He noted her sparkling green eyes and pleased smile. Any lingering doubt in his mind disappeared. “I really don’t understand you.”
Her quiet laugh eased the knot in his chest. “I can live with that.” She stretched her neck. “It’s morning time. Shouldn’t we go downstairs and act like it’s a normal day? Almost taunt the killer with that, since he knows we’re waiting for him? I can act like I’m all packed and ready to go on my vacation and out of his reach.”
Heath shoved his gun into his waistband. The woman had gotten into the killer’s head, now, hadn’t she? Impressive, and yet he still wanted to shield her. “I could use coffee.”
She frowned. “I don’t see how he can make a move with all of us here.”
“Agreed.” Which was exactly how Heath wanted it. “My guess is that he can’t make a move, so he’ll get frustrated and make a mistake.”
Her voice lowered. “But what if he takes another victim?”
“The FBI is covering potential victims.” Although it would be impossible for them to protect everyone.
Anya slipped her hand into his. “Coffee. Please, coffee.”
Her hand felt small and right in his, and he settled himself. So many thoughts and emotions careened through him, he couldn’t find one to use. They had to talk, but they’d be a lot more focused after the day passed. Then they’d figure out what was next with them. “Is Zara sleeping?”
The door opened. “Nope,” Zara said, tying her hair atop her head. “I heard the word ‘coffee.’” She brushed past them, hurrying for the stairs.
Anya’s eyes lit. “Let’s go.”
Heath allowed her to lead him down to the main office, where Denver had already started a pot. “I guess we try to act normal.”
Ryker unlocked the front door. “Everyone stay on alert. If he strikes, it’ll be when we let our guards down.”
There was no way Heath would allow that to happen. He couldn’t remember the last time his guard had been truly down.
Denver tossed some premade breakfast sandwiches into the microwave, and several moments later, they all dug in. Within thirty minutes, everyone had settled at their desks to try to get some work done.
Before nine in the morning, Zara had fielded five calls from potential new clients. “We’d actually make some decent money if we ran a detective agency here.”
Maybe someday they’d come out of the darkness and into a real day, but not while Cobb and Madison still breathed. Heath continued conducting Internet searches to trace Cobb’s movements. The guy had purchased plenty of property through the years.
The front door burst open, and Heath jumped to his feet, reaching for his gun.
“I wouldn’t.” Special Agent Frederick Reese pointed his weapon at Heath while several other FBI agents, all clearly marked by their jackets, stormed into the room. “Anya Best? I have a court order here allowing the FBI to take you into custody as a material witness.”
Anya stood, her mouth dropping open. “Are you on drugs?”
The dick had waited until the courts had opened to get the order. Heath reached for it.
Reese handed the paper over with a smile on his face and his gun hand steady. “Sorry about this, but I promised Loretta I’d keep Anya safe if anything happened to her. We don’t have the manpower to keep watching your offices like we did last night. Anya is much safer with us than with you. Let her go.”
He’d never fucking let her go. Fire swept through Heath so quickly he almost swayed. He started to move.
“Heath,” Denver said from his desk as he stood. “No.”
Heath counted agents and weapons. Oh, he could take Reese down and press the gun to his jugular, but if somebody started shooting, Anya or his family might get hurt. “What is she a witness to?” He edged toward her. With all the guns out, adrenaline pumped through him with the need to cover her.
Reese shrugged. “Her sister was taken. She’s a witness.”
“Bullshit.” Heath crumpled the paper, wanting nothing more than to punch Reese in the face. “There’s nothing she can personally testify to, and you know it.”
Anya cleared her throat. “I agree. I’m not a witness, and I do not want FBI protection.”
“Which is why we obtained a court order first thing this morning,” Reese said. “Don’t make me handcuff you.”
Fury boiled through Heath.
