A PROMISE TO PROTECT

As a skilled SWAT team negotiator, Isaac Morrison has defused many a crisis situation. But safeguarding Leah Nichols and her young son may be his most challenging mission yet. Leah’s brother—his best friend Shane—has gone missing while working undercover. Now it’s up to Isaac to protect mother and child from Shane’s enemies. He doesn’t know whom they can trust, but he’s determined to catch the gunmen threatening their lives. Isaac knows he needs his best protection skills against their formidable adversary. Because he can’t risk the consequences to the little family who has stealthily claimed his heart.

SWAT: Top Cops:

Love in the line of duty

“Uh, why don’t you wait here?” Isaac stopped in the hall,clearly not wanting Leah to tag along. “We’ll be back in a few minutes.”

What was with the sudden secrecy? She suppressed a sting of hurt. She didn’t like the way Isaac was trying to put her off, and had no intention of sitting around and waiting for him. She squared her shoulders and tucked a stray curl behind her ear. “No way. I’m coming with you.”

Isaac stared at her for a long moment, a flash of helplessness, or maybe it was frustration, darkening his features before he threw his hands in the air. “Fine, suit yourself.”

“I will.” She trailed behind the two men, her stomach twisting with every step. Then she saw it—a small hole in the center of the windshield. And she knew without being told that it had been made by a bullet.

Someone had taken a shot at Isaac.

LAURA SCOTT

grew up reading faith-based romance books by Grace Livingston Hill, but as much as she loved the stories, she longed for a bit more mystery and suspense. She is honored to write for the Love Inspired Suspense line, where a reader can find a heartwarming journey of faith amid the thrilling danger.

Laura lives with her husband of twenty-five years and has two children, a daughter and a son, who are both in college. She works as a critical-care nurse during the day at a large level-one trauma center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and spends her spare time writing romance.

Please visit Laura at laurascottbooks.com, as she loves to hear from her readers.

Under the Lawman’s Protection

Laura Scott

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MILLS & BOON

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He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge;

His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

—Psalms 91:4

This book is dedicated to my friend Olga Lita. Thanks, Olga, for the wonderful support you’ve provided over the years. Your friendship means more to me than you’ll ever know.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Questions for Discussion

Extract

Copyright

ONE

SWAT team member Isaac Morrison paused outside the sheriff’s-department headquarters and replayed the garbled voice-mail message for the third time.

Ice...cover blown...danger...help Leah and Ben...

The voice sounded like his buddy Shane “Hawk” Hawkins, and the use of his old nickname, Ice, gave credence to the fact that Hawk had left the message despite the unknown phone number. Was Hawk calling from a throwaway phone? Possibly. Isaac had tried to return the call twice, but it wouldn’t go through.

Strange to be hearing from Hawk now, when they hadn’t really been in touch for the past sixteen months, but the urgency in Hawk’s static-filled message was impossible to ignore.

What in the world was going on? Isaac jogged to his Jeep, located in the far corner of the parking lot beneath a street lamp, his brain whirling with possibilities. Leah was Hawk’s sister, and if he remembered correctly, Ben was her young son. By now the boy would be about five or so, and the thought that they might be in danger spurred Isaac into action. He revved up his Jeep and headed toward the interstate, wincing a bit at the fact that the time was approaching eight o’clock at night.

Hawk had left the message well over an hour ago. Isaac had had his phone on silent during his most recent tactical situation. He’d been called in as a negotiator at a local bank, where a drug addict had held a woman hostage in order to get money to fund his habit. Thankfully, they’d managed to take down the man before he shot or injured any innocent bystanders.

A good day for the Milwaukee County SWAT team, but the brief moment of satisfaction quickly evaporated with this latest threat. What if Isaac was already too late to protect Leah and Ben? He stomped on the accelerator, pushing the speed limit. He knew that Hawk’s sister was the only family his buddy had left in the world, and the two were extremely close. The situation had to be serious for Hawk to call for help.

Isaac had met Hawk twelve years ago at Saint Jermaine’s Youth Center, which was basically a school for delinquent teens, and during their first month there Hawk had saved his life. They’d been friends ever since, but Hawk had never asked for anything from him.

Until now.

Isaac hoped that Leah was still living in the same small home he remembered, located just inside the city limits. If she’d moved since the last time he saw her, he was in trouble, because he couldn’t even remember her married name. Nelson? Nichols? Even though her husband had died roughly four years ago, he was pretty sure she hadn’t remarried. Otherwise why would Hawk call him? Surely he would have contacted her new husband if she had one.

Isaac drove through the dark, damp March night, wondering if Leah would even remember him. He’d met her only a few times, and the last occasion must have been at her husband’s funeral. The only good thing now was that he was still wearing his uniform, so at least she would be able to recognize him as one of the good guys.

Ironic that he and Hawk had both turned their troubled lives around to go into law enforcement. Hawk had taken a job with the City of Milwaukee Police Department, while Isaac had gone the route of joining the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department. As they were located in two completely different jurisdictions, their paths hadn’t crossed in the line of duty.

Hawk had mentioned that his cover was blown, so he must have been investigating something serious while being undercover. But what? It would have helped to have some idea of the source of potential danger.

As he approached Leah and Ben’s house, located at the bottom of a dead-end street, Isaac cut his headlights and slowed to a stop several yards away from the end of her driveway.

For a long moment he sat there, watching for any signs of life. But the windows were dark, and from the street he couldn’t see any hint of light or movement inside. At eight-thirty on a Friday night, it was hard to believe Leah and Ben would be already asleep.

Either they weren’t home yet or he was too late to save them.

Every nerve in his body rebelled at that thought, so he decided to investigate. He reached up to pull the bulb out of the dome light and then slipped out of his Jeep, hugging the shadows as he made his way closer to Leah’s small house. In contrast, her yard was spacious and boasted several tall trees, one with a tire swing hanging from a thick branch. Seeing the swing reminded him of his dead son, and for a moment the pain of losing Jeremy nearly sent Isaac to his knees. He missed his son so much, but forced himself to concentrate on the task at hand. He tore his gaze from the swing, sweeping a wide glance across the yard to make sure that nothing was out of place.

No signs of a crime didn’t mean one hadn’t taken place. The warning itch along the back of his neck couldn’t be ignored.

Moving slowly, he made his way around to the back of the house. There were still no lights anywhere and all was quiet. Leah didn’t have anyone living to her left, but the neighbors to the right must be home, based on the blue glow of a television set in what appeared to be a living room. Surely if something had happened here, they would have been alerted.

He checked the back door to verify it was locked. He made a mental note to tell Leah she needed motion-sensor lights mounted in the backyard as well as out front above the garage. He was a little surprised that Hawk hadn’t already taken care of that. Isaac rounded the corner of the house and abruptly stopped in his tracks, flattening himself against the siding when he saw a figure dressed from head to toe in black. The man had a ski mask covering his face, and he was stealthily making his way through Leah’s front yard.

Hawk was right. Leah and Ben were in danger!

Isaac wished he’d asked a few of his SWAT teammates to come along, especially Caleb or Deck, but it was too late for that. Even if he called them, they were forty-five minutes away, and there wasn’t a second to waste. He pulled his weapon and crouched low, trying to keep the intruder in his line of vision.

He considered calling 911 for backup, but feared the masked man would hear him. Using a cell phone, he’d have to give the dispatcher his location and even soft, muffled sounds carried loudly through the night. Right now, Isaac had the element of surprise on his side.

But he froze when the intruder hid alongside the large oak tree, the one with the tire swing hanging from it.

Clearly, the masked man was waiting for Leah and Ben.

Belatedly, Isaac noticed a pair of headlights approaching along the street, growing brighter and brighter as the car neared the house. The vehicle was an older-model sedan, but with the lights in his eyes, he couldn’t tell for sure if the driver was male or female.

The possibility that Leah and Ben were coming home at this exact moment sent a shiver down his back. Had the masked man been following them? Or had his timing been pure luck?

Isaac didn’t believe in coincidences. And he couldn’t help wondering if the guy in black had a partner waiting somewhere nearby. He hadn’t seen anyone, but that didn’t mean someone wasn’t still out there.

Isaac stayed at the corner of the house, his eyes trained on the oak tree. He had to assume the masked man would wait until the most opportune time to attack. The sedan pulled into the driveway and idled outside the garage. Isaac thought it was odd that the garage door didn’t open, especially after several seconds passed.

Then he saw the driver’s door open.

The events unraveled in slow motion. The masked intruder made his move, darting out from behind the tree and roughly grabbing the arm of the woman who’d gotten out of the car.

No! Isaac sprinted across the yard toward them. “Stop! Police!”

In a heartbeat, the man in black spun around, holding Leah in front of him as a hostage. Isaac froze when he saw he was pointing a gun at her temple. Her eyes were wide with terror and she kept glancing helplessly at the car, where her son was crying. Isaac couldn’t afford to give him any reason to shoot.

“Look, no one has to get hurt here, okay?” He used his best negotiating tone and lifted his hands, pointing his weapon upward, indicating he wasn’t going to shoot, either. If the masked man did have a partner, Isaac was dead meat, but there wasn’t much he could do about it now. Maybe the people watching television next door would hear the commotion and call the cops? He could only hope.

Isaac forced himself to calm down enough to go through the techniques he’d perfected over the years. “Listen, I’m sure this is just a big misunderstanding. Why don’t you let the woman go?”

The masked man glanced around frantically, either looking for help or trying to figure out where Isaac had come from and if he had backup. The second thought gave him hope that the intruder didn’t have a partner hidden out in the darkness. “Get out of here,” the man said in a rough, muffled tone. “This isn’t your business.”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that.” Isaac tried to hold the man’s gaze, but it wasn’t easy in the darkness. The dome light of the sedan was the only illumination aside from the quarter moon hanging low in the sky. “I’m a cop and I can’t let you hurt this woman. Why don’t you tell me what you want? I’m sure we can work something out.”

“Go away or I’ll shoot.”

Isaac knew the key to negotiating was to find some sort of common ground. Not easy to do when you knew nothing about the stranger holding a gun. But he sensed the guy didn’t want to shoot Leah or would have done so already. That might be something to work with. “Please put the gun down. I have backup coming in less than five minutes. If you put the gun down, I promise no one will get hurt.”

The masked man ignored him, glancing around as if trying to figure out his next move.

Isaac eased forward, still holding his hands up. Leah’s pale face surrounded by a cloud of dark curls looked scared to death, and he blocked the image from his mind. If he allowed himself to worry about her, he’d mess this up. He had to remain focused on the intruder.

Unfortunately, Isaac had absolutely no clue what was going on, which had him at a distinct disadvantage. “Do you want money? Is that it? I’ll give you my wallet if you’ll let the woman go.”

“Stop talking!” The masked man was losing control of the situation, and Isaac knew he had to find a way to make that crack in the guy’s plan work to his advantage.

Inside the car, Ben was crying out for his mommy, and the noise seemed to be grating on the gunman’s nerves. Isaac risked a glance inside the vehicle, and suddenly the man made his move.

“Take her!” he shouted. With a herculean push, he threw Leah away from him and turned to run.

Isaac had little choice but to grab Leah, preventing her from hitting the ground. She clutched him tightly as he stared over her shoulder as the man in black disappeared in the darkness.

As much as he wanted to chase after him, Isaac stayed right where he was. He held Leah steady, knowing his priority needed to be protecting Hawk’s sister and her son.

* * *

Leah Nichols closed her eyes for a moment, silently thanking God for keeping her safe. But she couldn’t understand why the masked man had tried to kidnap her in the first place. What was going on? She had no idea, but couldn’t shake the idea that whoever the guy with the gun was, he’d be back.

She had to get Ben out of here now! She needed to get someplace safe and to call her brother. Shane would protect her and her son.

Leah shoved away from the cop, trying to pull herself together. “Thank you,” she murmured before turning back to the car, where Ben was still crying in the backseat. “Hey, Ben, I’m here. It’s okay. We’re fine.”

“Leah, you and Ben should come with me.”

She spun toward the cop, shaken by the fact that he knew their names. “Who are you?” she demanded. “And why are you here, anyway?”

“Don’t you remember me? Isaac Morrison? I’m friends with your brother, Hawk, er, Shane. He sent me here to look after you.”

Leah narrowed her gaze and shook her head. She vaguely remembered Hawk’s friend Ice, also known as Isaac, but hadn’t seen him in years. Since her husband’s funeral? Maybe. Yet could she really be sure this cop was who he said he was? She had only a vague memory of Shane’s friend, but his height and his military-short, sandy-brown hair did seem familiar.

On the other hand, it seemed strange to her that Shane wouldn’t come to help her himself. Or send one of his buddies, such as his partner from the force. This cop’s uniform wasn’t at all similar to the type that her brother used to wear. A fact that put her on edge.

“I appreciate your help, really, but I’ll be fine on my own. Thanks anyway.”

She slid back into her vehicle, intending to leave, but the cop grabbed her door before she could get it shut. “Leah, I don’t know what’s going on, but it’s pretty clear you need protection. I swear I’m not going to hurt you or your son.”

Leah battled a wave of helplessness. Should she really trust this guy?

“Here, listen to this message.” The cop hunkered down next to her, playing with his phone. Abruptly, a brief static-filled message blared from the speaker.

Ice...cover blown...danger...help Leah and Ben...

The words sent a chill down her spine. She recognized Shane’s voice, and the fact that her brother was clearly in trouble concerned her. “You need to help Shane,” she blurted out. “I’ll go to a hotel or something, but you need to help my brother.”

But the cop was shaking his head. “No, I’m not leaving you and Ben alone. Don’t you understand how much danger you’re in? How long do you think it will take the bad guy to track your car? He was waiting here for you when you got home, and I’m sure he knows what type of vehicle you’re driving. He probably even has the license-plate number.”

Shiver after shiver racked her body and she knew with certainty the cop was right. Leah had taken Ben to a birthday party for one of his classmates at the Fun Zone. How had the masked man known what time to expect her? And why hadn’t her garage door opened?

Belatedly, she realized that the light she’d left burning over the kitchen sink was also out. Had the gunman cut the power? She couldn’t think of any other explanation.

“Leah, please.” The cop reached out to gently cover her hand with his, and she forced herself to meet his intense gaze. “Do you want to see my ID to prove I’m Isaac Morrison? I know it’s been a long time, but you have to believe I’m not going to hurt you.”

She knew he was right and tried to calm her frayed nerves. “I’m sorry to be so paranoid,” she murmured apologetically. “I’m just a bit rattled after everything that’s happened.”

Isaac smiled, and the expression softened his features, making her realize how handsome he was. Had he always been? Or had she just not noticed until now?

“You’re entitled to be rattled,” he assured her. “Let’s get you and Ben someplace safe for tonight and then I’ll see if I can get in touch with your brother. We’ll discuss our next steps in the morning.”

Tears pricked her eyes at his obvious concern. He’d saved her life tonight, and instead of saying thank you, she’d snapped at him. Of course they needed to leave, and right away. If the gunman knew what she was driving, she and Ben weren’t safe.

She sniffed, blinked back her tears and nodded. “Sounds good. Thank you, Isaac. For everything.”

“No problem.” He rose to his feet. “Why don’t you grab Ben and I’ll take care of his booster seat?”

She slid out of the car and tucked her keys in her jacket pocket before heading around to the opposite side to get Ben. The cop followed and waited patiently until she had lifted her son in her arms before reaching for the car seat.

“Is that your Jeep parked on the road?” she asked.

“Yes. Wait for me, though.” He tucked the booster seat under his arm and then lightly grasped her arm, escorting her down the street, sweeping his gaze over the area as if ready for anything.

The idea that the gunman might not have been alone made her stomach twist with fear. Although if he’d had help, wouldn’t that person have come forward to even the odds?

Maybe, maybe not. Killing a cop was something most criminals tried to avoid, at least according to what Shane was always telling her. But then again, her brother often downplayed just how dangerous his job was, especially since he worked in a district that handled the highest rate of violent crime. Shane knew that she’d purposefully chosen a man who wasn’t a cop for a husband because of the fact that their father had been killed in the line of duty. Not that marrying a lawyer had helped her any. Elliot had been killed by a drunk driver, despite his safe job.

She pushed aside a wave of despair over losing her husband, knowing this wasn’t the time to think about the past. She needed to concentrate on keeping her son safe.

Where was Shane now? She couldn’t bear the thought of something happening to her brother. He had to be all right, he just had to be. Her son had already lost a father he didn’t even remember.

Surely God wouldn’t take his uncle, too?

She stumbled and would have fallen if not for Isaac’s hand beneath her arm.

“Leah?”

His low, gentle voice helped keep the panic at bay. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. It had been a long time since she’d leaned on a man for support, and she couldn’t deny appreciating the fact she wasn’t alone. “I’m fine.”

Isaac opened the Jeep door and quickly threaded the belt through Ben’s booster seat. He stepped back, giving her room to get her son settled inside.

“I love you, Ben,” she whispered, pressing a kiss to the top of his head.

“I love you, too, Mommy.”

Tears threatened again, and since she wasn’t the crying type, she had to assume that they were a delayed reaction from the horrific experience of being held at gunpoint. Her son was only five years old, but she was afraid he might have nightmares from seeing the gunman grab her. She brushed the dampness away as she climbed past her son so that she could sit in the back, next to him.

If Isaac was annoyed with her choice to stay in the rear rather than next to him, he didn’t let on. He shut the door behind her and then jogged around to get into the driver’s seat. He started the engine and glanced back at her. “Buckle up.”

She reached for the seat belt a bit embarrassed that she hadn’t remembered. As an E.R. nurse, she’d seen more than enough car-crash victims and normally the gesture was automatic. But nothing about this night was normal.

She rested her head back against the seat and closed her eyes. Almost instantly the memory of the masked man grabbing her from behind the wheel flashed in her brain, so she pried her eyelids open and stared out the window, willing the image away.

When Isaac slowed down to turn onto one of the main highways leading away from town, she frowned and leaned forward. “Where exactly are you taking us?” she asked.

“There’s a hotel that isn’t too far from our SWAT headquarters,” he said, meeting her gaze in the rearview mirror.

“Why do we have to go all the way across town?” she asked. “There are plenty of hotels closer to my house.”

“Yes, but I don’t think staying close to your house is a wise thing to do right now.” He was using the same calm, reasonable tone that he’d used with the gunman, and for some reason that irked her. “The guy knew where you lived and what time you were coming home. Trust me, the farther away we can get from your place, the better.”

“I know, but what if Shane comes looking for me?” She couldn’t understand why they had to go so far away.

“We’ll let your brother know where we are,” Isaac assured her. “Did that guy say anything to you before I arrived?”

She didn’t really want to relive those moments, but understood that Isaac was only trying to get information. And she’d do whatever necessary to help her brother. She licked her dry lips. “He told me that if I screamed he’d shoot.”

“I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

The sincere note in her rescuer’s voice made her eyes fill with tears, which she rapidly blinked away. She had to be strong, for Shane’s sake as well as Ben’s. She tried to recall every detail of her brief encounter. “The garage door wouldn’t open and the light I left on above the kitchen sink was out, too. Do you think he cut the electricity?”

“Very possibly, but unfortunately, I didn’t see him do anything like that. I only saw him hiding behind your big oak tree. Is it possible you were followed? I can’t help wondering if he might have cut the power earlier.”

The thought that she might have been followed to the birthday party at Fun Zone only put her more on edge. How could she not have noticed?

Although why would she even look for someone following her? Being an E.R. nurse was hardly dangerous. And suddenly Leah was overwhelmed by a wave of helplessness. She closed her eyes again and prayed.

Please, Lord, thank You for saving me and Ben from the gunman. I ask that You keep Shane, Isaac, me and Ben safe in Your care. Amen.

Her emotions calmed down after her prayer, and for the first time since pulling into her driveway, she felt as if she was on the right path.

If her brother had sent Isaac to keep her and Ben safe, then Leah needed to trust his judgment. And to trust in God. She couldn’t do this on her own.

“The place I’m taking you and Ben is called the Forty Winks Hotel.” He captured her gaze in the rearview mirror. “It’s a cute establishment. We’ve used it before. You and Ben will be safe there.”

Safe. She liked the sound of that. Oddly enough, she was glad Isaac was here, protecting her and Ben.

But abruptly, the Jeep jerked sharply to the right, causing her to cry out in alarm. Isaac wrestled with the steering wheel in a vain attempt to stay on the road, but it was no use.

What was going on? Leah swallowed a scream and grabbed her son’s hand, praying for God to watch over them and ignoring the way her seat belt bit sharply into her shoulder as the vehicle plunged into a ditch.

TWO

“Leah? Ben?” Isaac fought to get free of his seat belt so he could make sure his passengers were safe. “Are you both all right?”

Ben was crying and Leah was trying to console him. “Shh, Ben, we’re okay. Everything’s fine. Don’t cry, sweetie. Please don’t cry.”

Hearing Ben sob ripped at his heart. Yet there wasn’t time to waste. “We need to get out of here.”

“What? Why?”

He didn’t want to scare Leah more than she already was, but he believed someone had taken a shot at them. “Try to keep your head down and don’t get out of the car yet, okay? I don’t think this was an accident.” He quickly called the dispatch center, giving the code for officer needing assistance. “We’re not far from Highway 22,” he informed them.

“Ten-four.”

He hung up and then called Caleb’s number. Thankfully, his teammate answered on the second ring. “You interrupted our family time,” Caleb mumbled. “This better be important.”

“I’m sorry, but I need backup,” Isaac said. “I’m fairly certain someone caused me to crash my Jeep.”

“All right, I’ll grab Deck, too.” Caleb didn’t hesitate to come to his aid, and Isaac knew he was lucky to have friends like them. “Where are you?”

Isaac gave his location and then disconnected from the call, feeling better knowing the two men he trusted the most would be there soon. Of course, the dispatcher would send someone out as well, but Isaac needed members of the SWAT team to help him figure out exactly what they were dealing with.

“So you think someone made us crash?” Leah asked fearfully.

He glanced back at her, trying to figure out how much to say in front of Ben. “It’s just a hunch, but yeah. The tires on this Jeep are brand-new and I didn’t see anything on the road that could have caused this. Just stay down. I’m going to go out and make sure there isn’t someone out there.”

“Wait!” she cried as he was about to open his car door. “Don’t go. Stay here with us.”

He was torn between two impossible choices. If someone had shot out the tires on purpose, he couldn’t just wait for that person to come and finish them off. Nor did he want to leave Leah and Ben here alone.

So far he wasn’t doing the greatest job of keeping Hawk’s sister and her son safe. If he’d been wearing his bulletproof gear he would be in better shape to go out to investigate.

Isaac peered out the window, trying to see if anyone was out there. Sitting here was making him crazy, so he decided doing something was better than nothing.

“I’m armed, Leah, so don’t worry about me. I promise I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you and Ben safe.”

He could tell she wanted to protest, but she bit her lip and nodded. She pulled her son out of his booster seat and tucked him next to her, so that he was protected on either side. Then she curled her body around him. The fact that she would risk herself to protect Ben gave Isaac a funny feeling in the center of his chest.

Leah’s actions were humbling. He hadn’t been attracted to a woman in a long time, not since his wife had left him for a guy who turned out to be mentally unstable. A man who’d shot Becky, Jeremy and then himself in a fit of depressed anger.

But this wasn’t the time to ruminate over the past. Isaac’s ex-wife and son were gone and nothing in the world would bring them back. So Isaac would do the next best thing—protect Leah and Ben with his life if necessary.

Isaac hadn’t replaced the bulb in the dome light, so he wasn’t too worried about broadcasting his movements. He pushed open the driver’s-side door and used it as a shield as he swept his gaze around, searching for any sign of danger. The country road he’d taken was deserted, which wasn’t at all reassuring. He had to assume that someone had hidden in the trees along the opposite side of the road, waiting for his Jeep to show up so they could take a shot at him. The last thing he wanted to do was sit here and wait for yet another gunman to show up.

He was positive he hadn’t been followed, which left only one option. The masked man must have known he was a sheriff’s deputy, maybe by recognizing the uniform, and he’d come this way hoping to ambush him, since this was the main road leading to the sheriff’s-department headquarters.

How much time did they have before there was another attempt to take Leah and Ben? Probably not much.

Isaac had to decide right now if they’d be safer outside or waiting in the Jeep. Normally he didn’t have trouble making decisions.

But for some reason, he couldn’t seem to get the image of the gunman holding Leah hostage out of his mind. The personal responsibility gnawed at him.

Outside the Jeep, he abruptly decided. For sure, they needed to get outside to hide, so they weren’t sitting ducks.

He climbed back in and closed the door. “We’re going to get out on the passenger side, okay? I’ll go first and then you and Ben will follow.”

Leah lifted her tearstained face and nodded. Her silent tears made him feel bad for her, but he forced himself to concentrate. Awkwardly, he climbed over the gearshift and then pushed open the passenger door. Staying behind the protection of the car, he opened the door to the back, taking the booster seat out first, to give Leah and Ben room to maneuver.

“Come on out,” he said in a low voice.

Leah lifted Ben and handed him over. Isaac moved to the side, keeping the boy in front of him so that Ben was sandwiched between him and the car. Leah climbed out, too, and immediately reached for her son.

“Stay down,” Isaac said, moving so that he was directly behind her.

“Where are we going?” she asked in a whisper.

Good question. There weren’t streetlights, but the scant amount of lingering snow on the ground reflected the moonlight, making it brighter than he was comfortable with. “See that small cluster of trees?” He indicated an area directly behind him. “We’re going to hide there.”

Fear shimmered in her eyes, but she gave a jerky nod of agreement.

“You and Ben first. I’ll protect you from behind. Ready? Let’s go.”

Leah clutched her son close and ran up the slippery embankment toward the trees, moving faster than he’d anticipated. Then again, adrenaline had a way of giving the body a boost when needed the most. He held his weapon ready and kept pace behind her.

When Leah and Ben were safe in the grove, Isaac gave a little sigh of relief. He was about to join them when his foot slipped on a patch of melting snow. He fell to his knees and felt something whiz past his head.

A bullet?

“Get down,” he ordered hoarsely, practically throwing himself on top of Leah.

“What happened?” she asked in a muffled tone.

He didn’t want to scare her, but he couldn’t lie to her, either. “I’m pretty sure someone is shooting at us. Sit down at the base of this big tree and hold Ben in your lap. My backup will be here soon.”

Leah did as he asked, sliding to the ground and hugging her boy close. Isaac could hear her murmuring something, and he leaned down, trying to hear what she was saying.

It was then he realized she was praying.

Dear Lord, keep us safe in Your care! Give Isaac the strength and the courage to defeat our enemy. We ask this in Christ the Lord. Amen.

Normally he wasn’t the praying type, but right now, Isaac couldn’t deny they needed all the help they could get. And if that meant praying, he was all for it.

* * *

Leah cuddled Ben close, whispering prayers as a way to keep them both calm. She felt terrible about how he had been crying on and off, clearly not understanding what was going on. To be fair, she didn’t really understand, either.

Why would someone come after her and Ben? Not just once tonight, but twice? She was very grateful she was here with Isaac rather than being alone.

“There, do you hear that?” her brother’s friend asked softly.

She couldn’t hear anything beyond the thundering of her heart. She was about to shake her head when she heard the faint wail of a siren.

Help is on the way!

“Maybe you should call them and let them know where we are,” she suggested.

“No, the light from my phone would be a beacon showing our location to the shooter. As it is, he already knows we’re on the move. But from the angle of the bullet, he must still be up in the trees somewhere, which is good for us, as that means he isn’t in the process of making his way over here on foot. Unless he has a partner.”

“But why is he shooting at all? I don’t understand.”

Isaac scowled. “He was probably trying to take me out of the picture so that he had a clear path to get to you.”

She swallowed hard, wishing she hadn’t asked.

The radio on Isaac’s lapel crackled and he quickly muffled the sound with his gloved hands. “ETA?” he whispered.

“Less than five.”

“Shooter in the tree line on the south side of the street,” he murmured. “Stay down.”

“Ten-four.”

Leah began reciting the Lord’s Prayer. She could feel Isaac’s gaze on her and she couldn’t help wondering if he wasn’t a Christian. Not that she should be surprised, because her brother went to church only when she forced the issue. And even then he mostly attended for Ben’s sake.

“We’re not beat yet,” Isaac said when she’d finished her prayer. “We’re going to be fine as soon as my teammates Caleb and Deck get here.”

“I know. But praying keeps me calm. I take it you don’t have the same experience?”

He gave a brief shake of his head and averted his gaze. “Nope. The only times I go to church are for weddings or funerals. And truth be told, in my line of work it’s more of the latter.”

She knew very well what he meant. Hadn’t she learned that firsthand? Her father had died in the line of duty, as had one of his colleagues. And on top of that, she’d lost her husband to a drunk driver on his third DUI offense.

Too much loss for one person to handle.

Since the last thing she wanted to think about was the dangers associated with Shane’s and Isaac’s respective jobs, she twisted around so she could see the road.

“Red lights in the distance,” Isaac murmured in his low, reassuring tone. “My team will be here soon.”

“Thank You, Lord,” she murmured.

“Amen,” Ben said in a small voice. Her eyes welled up with tears at her son’s sentiment. At that moment she was grateful she’d taken him to church every week.

“See, Ben? We’re safe now.”

“But, Mommy, I’m cold,” he whined.

“I know, sweetie.” She brushed her lips over Ben’s forehead. “Mr. Isaac’s friends will be here soon and then we’ll be able to get into a warm car, okay?”

“We’re hiding in a cluster of trees at your three o’clock,” Isaac murmured into the radio.

“Ten-four.”

“They’re not going to search the trees across the street, are they?” Leah asked, trying not to be too blunt, for Ben’s sake.

“No, getting you two to safety is our main priority.”

Once again she was glad she wasn’t out here alone. So far, Isaac had proved to be dedicated in his mission to protect her and Ben.

Maybe her brother had chosen wisely after all. Even though she never wanted to be married to a cop, especially seeing what her mother had gone through after losing her father, being helped by one who was determined to protect you wasn’t all bad.

The red lights grew brighter and soon she saw two sheriff’s-department vehicles park behind Isaac’s ditched Jeep. First one dark figure climbed out of the car, dressed in full SWAT gear, and then a second figure joined him. Within minutes, they made their way over to their hiding spot amid the trees.

“Hey, Isaac, what’s the deal? Haven’t you had enough adventure for one day?” the shorter of the two asked in a low voice.

“Knock it off,” he growled, not looking the least bit amused. “Listen, I need you and Caleb to create a wall of armor so that we can get Leah and Ben down to your vehicle. I’m fairly certain the shooter was on the other side of the road.”

“No problem. We’re ready.”

“Okay, Leah, I want you to slowly stand up, while keeping your head down,” Isaac instructed.

“Okay.” Rising to her feet was easier said than done, since her legs had gone numb. Plus Isaac hadn’t moved back very far, so there wasn’t a lot of room to maneuver.

But then Caleb, or was it Declan, reached down and helped her up. Isaac stayed behind her, while the other officer took Ben. Clustered together as one, they slowly moved across the muddy terrain, heading in the direction of the vehicles. When they reached the nearest one, Leah set Ben on the rear seat and climbed in beside him. One of Isaac’s friends brought over the booster seat and soon Ben was securely fastened inside.

“Stay here,” Isaac said in a low voice. “The windows are bulletproof, so there’s no reason to be afraid. We’ll be out of here soon enough.”

“Okay.” She couldn’t deny being relieved to know the windows were reinforced. But that didn’t stop her from searching the trees across the street, looking for any sign of the masked man.

Isaac spoke to the other two officers outside for a few minutes before he slid in behind the wheel. He cranked the key and blasted the heat. “We’ll be leaving in a few minutes.”

“Wh-what about y-your J-Jeep?” she asked, her teeth chattering as her entire body began to shake. Reaction from the night’s events had finally hit her, and she couldn’t seem to get her body under control.

“The guys will make sure it gets back to the station. We want the crime-scene techs to take a look at my rear tire. Not that there’s much left to examine.”

Leah gave a jerky nod, unable to trust her voice not to betray her. Isaac turned in his seat and pinned her with a direct gaze.

“I’m going to make sure you and Ben get someplace safe for the rest of the night,” he said in a serious tone. “Okay?”

“S-sure.” She could tell he was feeling bad about everything that had just happened, but none of this was his fault.

Of course, it wasn’t exactly her fault, either.

She suppressed another shiver, wishing she knew where her brother was. And couldn’t help wondering if she’d ever feel safe again.

* * *

Isaac inwardly winced when Leah wrapped her arms around her abdomen as if trying to keep herself from shaking.

He scrubbed his hands over his face, telling himself it was not a good idea to scoot in beside her to offer comfort. He’d managed to keep his distance from any romantic entanglements over the past few years, and this was hardly the time or the place to change his mind. Especially with his friend’s sister, no matter how beautiful she was.

Still, he wished there was a way to ease Leah’s fears. To let her know that she was handling this better than anyone could expect.

He shook his head at his foolishness and peered through the windshield. Having Caleb and Declan outside, trying to put the puzzle pieces together for him, didn’t sit well. He wanted to be out there in the middle of the action.

But Hawk was his friend and Leah was his responsibility, not theirs, though they’d both offered to help in any way they could.

As soon as he had his charges in a safe place, Isaac would need to find a way to get in touch with Hawk. Someone wanted Leah and Ben, and the only thing that made sense to him was that they needed some leverage to draw his friend out of hiding.

Hawk had mentioned that his cover was blown, and Leah and Ben were in danger. But from whom? What in the world was Hawk involved in?

“Isaac?” Caleb rapped on the window. “You need to come out here and see this.”

He lifted his hand to show he’d heard. He turned back toward Leah. “I’ll only be a minute, okay?”

She nodded, but didn’t meet his gaze. She looked so weary, as if she might keel over at any moment.

Guilt weighed heavily on his shoulders as he turned back and pushed open the driver’s-side door. He followed Caleb over to his Jeep, where Deck was standing with a flashlight trained on the rear fender.

“What is it?” he asked.

“Check this out.” Deck aimed his beam of light at the lower edge of the wheel well. “What do you think? Looks like a bullet hole to me.”

Isaac stared in shock as the implication of the small round hole sank deep. “The shooter took two shots at the tire,” he murmured slowly. “He must have missed the first time.”

“Yeah, but not by much,” Caleb pointed out. “And you both know how difficult it is to hit a tire on a moving vehicle. The average citizen could never pull this off. Our perp is a sharpshooter of some kind, maybe a sniper from the armed forces.”

“Yeah,” Isaac agreed grimly, turning to look up at his two closest friends. “Or maybe a cop, like us.”

Caleb and Deck exchanged grim glances and then nodded. “You could be right,” Caleb acknowledged. “It wouldn’t be the first time we encountered a dirty cop on the force.”

No, it wouldn’t. Isaac stared at the small round hole in the fender. Keeping Leah and Ben safe wouldn’t be nearly as easy if they had a cop or some other guy with military training on his tail.

But failure was not an option.

THREE

Leah was relieved when Isaac returned to the sheriff’s-deputy SUV after just a few short minutes. “C-can we leave now?” she asked.

“Yes,” he responded shortly, as if he wasn’t happy about something. He put the SUV in gear and pulled out onto the highway. The silence stretched between them as Isaac drove, taking a series of turns that made her wonder if he was making sure no one was following.

The warmth from the heater finally penetrated her chilled body and she relaxed against the seat, feeling safe at least for the moment.

She peeked over at her son. Ben’s eyes had drifted closed, as he was no doubt exhausted after his crying jag. She was glad he was able to get some rest. “What did Caleb want to show you?” she asked in a low tone.

Isaac’s eyes briefly met hers in the rearview mirror. “Evidence.”

“Of what?”

There was another long silence. “A bullet hole located in the Jeep’s fender.”

She swallowed hard. Suspecting that the tire was shot on purpose and knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt were two different things. All because someone wanted to get to her and Ben? Why? What in the world had Shane gotten mixed up in? “We need to talk to my brother,” she murmured.

“I know. I tried to call him earlier, but he didn’t pick up, and there wasn’t a voice-mail box set up on his phone, so I couldn’t leave him a message. I’ll try again later.”

She was surprised to note it was only about ten-fifteen at night. For some reason, the hour felt much later. Or maybe it was just that so much had happened in such a short time. “Are we still going to the Forty Winks Hotel?”

Isaac shook his head. “No, I’ve decided to go to a different place Deck suggested. Both Caleb and he have used the Forty Winks before, and right now I’d rather go someplace with fewer ties to the SWAT team, just to be on the safe side. Deck has reserved two adjoining rooms for us.”

Adjoining rooms? She hadn’t thought much beyond getting to the hotel, but now realized she should have known that Isaac wouldn’t just leave her and Ben there alone. Of course he’d want to stay close at hand, especially after this latest close call in the Jeep. Two attempts to shoot them in less than two hours must be some sort of record. She was glad she wasn’t going to be totally alone. And having adjoining rooms would provide some modicum of privacy.

She watched the street signs, trying to familiarize herself with the area. Most of the Wisconsin-winter snow had melted, leaving a slushy, muddy mess in its wake. A quarter moon hung in the sky, but the stars were faint and difficult to see, no doubt because Isaac was driving them closer to the city.

Fifteen minutes later, he pulled into the parking lot of a place called the American Lodge. She thought the Forty Winks Hotel sounded better, but obviously she wasn’t in a position to argue. The Lodge wasn’t very big, but there were two stories. She leaned forward and tapped Isaac’s shoulder. “I’d rather be on the ground floor if possible,” she said. “Ben is at the age where he climbs everything, and I don’t want to risk him going over the balcony.”

“No problem,” Isaac murmured. He drew up in front of the lobby. “Stay here and wait for me, okay?”

She nodded and rested against the seat cushion, wishing she had a change of clothes with her. Her jeans were splattered with mud from their mad dash to the trees. Hopefully, Isaac would ask for some basic toiletries at the front desk.

Ben was still asleep in his booster seat and she wished she didn’t have to wake him up. After everything they’d been through, he deserved a little peace.

Isaac returned from the lobby with two key packets in his hand. He handed one to her and then drove around the side of the building. “We’re in rooms 10 and 12, last two on the first floor.”

“Okay.” She turned, released the seat belt and eased Ben out of the booster seat.

“Do you want me to carry him inside?” Isaac offered.

She hesitated, but then nodded. The adrenaline rush had faded, leaving her feeling shaky and weak. Her muscles felt sore, as if she’d run some sort of marathon rather than a short sprint to a grove of trees. She climbed out her side of the vehicle while Isaac opened the other back door.

He gently lifted Ben out of his car seat and carried him toward their room. Leah pulled the plastic key card out and unlocked the door. After flipping on the light, she stood back so that Isaac could set Ben on one of the two double beds, choosing the one closest to the bathroom.

The room was clean, but smelled a bit musty, as if it hadn’t been used in a few days. Still, she was grateful to be here.

“The clerk at the desk provided a few toiletries for us.” Isaac fished the items out of his coat pocket and set toothbrushes, toothpaste and a comb on the dresser. Then he crossed over to the connecting door. “I need you to leave this unlocked, okay? I’ll open my side, as well.”

She nodded wearily. “I understand. Thanks again, for everything.”

Isaac stared at her for a long moment, his dark eyes intense. The strange awareness between them unnerved her and she took a step backward, as if more distance would help. He looked as if he wanted to say something more, but then he turned and strode toward the door. “If you need anything at all, let me know.”

“I will.”

When the door closed behind him, she felt a momentary flash of panic. Ridiculous, since he was only going right next door. She crossed over and opened the connecting door, listening for sounds from the other room. It didn’t take long for Isaac to unlock and open his door.

“Are you okay?” he asked when he saw her standing there, obviously waiting.

She forced a smile, hoping he wouldn’t notice her blush. “Yes, of course. Good night.”

“Good night.”

She left a one-inch gap in the door before making her way over to Ben. Carefully, so as to not wake him up, she removed his winter coat, hat and shoes. She left his long-sleeved T-shirt and jeans on in lieu of pajamas. Setting the outer clothing aside, she bent over and pressed a kiss to the top of his head, thanking God once again for keeping her son safe.

Ben wiggled around, muttering something incomprehensible before burrowing into the pillow. She pulled the covers up over him and then made her way to the bathroom. She washed her hands and face, then dabbed at the mud splatters on her jeans with a soapy washcloth. She used the toothbrush and toothpaste, but didn’t bother with the comb, since her naturally curly hair would be better served with a brush. She went back into the room and sat on the edge of her bed, cradling her head in her hands.

She needed to get some sleep, but couldn’t make herself crawl in between the sheets. Instead, her mind whirled with questions. Where was Shane? What had he stumbled into? Was he hiding? Hurt? Or worse?

After a brief internal debate, she stood up and went back over to the connecting doors, tapping lightly to get Isaac’s attention.

“What’s wrong?” He leaped to his feet, instantly on alert.

“Nothing,” she quickly assured him. “I can’t sleep.”

Isaac nodded and sank back down on his seat. “I know. I tried calling Hawk again, but there’s no answer.”

“That doesn’t sound good,” she said with a frown.

“He knows how to reach me,” Isaac pointed out. “I’m sure he’ll get in touch soon.”

She stared at him for a long moment, trying to gauge his mood. “I feel like we need to do something to help him. Something more than sitting here.”

Isaac gestured to the chair across from him and then rubbed his hand across the shadow of his beard. “Do you have any idea what your brother is investigating?”

She sank into the chair, trying to remember anything Shane had said. “Not really. He doesn’t talk about his job very much. I know he was assigned a new partner about four months ago, some guy by the name of Trey.”

Isaac’s eyes lit up. “Do you know his last name?”

She pressed her fingers against her temples, trying to remember. “Something like a tree,” she murmured, thinking back to the conversation she’d had with Shane. “Birchwood. Trey Birchwood.”

Isaac leaned forward. “What else did he say? Did he get along with Birchwood?”

“Shane mentioned Trey was from another district and that the guy was okay.” She shrugged and grimaced. “You have to understand that Shane didn’t ever say anything negative about his job. He kept all the dangerous details to himself.”

“Understandable that he wouldn’t want you to worry,” Isaac said. “But surely he would have said something if he had real concerns about his new partner.”

“Not necessarily,” she argued. “Shane glosses over everything bad because he knows I really don’t like the fact that he’s in constant danger.” Admitting her fears out loud wasn’t easy, but if it helped her brother, the embarrassment was well worth it. “When he mentioned his new partner, his tone was rather offhand. I wish I knew if there was some sort of rift between them, but I don’t because I never asked.” She was angry with herself now, although she certainly hadn’t known that she’d end up in danger.

Isaac held her gaze for a long minute and she tried not to squirm in her seat. “I take it you don’t approve of your brother’s career choice?”

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Did Shane happen to mention that our dad died in the line of duty?”

Isaac nodded. “Yes, he told me back when we were at Saint Jermaine’s.”

“Well, then you know that Shane went a little crazy after our dad died. That’s when he started getting into trouble. I’m pretty sure he got caught up in drugs for a bit, although he never admitted that to me. I know he was arrested, and thankfully, the judge sentenced him to Saint Jermaine’s rather than sending him to jail.”

“Yeah, I was grateful for the chance to go there, as well.”

She was a little surprised to know that Isaac and Shane had both been at Saint Jermaine’s, but then realized she shouldn’t be. Shane was three years older than her and she had been only fourteen when he was sent to the boys’ school. And much of that time, the year or two after her father’s death, was nothing more than a blur, especially once their mother started hitting the bottle. Her mom had died while Leah was in college, and from that point on, she and Shane had depended on each other.

Glancing at Isaac, she was glad to know he’d been given the same opportunity to turn his life around as her brother had. And it was interesting that they both had chosen law enforcement.

She gave herself a mental shake. Why was she concerned about Isaac’s life? She’d married Elliot right out of nursing school and lost him barely two years later. She had no intention of opening herself up to that kind of hurt again.

“Well, thanks, Leah,” Isaac said, breaking into her thoughts. “I’ll see what I can find out about your brother’s new partner. Now, do me a favor and try to get some sleep.”

He was right—there was nothing else she could do tonight. And he obviously wanted her to leave, so she rose to her feet and walked toward the connecting door. She glanced back at Isaac over her shoulder and was disconcerted to find him watching her intently. “Good night,” she murmured before slipping through the opening to her own room.

As she crawled into bed, she told herself that she’d imagined the disappointment reflected on Isaac’s face when she’d mentioned not liking her brother’s career choice. And if she hadn’t imagined it, she was still glad he understood exactly where she was coming from.

They might have been thrown together by circumstances outside their control, but she knew very well that as soon as they found her brother, they’d go their separate ways.

And truthfully, she couldn’t help hoping that happened sooner than later. Because she wasn’t ready to even consider getting romantically involved again.

Not now and maybe not ever.

* * *

Isaac watched Leah walk away, telling himself that it was a good thing there couldn’t be anything more between them than friendship. So what if she was so beautiful it made his gut ache? It wasn’t as if he intended to get married again, not after his first wife had left him, taking their son with her. And when his ex-wife’s new boyfriend went crazy, killing her and then Jeremy and then himself, the hole in Isaac’s heart had gotten wider and deeper.

Two years had passed but he still missed his son every single day. And deep down, he hadn’t found a way to forgive himself for his wife’s leaving him. He should have known she wasn’t happy. She’d always told him he worked too many hours, but he hadn’t listened.

And now it was too late to right the wrong.

Maybe his teammates Caleb and Declan had managed to find a way to make their relationships work, even with their crazy schedules, but Isaac had failed and wasn’t interested in trying again.

So why was he disappointed to find out Leah wasn’t interested in someone like him?

He shook off the bizarre feeling and made a call to the Fifth District asking for Trey Birchwood. He was told the cop was off duty for the weekend, so that wasn’t much help. It was Friday night, so it could be that Trey was actually off work. Or it could be that he’d specifically requested time off for some unknown reason.

Talking to Trey might not offer any insight as to what Hawk was involved with, but Isaac needed to try. That was the only lead he had at the moment.

He prowled the room, glancing out the window to scan the parking lot, making sure no one was lurking around. The lot was mostly empty and he’d parked the SUV in front of his door, rather than closer to Leah’s. And he’d backed it in, so they could drive off in a hurry if needed.

He reached for his phone to check in with Caleb and Deck, nearly dropping it when the cell vibrated in his hand. His pulse jumped as he recognized the number of Hawk’s throwaway phone. “Hawk? Are you okay?”

“Are Leah and Ben safe?” His friend’s voice was grave, and Isaac couldn’t help but wonder if his buddy was injured.

“Yes, but there have already been two attempts to get them. A gunman showed up at their house and then someone else shot out the tire on my Jeep. What’s going on?”

“My cover is blown.” Static filled the line and Isaac strained to listen. “Don’t trust anyone in my district, understand?”

“Not even Trey Birchwood?”

More static, but then Hawk’s voice came through. “No. Not until I know more about what’s going on.”

Isaac couldn’t tell if Hawk normally got along well with his new partner or not, but since he wasn’t trusting any of the guys from his district, it was a moot point. “You have to give me something to go on. I want to help you.”

“You are helping me by keeping Leah and Ben safe. These guys will do anything to find me, including using my family as bait.”

Isaac knew his initial instincts were correct. The gunman wanted Leah and Ben alive, to draw Hawk out of hiding.

“Remember Saint Jermaine’s?” Hawk asked, breaking into his thoughts.

Isaac frowned. “Yeah. What about it?”

“There were a couple of guys who bragged about running illegal guns.”

“I remember.” The tiny hairs on the back of Isaac’s neck lifted in alarm. “Are you investigating some sort of illegal gun trade?”

“Yes. I was approached by an agent with the ATF, and it’s bigger than I anticipated. I’m convinced there are dirty cops involved.”

So he was right about the sharpshooter being an officer. Isaac knew there were rare occasions when cops turned bad, and investigating those situations was always tricky.

Still, knowing the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms was involved made him feel a little better. At least Hawk wasn’t hanging out there totally alone. “Talk to me. What can I do?”

“Keep my sister and her boy safe. I’ll figure out the rest myself.”

“What’s the name of your ATF contact?” Isaac pressed.

There was a pause. “Cameron Walker, but don’t contact him. Not yet. I’ll let you know if I need anything more.”

“Where are you?”

“Hiding. Don’t even try to find me. I’m constantly on the move.”

Isaac wished there was something he could do for his friend. “Look, I have a couple of guys on my team that I’d trust with my life,” he said quickly. “We can help you. You can’t do this alone, buddy.”

“I have to go.” Hawk abruptly disconnected the call, leaving Isaac battling a wave of helplessness.

He didn’t know much more than he had before Hawk phoned, other than to have his suspicions confirmed about why the gunman had gone after Leah and Ben. Still, hearing that Hawk was investigating illegal weapons under the supervision of the ATF was something. Most criminals on the streets knew exactly where to find guns that they wanted, since they were practically everywhere. Isaac couldn’t even begin to think of where to start, especially considering Hawk’s claim that he’d stumbled upon something big.

Isaac stretched out on the bed fully dressed, thinking about the little bit Hawk had revealed. He remembered his team had been called to a mall shooting about a week ago. He’d been the negotiator for the tactical situation, while Caleb had functioned as the sharpshooter. The weapon they’d recovered at the scene had been obviously illegal, with the serial numbers filed off.

Isaac sat up, knowing the gun was likely still in the evidence room. The possible connection was thin, but still worth investigating.

He picked up his phone, but then hesitated. It was well after midnight and the gun wasn’t going anywhere tonight. No sense in dragging Caleb or Deck out now.

It could wait until morning.

Isaac turned the television on low, scanning the various news channels. Unfortunately, no baseball spring-training games were on this late at night.

The sound of a car engine caught his attention. He rolled off the bed, grabbed his weapon and crossed over to the window. He peered through the slight opening in the curtains, trying to see what had caused the noise.

The parking lot appeared deserted, but then he saw the quick flash of taillights moving away.

Could be nothing, but after the troubling conversation with Hawk, Isaac didn’t want to assume anything, especially if dirty cops were involved. He stared at the now-empty parking lot for a minute and then eased back, walking toward the connecting door, intending to get Leah and Ben up. They wouldn’t like leaving again, but he’d rather play it safe than sorry.

He’d taken only two steps when the sound of breaking glass echoed through the night. He stumbled and glanced over his shoulder at the same time his eyes started to burn.

Tear gas!

He dived through the connecting door, slamming it shut behind him. He needed to get Leah and Ben out of here now!

FOUR

Leah woke up with a start when Isaac came barreling through the connecting door into their room. She gasped and stared in shock when he shut it behind him and then ripped the comforter off her bed and stuffed it along the bottom edge of the door.

“Grab Ben. We need to get out of here.”

Leah didn’t question Isaac’s command as her eyes began to burn. She scrambled out of bed, grateful she’d slept in her clothes, and quickly roused her son. She tugged his winter clothes on despite his sleepy protest.

“Use these to cover your faces,” Isaac said, handing her two wet towels. She threw one over her shoulder and drew Ben up against it, then draped another around her neck so that it was close to her mouth. It was the best she could do while carrying her son. “This way,” Isaac said, urging her toward the bathroom.

It didn’t take long for Isaac to break open the small window there. “I’m going out first so that I can help the two of you through, okay?”

She clutched Ben close and nodded. It wasn’t easy for Isaac to get his broad-shouldered frame through the small opening, and she let out a sigh of relief when he finally made it.

“Okay, Ben, it’s your turn.” Isaac said.

“No, don’t wanna go!” he wailed, grabbing her around the neck and hanging on tight.

It nearly broke her heart to pull him away. “We have to, Ben. Mr. Isaac is out there to catch you, and I’ll hold you once we’re outside, okay?”

“No-o-o,” he cried, deep wrenching sobs that tore at her.

Leah forced herself to push him through the window into Isaac’s waiting arms. She wiped her own tears away before attempting to climb after her son. She could hear Isaac whispering soothing words to Ben, and he stopped crying except for the occasional hiccuping sniffle.

Isaac’s strong hand guided her through the opening and soon she was on solid ground. She took Ben and tossed the wet towels aside, gulping in deep breaths of fresh air.

“See those trees fifty feet from here?” Isaac asked in a low whisper, his breath tickling her ear. She swallowed hard and nodded. “I want you to run there, and I’ll be right behind you.”

After hiking Ben higher in her arms, she took off at a slow jog, mostly because she couldn’t see more than a few feet in front of her face. She didn’t realize she was holding her breath until her chest started to burn. She took a deep gulping breath and the tightness eased. After what seemed like forever, she reached the trees, darting behind them and sagging against a solid trunk.

Isaac joined her a few seconds later. “See anything?” she whispered.

He shook his head. “No, but we need to keep moving.”

Of course they did. She sighed and pulled herself upright, shifting Ben to her other hip. Her arm muscles screamed in protest, but she forced herself to ignore the pain. Although maybe once this was all over, she’d have to start lifting weights so she wasn’t so weak.

“I’d take him, but I need to cover your back,” Isaac whispered, reading her thoughts.

“I’m fine.” She made her way through the trees, grateful to see there was a clearing on the other side. She glanced up and noticed there was a church steeple not far away. “Isaac, can we go to that church up ahead?” she whispered.

“Sure, but keep to the shadows, in case they’ve figured out we’ve escaped.”

Leah picked up her pace, despite her weary muscles. The church steeple was like a beacon, drawing her closer. She silently prayed as they made their way down the street, putting as much distance as possible between them and the American Lodge.

Leah wanted to cry with relief when the church loomed before her. Although as they approached the steps, it belatedly occurred to her that the doors were likely locked.

“Wait—I want you two to stay hidden over here,” Isaac said, drawing her away from the front steps.

She didn’t have the strength or the will to argue. She huddled down near the corner of the building with Ben on her lap, not even caring that her jeans were getting all muddy again.

Too afraid to close her eyes, she peered through the darkness, making sure there were no cars coming toward them. From this angle she couldn’t see what Isaac was doing, but since she was fairly certain the church was locked up, it didn’t matter. Maybe he was checking for a side entrance or something.

Cold from the ground seeped through her clothing, making her shiver. She thought she might be warmer if she stood back up, but struggling to her feet wasn’t easy, especially with Ben’s weight in her arms.

“Leah?” Isaac seemed to pop up out of nowhere. “Come on. Let’s get inside.”

Inside the church? She was surprised but grateful as Isaac supported her, his arm anchoring her waist. Once they were safely in, he closed the door behind them.

She sank into a pew and then carefully set Ben down beside her. Clasping her hands together, she bowed her head and prayed.

“Thank You for providing us shelter, Lord. And thank You for keeping us safe from harm. Please continue to guide us to safety. Amen.”

* * *

Isaac listened to Leah’s softly uttered prayer and couldn’t help wondering if her faith really offered as much support as she claimed. She certainly seemed to pray a lot, although he couldn’t blame her, since she’d also been in constant danger.

He scrubbed his hands over his face, mentally kicking himself for nearly getting them captured once again. They’d been found too easily.

But how?

He crossed over to where Leah sat and edged in beside her. “I’m sorry about this,” he murmured. “I promise I’ll do a better job of protecting you and Ben from here on.”

Her attempt at a smile fell short, but he gave her points for trying. “It’s not your fault, Isaac.”

It was his fault, but there was no sense in hammering the issue any further. Looking backward wasn’t going to help; they needed to move forward from here. “I talked to your brother earlier and he told me that he thinks there is a dirty cop involved in this mess.”

Leah’s face brightened. “You spoke to Shane? Is he okay?”

“He’s hiding, but he’s okay for now,” Isaac confirmed.

“I’m so glad to hear that,” she murmured. “I’ve been so worried about him.”

“I know.” Isaac put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a quick hug. “I have to think that whoever the shooter was at the side of the road somehow got the plate number for the police vehicle. The gunman likely didn’t know that we had connecting rooms and simply tossed the gas canister into the one where the vehicle was parked.” He was glad now that he hadn’t left it in front of Leah and Ben’s room.

“But how did they find us?” she asked.

“I wish I knew,” Isaac admitted. “But it’s obvious we need a vehicle with no ties to the SWAT team.”

“Where on earth are we going to get another car?”

“Don’t worry. Caleb and Deck will come through for us.” Isaac hated to wake his buddies up again, especially at two in the morning, but what choice did he have? The church was a good sanctuary for now, but it was too close to the hotel for comfort. Once the person who’d thrown the tear gas realized they’d gotten away, they’d start to widen their search radius, and the church would become an obvious target.

At least, that was what he would do. And if a dirty cop was involved, he’d probably do the same thing.

Isaac pulled out his phone and called Deck. A few weeks ago, his buddy had been trying to sell his sister’s old car. Maybe, just maybe, he hadn’t sold it yet. The older-model vehicle would be perfect for them to use for a few days. And since Declan’s sister had a different last name, it would be ideal.

Declan didn’t answer right away, and when he finally did, he didn’t sound too happy. “What?” he asked in a sleepy tone.

“I’m sorry, Deck, but we’ve been found. Someone threw a canister of tear gas into my hotel room. Do you still have your sister’s old car?”

There was a long pause and Isaac hoped his buddy hadn’t fallen back asleep. But when Deck spoke again, he sounded more awake. “Yeah, I still have it. Where are you and Leah now?”

“At the church located down the road from the hotel. If you could get here as soon as possible, we’d appreciate it.”

“No problem. I’ll have Bobby drive the spare car, since he’s home on spring break.”

“That works. If you could bring a computer, too, I’d appreciate it.”

“A computer? Sure, I can loan you mine. What are you searching for?”

“Anything that explains what’s going on,” Isaac said, being purposefully vague. He didn’t want to expose his friends to more danger. “Thanks, and I’m sorry to keep bothering you.”

“You were there for me when I needed help, so it’s no problem. We’ll be there in fifteen to twenty minutes.”

“We’ll be waiting.” Isaac disconnected the call, feeling better that they had a solid escape plan.

“Who’s Bobby?” Leah asked.

She’d obviously heard the entire conversation—not a surprise, since she was sitting right next to him. So close he could smell the cinnamon scent that seemed to cling to her skin. “His brother-in-law.”

“And you helped Declan out, the way he’s helping you now?” she pressed.

He slowly nodded. “Yeah, about six months ago. We’ve always been there for each other no matter what.”

“Mommy, I’m hungry,” Ben said in a plaintive tone.

“I’m sorry, sweetie, but I don’t have anything right now,” Leah said, smoothing a hand over her son’s hair. “Close your eyes and try to get some rest.”

“We can stop and pick up something once we have a different set of wheels,” Isaac offered.

“I think once he falls asleep, he’ll be fine,” Leah murmured.

“Yeah, well, all this running around is making me hungry, too,” Isaac said in a wry tone as he rose to his feet. “Stay here. I’m going to make sure we’re still in the clear.”

He didn’t really think they’d been followed, but he needed to put some distance between them. Leah’s cinnamon-and-spice scent was wreaking havoc with his concentration. She was so beautiful, even after everything they’d been through, with her naturally curly black hair and heart-shaped face. There couldn’t be anything but friendship between them, so why was he suddenly thinking of her as a woman he was attracted to?

He needed to get that thought out of his head right now. After pushing open the church door a crack, he peered outside. He couldn’t see far, but what he did see seemed quiet and deserted.

Leah hadn’t asked him how he’d gotten inside the church, and he was glad he didn’t have to explain how he’d picked the lock. He couldn’t help but think the church pastor wouldn’t be too thrilled to know how easy it was to break in. Then again, maybe he should let the pastor know so he could change the locks.

But that would have to wait until they’d gotten safely out of this mess.

Waiting for Deck and Bobby to show up was agonizing, each second passing with excruciating slowness. Isaac paced back and forth, peering outside every so often.

Finally his phone rang, and he was relieved to see Deck’s number. “Hey, are you close?”

“Yeah, we’re parked in the back behind the church,” Deck informed him. “Didn’t see anyone suspicious hanging around, either.”

“Thanks, Deck. We’ll be outside soon.” Isaac clicked off, then locked the main doors of the church before heading over to Leah and Ben. “They’re here with the car, Leah. Do you want me to carry Ben?”

She looked dead on her feet, but still shook her head. “I’m worried he’ll cry.”

Isaac understood her concern, since there hadn’t exactly been time to bond with the boy. Although he needed to spend more time with Ben so the boy wouldn’t be afraid of him.

He led the way through the church to the back door. Leah followed slowly, carrying Ben, who was once again half-asleep.

There were two cars in the lot, both with their engines running but their lights off. Isaac stayed right beside Leah, sweeping his gaze over the area to verify they hadn’t been found by the shooter.

As they approached the vehicles, a young man climbed out from behind the wheel of the older sedan and stepped forward. Isaac recognized Bobby Collins and gratefully took the keys he handed over.

“There’s a booster seat in the back for the kid,” Bobby said. “Figured that would be one less thing to worry about.”

“Where did you get it?” Isaac asked in surprise.

“Caleb donated it,” Declan said, coming out to join them. He handed Isaac a computer case. “Apparently his daughter, Kaitlin, had two of them.”

“Thank you,” Leah said with a tremulous smile.

“No problem.” Bobby ducked his head shyly and sauntered over to the other car. Declan slapped Isaac on the back and then went to join his brother-in-law. Isaac waited for Leah to get Ben settled in the booster seat before he opened the front passenger door for her.

He didn’t breathe easy until the church was far behind them. Isaac knew he needed to find another place to stay for what was left of the night, and this time he wasn’t about to tell anyone, even his friends, where they were going.

Driving through the night, he finally came across a hotel that boasted two-bedroom suites. The concept offered the best of both worlds, so he pulled in and parked.

Leah had been dozing and came awake in a rush when the car stopped. “Where are we?” she asked, rubbing her eyes.

“Brookside Suites Hotel,” Isaac said. “They offer two-bedroom suites, so you and Ben can share one room and I’ll use the other.”

“Looks expensive,” Leah murmured.

Isaac didn’t answer, because he’d already had the same thought. But they couldn’t afford to be cheap when it came to making sure they were safe. As it was, he’d need to convince the clerk to take cash when they were ready to check out.

It didn’t take long to secure a room, although the man insisted on having a credit-card number on file in case there was any damage. Apparently Isaac’s badge helped lend credibility, as the clerk reluctantly agreed to take payment in cash.

This time, Isaac carried Ben inside the hotel. The boy had fallen back asleep and barely stirred as they rode the elevator to the third floor. They had an inside room, and Isaac figured that they’d be much harder to find in a place like this, even if somehow the shooter figured out what kind of car they were driving, a nearly impossible feat.

Surely they’d be safe here.

Isaac waited for Leah to unlock the door and flip on the lights. The place was nice, as it should be for the price he’d paid. There was a comfortable living area, complete with a small kitchenette, so they could cook their own meals if they were going to stay for a few days.

The first bedroom had two double beds, and he waited while Leah pulled down the covers so he could set Ben down in the one nearest the bathroom.

She quickly stripped the boy’s coat, hat mittens and boots off before covering him with the sheet and blanket. For a moment she simply stood there, staring down at her sleeping child. Isaac eased toward the door, thinking that maybe she wanted some privacy.

But she surprised him by turning and following him out to the living area. “It’s hard to believe we’re finally safe,” she murmured, running a hand through her hair.

Isaac had to stop himself from wrapping her in his arms and holding her close. He cleared his throat and nodded. “No one knows we’re here, Leah. The car can’t be traced to us, either. We are safe.”

Her smile was a tad pathetic, but still made his heart race. “I finally believe that.”

He cleared his throat again, hoping she couldn’t tell how nervous he was. “I’m going to go back down to get the laptop, okay?”

“Sounds good.”

He left the room, thinking for sure Leah would be tucked in bed by the time he returned. He wouldn’t blame her one bit, since he doubted she’d gotten much sleep before the tear-gas incident.

Grabbing the computer case out of the backseat didn’t take long, and within minutes he was back upstairs, using his key card to access the room. When he opened the door, he was surprised to find Leah curled in a corner of the sofa, waiting for him.

She glanced over when he walked in. “Did you want me to order something to eat? You mentioned you were hungry.”

Isaac was touched by her offer. When was the last time anyone cared about whether he was tired or hungry?

“Thanks for the thought, but I doubt they’ll provide room service this late.” He set the computer case down on the small table in the kitchenette.

“Really?” Leah seemed surprised and then shrugged. “You’re probably right. It’s closer to breakfast, anyway.”

“Get some sleep, Leah,” he suggested in a low tone. “I’m sure you’re exhausted.”

She dropped her gaze and nodded. “I am, but truthfully, I’m afraid I’ll have nightmares.”

The urge to offer comfort was strong. “I’m sorry,” he murmured helplessly.

“It’s okay.” She uncurled herself from the sofa and stood. To his surprise, she crossed over to him and put her hand on his arm. “Thanks for keeping us safe, Isaac.” She stood on her tiptoes and brushed a kiss across his cheek before turning to head into her room.

It took every ounce of willpower he possessed to let her walk away, when all he really wanted to do was haul her close for a real kiss. He didn’t let out his breath until she’d closed the door behind her, the cinnamon-and-spice scent lingering long after she’d gone.

He gave himself a stern talking-to as he headed into his room. He wasn’t in the market for a relationship. And Hawk wouldn’t appreciate knowing how much Isaac thought about kissing his sister.

From here on out, he needed to keep his distance from Leah. For both their sakes.

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