’t want to go back to those months of terror, those endless weeks spent feeling as if every move she made, every word she said was being watched. She didn’t want to go back to the nightmare she’d lived.

She turned on the radio, cruising the stations until she found something upbeat and light. Anything to fill the silence and refocus her thoughts. Tomorrow would be another long day, and she needed to be ready for it.

Prayed she’d be ready for it.

She could not mess up this assignment. Could not let fear get the best of her.

The rose had been nothing.

The unlocked gate had been nothing.

Just flukes.

She had to believe that or she might climb into bed, pull the covers over her head and stay there.

FOUR

The alarm went off at four-thirty, and Susannah fumbled to turn it off. She needed to drag herself out of bed, get showered and dressed and ready for work, but all she really wanted to do was stay exactly where she was, locked in her bedroom, locked in her house, safe from the world.

She frowned, forcing herself up and out of the bedroom. There were days when she thought it would be too easy to give in and watch from the window as the world passed by. Plenty of days, but she knew what a slippery slope that would be. One day at home. Then another. Before she knew it, she’d never leave.

She showered quickly, trying not to look too closely at the scar that bisected her abdomen. It had faded to pale lavender, but it was still a stark reminder of how close she’d come to dying. There were other scars. A small one on her rib cage. A deep one on her palm. A dark purple crescent below the hollow of her throat.

She buttoned her uniform to the neck, hiding the darkest scar. She wasn’t ashamed of it, but she’d been asked about it too many times, and she was tired of the shock and pity she saw in people’s eyes when she answered. It would be even worse to see that shock and pity in Levi’s eyes.

Not that he didn’t already know what she’d been through.

She’d seen recognition in his eyes when she’d told him about Aaron’s death. No doubt, he’d remembered the news story and knew why Aaron had been running from the police.

He hadn’t asked for details.

At least there was that.

She pulled her hair into a ponytail, leaning close to the mirror and touching the dark shadows beneath her eyes. She looked as tired as she felt, her freckles contrasting too sharply with her pale skin. She brushed on some blush, dabbed gloss on dry lips and shoved her Stetson over her hair. Enough staring in the mirror. She had a meeting to attend, breakfast to get through, another day to navigate.

And Levi back in her life after fourteen years.

She wasn’t sure how she felt about that.

She stepped outside, inhaling cold, clean air, trying to clear her mind, ready herself for the day. God had a plan. She knew it, had clung to that knowledge even during the most difficult times after the attack.

He had a plan.

He’d see it through.

That was good enough. It had to be.

She’d always loved early morning, loved the silence before dawn. What she didn’t like was the darkness that hovered at the edges of her well-lit porch, the shadows that swayed and swooped across the yard.

All she had to do was step off the porch, walk a few feet to her car and drive to the Alamo. Such an easy thing. Something that millions of people did every morning. Something that Susannah had once done without thought. Those days were gone, though, and she listened to the quiet, searching the darkness for signs that someone was waiting to pounce.

She hurried to the Mustang, opening the door and sliding in, her heart beating too fast, adrenaline coursing through her. Her hand shook as she shoved the key in the ignition and started the engine.

Car headlights appeared on the street behind her, and she waited impatiently for the vehicle to pass. The sooner she got on the road and started her day, the better she’d feel. Keeping her mind busy and her thoughts focused was the only way to keep the fear at bay.

But the car didn’t pass. It pulled into the driveway, blocking her from leaving. Cold with dread, she grabbed the cell phone from her purse as she stared into the rearview mirror.

Would someone get out of the car, or would it pull back out onto the street?

Should she wait to see or call for help?

She waited, her heart jumping as the door opened and a familiar figure got out.

Levi!

Surprised, relieved, she got out of the Mustang, walked to meet him.

“What are you doing here?”

“Looking for you.”

“Well, you found me. Which is strange since I didn’t give you my address.”

“You gave me your business card. I typed your phone number into a search engine and got your address. I called and left a message on your answering machine about twenty minutes ago. Since I didn’t hear from you, I thought I’d swing by and see if you wanted to ride into work together.”

“Sorry. I didn’t get your message.”

“It’s probably for the best.”

“Why’s that?”

“You would have told me you could drive yourself to the Alamo.”

“Probably.”

“But now that I’m here, you can’t refuse the ride.”

“Can’t I?”

“Not if you don’t want to miss out on the coffee I brought for you.”

“Coffee?”

“Yes.”

“With cream and sugar?”

“If you want.”

“Then, I guess you’re right. I can’t refuse.”

He chuckled and opened the door of a dark sedan, gesturing for her to slide inside. Warm leather, soft classical music, the scent of Levi’s aftershave hanging in the air—they enveloped Susannah, filled her with a longing she hadn’t expected. It was a heady reminder of what she’d once been.

“Did you sleep well, Suzy-Q?” He handed her a take-out coffee, his profile hard and handsome, his gaze focused straight ahead as he drove toward the Alamo. Dark hair peeked out from his broad-rimmed cowboy hat, and she knew it was silky and smooth, had touched it more than once when she was a kid.

“Suzy-Q?” The nickname made her smile.

“You used to hate it when I called you that.” He returned the smile, the dimple peeking out of his cheek.

“I think I still do.”

He laughed, the sound pouring out into the car, filling the empty spot in Susannah’s heart that he’d left years ago.

And now he was back in her life, easing his way back into her heart.

But she wasn’t the girl who’d cried for a week when he went to college. She wasn’t the child who’d idolized him. She was an adult with too many problems and not enough solutions.

“You didn’t answer my question.” His words seeped into her thoughts, and she took a sip of coffee, trying to wash down the lump in her throat.

“About how I slept? About as good as could be expected. I kept thinking about that unlocked gate.”

“You and me both. I’m anxious to hear what Chad discovered after we left.”

“If he discovered anything. Maybe you were right. Maybe I did just leave the gate open.”

“I don’t think I ever said that’s what happened.”

“I’m sure you were thinking it.”

“For about two seconds, but I know you. I know you’re thorough in everything you do.”

“You knew me.”

“That, too.”

“Levi…”

“What?”

“We need to keep this professional.”

“Isn’t that what we’re doing?” He pulled into a parking lot a few blocks from the Alamo and rounded the car as Susannah got out.

“It should be.”

“But?”

“But…” The coffee. The ride. The way she felt when she looked into his eyes. It felt personal. Too personal.

“We’re old friends, reconnecting after years apart. That doesn’t mean we can’t be professionals doing our jobs, too.” He smiled, and Susannah wished she were as comfortable as he seemed.

“There’s a lot at stake, and we can’t afford to be distracted.”

“I think you know that neither of us could be distracted enough to let our work slide. What are you really afraid of, Susannah?”

“Who said I’m afraid?”

“You may not have said the words, but I see it in your eyes every time I look at you.”

The words were a splash of ice water in the face—the knowledge that he could read her so easily, emphasizing how personal things with him could become.

“I just want to make sure we understand each other.”

“That would be a lot easier if you’d tell me what you’re really thinking.”

“I’m thinking that I don’t need any more complications in my life. I’m thinking that is exactly what you are.”

“A complication? I think I’m flattered.”

“Don’t be. The past year had been tough. All I want is to get my life back to what it used to be.”

“That may not be possible.”

“Why do you stay that?” She glanced his way, saw that he was staring straight ahead.

“Certain things in our lives happen, and they change us forever.”

It was true.

She knew it.

But that didn’t mean she wanted to admit it. Not to him. Maybe even not to herself.

“Like I said, I want to keep things professional between us.”

“You’re changing the subject.”

“Maybe I am.” She took out her key, hurrying the last few steps to the Alamo.

To his credit, Levi didn’t press for more. Just followed her into the chapel, his silence weighted and heavy.

“We’d better get to work. The rest of the Alamo Rangers will be here soon, and I’d like to finish before they arrive.” She spoke into the tension, hoping to ease it as she walked into the office and opened a file cabinet.

She could feel the weight of Levi’s stare as she spread a map out on the desk, but she didn’t turn to meet his gaze.

He’d been right when he’d said she was afraid. Of him. Of what she felt when she was with him.

Because she really didn’t need complications in her life, and she really didn’t want them.

But Levi—he was different.

An old friend.

And when she was with him, she felt safe.

She scowled, jabbing at the map. “Each of the Alamo gates is marked. As I told you last night, we plan to have an Alamo Ranger stationed at each one. The garden area is to the west of the chapel. Our guests will walk in at the chapel, follow the path around to the gardens and be seated by paid ushers.”

“They’re vetted?” He moved close, apparently willing to switch gears.

“The ushers? Of course. The Alamo Planning Committee hired them, and we did background checks on all of them.”

“I’d like a list of names.”

“It’s in the folder. All our preparations are documented.” She handed him the folder she’d put together. Professional, together, ready to do the job. That’s the impression she wanted to give, and she relaxed as Levi glanced through the information.

“This looks great. Will there be caterers on-site? Drinks served?”

“No. As I’m sure you know, there’s a luncheon planned at the River Walk Hotel as soon as the ceremony ends. I was told your people were responsible for escorting and protecting our guests once they leave the compound.”

“We have a team set up.”

“Some of the VIPs have their own security, too.” The vice president would come with secret service agents and leave with them. The governor would do the same.

“My office is working closely with theirs to make sure all the security details are in place. Coming, going and everything in between.” He frowned, circling the long barracks with his finger. “You’ve got a lot of places for people and things to hide. We’ll be bringing in dogs to sniff for explosives the morning of, but we’ll want to be even more cautious than usual during the days preceding the event.” He was all business, and Susannah was relieved, glad to immerse herself in plans.

“We can have more security officers on-site during that time.”

“Your boss will approve?”

“He’s given me free rein to make decisions for the team. I’ll run it by him after the meeting, but I’m sure there won’t be a problem.”

“He must have a lot of faith in you.”

“I have more seniority than most of our security crew.”

“How long have you been here?”

“Four years.”

“And the person with least tenure?”

“Six months.” Marcus Portman had been brought in part-time while Susannah recovered from her injuries. His work ethic and willingness to take any shift had helped him move from part-time to full-time within a month of being hired.

“And he’s fully vetted?”

“Of course.”

“Anyone on the team you don’t trust? Anyone with money problems? Gambling troubles? Drug use?”

“I trust all my coworkers, but I can’t say I know them all well. We have yearly reviews and criminal background checks every two years.”

“And you gave me a list of all the Alamo Rangers who will be working March 6, right?” His brow furrowed as he rifled through the folder.

“It’s here.” Susannah pulled out the last sheet, holding it out to Levi, her eyes widening as he snagged her hand instead of the paper. He turned it over, traced the scar with his finger.

“That was quite a cut.”

“It was.” She tugged her hand away, resisting the urge to hide it behind her back.

“A defensive wound?” he asked, but he didn’t need to. Susannah was sure he’d seen dozens of wounds just like it.

“Yes.”

“Are you going to make me keep asking questions until I come up with one you’re willing to answer, or are you going to go ahead and tell me what I want to know?”

“What do you want to know, Levi? How many times I was stabbed? How many times Aaron choked me into unconsciousness? How I managed to survive after he sliced open my stomach?” The words spilled out, her frustration spilling out with it. Not frustration with Levi. Frustration with herself, with her scars, with the sick feeling of dread that came every time she talked about that night.

“It’s a good thing he’s dead, because if he wasn’t, I’d kill him.” The rage in Levi’s voice took her by surprise, the heat blazing from his eyes, cooling her temper.

“He was sick. I don’t think he even knew what he was doing.”

“No amount of sickness can excuse this.” Levi grabbed her hand, touched the scar again, his finger so gentle, tears welled up in her eyes.

She blinked them away.

“You’re right, but we’re not here to talk about my scars or about Aaron. How about we keep that in mind?” She tugged away, thrust the paper into his hands and poured another sugar into her coffee.

She had no intention of drinking it.

She felt too sick, her stomach churning, her mind filled with a thousand memories she’d rather forget.

She’d always prided herself on her ability to read people, to know criminals from upstanding citizens. But she hadn’t known with Aaron. Hadn’t even suspected until he started calling her twice a day, driving by her house for no reason at all, making himself too much a part of her life. By that time, it was too late.

She shivered, cupping her hands around the coffee cup.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t keep pushing.” Levi took the cup and placed it on the desk, then lifted her scarred hand to his lips, pressing a tender kiss to the ridged flesh.

She shivered again. For different reasons. For reasons she wasn’t even sure she dared acknowledge.

“I guess being curious just goes with your job.” She tried to laugh, but it fell flat.

“That isn’t why I’m asking questions, Susannah.”

“Then why are you?”

“Because I care. Because thinking of you hurt tears me up inside. Because I’d give anything to go back and change what happened to you.”

“You can’t. I can’t. It happened. I’m living with it, and that’s a whole lot better than the alternative. So please, let’s just get back to work.” She pressed her hand to her stomach, taking a step away.

He didn’t respond, just studied her silently, his eyes still blazing with fury and with something else. Something her heart responded to, leaping in acknowledgement and doing the kind of happy dance it hadn’t done in years.

“Susannah? You here?” Chad called out from the chapel, and she did what any self-preserving, scared-of-the-dark, twenty-eight-year-old would do when facing down a man like Levi.

She ran.

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