“Why a different hotel?” she asked.
God, she was naive. “Because you challenged a serial killer about an hour ago, so I’m thinkin’ we should get you somewhere safe.”
“Hmm.” She rubbed her chin. “Good idea, but he knows your name now, too.”
Heath shook his head. “I’ll register under a false name. We detectives use those, you know.” He said the last with wry humor.
She turned to study him. “I’m thinking that’s only half the truth.”
Man, she was quick. And by the drawing down of her brows, she didn’t like that about him. His phone buzzed again, and he ignored it again.
“Damn it, Heath,” boomed suddenly from a speaker above the rearview mirror. “What the holy fuck of a holy fuck have you gotten yourself into?” Ryker yelled through the satellite system provided by the rental agency.
Heath winced. “Hacked into the satellite, did you?”
“Denver did. What the hell? Your name is all over the news with the press conference. Do you have any idea how quickly—”
“I’m not alone,” Heath cut in before Ryker could reveal all their secrets.
His brother fell silent for about two seconds. “Oh. Of course not. I take it your fiancée is with you?” The sarcasm cut through the suddenly thick silence in the vehicle.
“Um, yes,” Anya said, her eyes narrowing at the speaker. “You are Heath’s brother, right? I’m really sorry to have dragged you and your agency into this. I just wasn’t thinking after I buried my sister.” Her voice trembled and sounded thick with tears.
Anger roared through Heath. “Damn it, Ryker.”
“Shit, Heath,” Ryker returned. He sighed loudly. “I’m sorry I swore, Anya. Heath? This ain’t a good idea.”
No kidding. “I’m still figuring things out.”
“What is there to figure out?” Ryker bellowed again. “Get her ass to the Montana safe house, and we’ll go find this killer.”
Anya crossed her arms next to him.
“That might be a problem,” Heath returned. Not one part of him wanted to force her somewhere else while she blamed herself for her sister’s death. The pain of that must be excruciating. Her sister had been murdered, and she deserved a chance to find the bastard who’d done it. While he wanted to get her to safety, hearing somebody else order it made him want to defend her. To help her. “Besides. Do you really think the Montana, ah, contingent will allow the target of a serial killer to stay there?”
“They’re family. If we ask for help, they’ll cover her as nobody else could. The killer won’t have a clue she’s there.” Ryker sounded like he was losing what little patience he actually owned. “Heath, this is an easy answer.”
Heath looked at Anya. Her chin was up, her eyes burning. “That’s what you think.” God, she was sexier than hell when facing him like a spitting cat. No way couldtheyhappen, though. She seemed like a forever type of girl who followed the rules, and he was an on-the-run type of guy who had no problem breaking them. The smartest thing for him would be to force her into safety.
Yet what would that do to her?
“I’m about to speak really frankly here,” Ryker warned.
“Don’t,” Heath returned evenly. “I know exactly what you’re about to say.”
Anya looked on, her gaze turning curious.
“Do you, now?” Ryker asked, his voice going low.
“Yep. Heard it a thousand times before. Trigger points. Bad past. Mistakes now.” Heath kept his words vague for Anya’s sake, but there was no doubt Ryker was about to lecture him on his penchant for saving every wounded animal or shattered woman. “I’ve heard it, I know it, and that’s not what this is about.”
“Really? What is this about?” Ryker asked, his tone turning concerned. “Vengeance?”
“No. Redemption.” Heath reached up and disengaged the satellite feed, turning toward Anya. “Maybe for the both of us.”
She studied him, her eyes darkening. Finally, one corner of her mouth quirked. “You’re abeneath the surfacekind of guy, aren’t you?”
He couldn’t help but grin back. “I’m the deep one in the family.” Well, not necessarily true. Denver had untold depths—he just never talked. “Sorry my brother yelled at you.”
