“Poppy, we need to talk,” the commissioner insisted. “Your dog needs to be put down.”
Brady frowned. “We buried Lady last fall. She’s already in heaven.”
The commissioner ignored my son. “Do you know what that bastard did?”
“Language,” snapped Kevin.
I shot the deputy a grateful look.
“He’s making threats, Pop.” Kevin pulled out a sheet of sheriff badge stickers for Brady and then handed him the cuffs from his belt. My heart stuttered a little. Kevin always tried, and he was so good with kids.
But there was no spark between us. That was why I pushed this perfectly good man away.
And now that I found a spark….
I shook my head. “What does that have to do with me?”
“We need you to testify. Come into the protective program, and let’s take this Mad Dog down.” Kevin stepped forward, speaking low while Brady cuffed himself to the metal shelf, then proceeded to practice undoing the restraints.
“You want me to what, exactly?” I’d heard him, but I balked at the idea. “I’m not hurting Ivan.”
I’m not hurting him.Huh, that sounded even more funny saying it again. But it was right there, the resolve etched into my rapidly beating heart.
“He’s going to hurt someone,” Kevin insisted. “And I won’t let it be you or Brady.”
I tipped my head and studied the deputy. “He would never hurt us.”
My voice sounded far away. The realization had clicked into place, and I just stood there, probably looking dopey and blonde as I studied it.
“Really, Kev, we’re safer with him than we are any other place—”Holy Virgin!These weren’t just statements coming out of my mouth. Imeanteverything I said. Every damn word.
“Wow,” I whispered under my breath.
“Look, lady, he and his pack came at me this morning.” Commissioner Dallas ripped down the collar of his polo shirt. The faintest of scratches was fading on his throat.
I snorted. “That’s it? Looks like you cut yourself shaving.”
The commissioner opened his mouth, then closed it.
“That’s what happened, wasn’t it?” I let a bite of anger rip through my voice. “You stand there and accuse the man I’m in love with of hurting you, when you don’t have the balls to face him yourself! This is harassment! Kevin, I want to report this man as a stalker, and—”
Kevin stared at me.
The look spoke volumes. It told me Kevin was in pain, that his body was on the verge of collapse. That he’d been mentally struck.
“What is it?” I gasped, rushing forward and checking his forehead for a fever. “Are you ill?”
Kevin turned his head to the side and brushed me off gently. “No, Pops, just realizing I’m making a fool of myself. You said enough.”
What did I say?My brain scrambled, but the short-term memory switch wasn’t working. I dropped my hands to my sides. “Really, Kevin, we’re good out here. Thanks for checking, but you don’t want to get caught up in the stuff that’s going on.”
He nodded. “I’ll head back this afternoon. Don’t worry, I’ll let everyone know you’re fine.”
“Hey, now, wait just a minute!” The commissioner shoved Kevin. “You came to me, remember? You said you’d do anything to help your friend and put down the crime lord. Was this just a joke to you?”
“Watch it, Mr. Dallas,” Kevin warned.
But the commissioner was incensed. “You fucking played me!”
