Piper's eyes went wide. "Okay, that was perfect. Keep going."
Gabe's jaw worked. "I'm trying to keep you alive."
"I'm trying to help you find your brother." Cara's voice dropped. Sharp. "But you won't let me actually help. You just want me to follow orders."
"Because following orders keeps people safe."
"Or it gets them killed waiting for permission that never comes."
Something shifted in Gabe's expression. Real anger breaking through. "You think I don't know what's at stake? Every second we waste could mean David's dead?"
"Then stop wasting time trying to control everything.”Cara folded her arms, trying to throttle back the real emotions leaking through.
Gabe glared. For real, it seemed like. "I'm not trying to control everything. I'm trying to control the one thing that matters."
"What?"
"You." The word came out raw. "I'm trying to keep you safe because if something happens to you?—"
He stopped. Closed his mouth.
The kitchen went silent.
"Cut," Piper whispered. "That's... that's really good."
Gabe turned away and ran a hand through his hair.
Cara stood frozen. Her heart hammering against her ribs.
"Let me edit this," Piper said. She hunched over her phone.
Nobody spoke.
Finally Tom cleared his throat. "I'll get my laptop set up."
"I'll check the vehicles," Wade said.
They scattered. Clearly grateful for excuses to move.
Gabe caught Tom's arm before he could leave. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
They stepped into the hallway. Cara watched through the doorway as Gabe kept his voice low.
"You're armed?" Not a question.
Tom nodded slowly. "Always."
“Good. Keep yourselves safe. No hesitation."
Tom's expression shifted. Something hard underneath the quiet handyman exterior. "Copy that. No one touches my daughter."
Gabe held his gaze for a long moment. Then nodded. "Thank you."
He headed back toward Cara and caught her eye. “We need a word with Wade.”
They found the big man in the stairwell. Wade was checking a sleek handgun Cara hadn't seen him carrying.
"Coast Guard issue?" Gabe asked.
