I knew exactly what was coming, too. “Go ahead.”
“Why were those guys in my house?” Dad asked. “Why did they attack me?”
I felt the heated presence of their gazes as the profile of my face ignited with fire. I was good at thinking on my feet, courtesy of my line of work, but I had to get this answer right. If I fumbled it up in any way, we were toast.
So, I drew in a deep breath and said the only thing that came to mind.
“The thing with WITSEC is that it’s deep cover, Dad. Or, so Sheriff Barnes told me. He said that if I wanted to stay in town and go with them instead, they’d have to orchestrate a way to get me into their custody that wasn’t just passing me over faithfully. It had to be outside of Gordon’s purview, and it had to scare you badly enough to make sure you didn’t come after me. I’m so sorry, Dad. I’m so sorry for what ha—.”
He cupped my cheek as tears lined his eyes. “I’m just glad you’re okay, sweetheart. And I’m thankful for Ranger’s phone calls. But, above all else, I’m just glad these men kept you safe from Gordon.”
I nuzzled against his palm. “I wish I could’ve told you sooner. I wanted to, so badly. But, the sheriff was adamant on—.”
“You know, I should’ve seen it sooner.”
I paused. “What?”
Dad leaned back and released my hands. “With Gordon. I should’ve seen it sooner. He had been acting so weird, and I should have talked with you about it—.”
I scooted my chair so close that my legs encompassed his. “Dad, I’m safe. We’re both safe. While I was in custody with them, they were making regular routes through the neighborhood to make sure Gordon, or anyone else, came to harass you. We’re both safe, Gordon is gone, and that’s all that matters.”
Dad stood and yanked me to my feet. “Come here. I need another hug.”
I wrapped my arms around him and held him tightly. “I could use all the hugs I can get.”
Then, he whispered into my ear. “Are you sure these guys work for the police? Because they don’t strike me as police.”
I giggled. “Their confidential informants. Not police.”
“So, what do they actually do?”
My gaze clocked all three of them as they stood there, watching the scene unfold. And when Range nodded his head, I knew it was okay to tell him the truth.
“They’re part of a motorcycle crew that rolls around these parts. They make their money selling weapons to people who want to enact those kinds of transactions, and then they turn the information they get over to the police for a monthly stipend.”
Dad sighed heavily as he gripped my shoulders and stared me down. “And they’re safe for you to be around?”
I spoke my next words with truth and pride. “I’ve never been safer, Dad. I can assure you of that.”
He breathed a heavy sigh of relief. “I swear, it’s like you’re glowing.”
I smiled so hard my eyes almost closed. “Sometimes, you don’t realize how taxing an environment is until you’re out of it. I’ve slept and read and meditated so much while I’ve been here that I feel like a completely different person.”
I peered over Dad’s shoulder and found the guys blowing kisses at me, and it made me bark with laughter.
“God, that laugh,” Dad said as he slid his hands down my arms, “I’ve missed that laugh.”
I breathed in a breath of fresh air as the wind kicked up. “I’ve missed it, too.”
He lowered his voice. “Wouldn’t have something to do with one of those guys standing in the kitchen, would it?”
I giggled as I shook my head. “Cast off one man and off to the next?”
“Well,” he said with a shrug before he sat back down, “if it makes you this happy, then why not?”
I found myself staring back at the guys through the kitchen windows and my heart skipped a beat.
“For once in my life, I’m honestly happy,” I said as I eased myself back down into the chair. “So, does it really matter why?”
