“No.” She shook her head vehemently. “If I leave, our killer will, too. Just like when I left New York.”
“I don’t think he will,” Cap told her. “This guy’s invested in you, now. More than he was before. I think he’ll stick around.”
“You willing to risk more lives on that?”
Easy, baby. He’s just trying to protect you.
“I am if it means keeping you alive. Now, look. You take off, this guy’s gonna be pissed, no doubt. But we all know what happens when perps get pissed.”
Cap waited a beat for Riley to respond.
“They make mistakes,” she mumbled under an angry breath.
Cap nodded. “Exactly. And when he does, we’ll nail his ass to the wall. In the meantime, Eric’s already got everything worked out as far as where you two will be.”
“You do?” Riley’s eyes flew to his.
They glittered with betrayal, but Eric couldn’t bring himself to feel bad. She could be pissed all she wanted, but at least she’d be alive.
“I had Derek reach out to my parents. They own a beach house along the Gulf just south of Galveston. It’s about four and a half hours from here. I can drive while you get some rest.”
“Rest?” She laughed humorlessly. “I can’t believe you two are asking me to—”
“It’s not a request, Riley,” Cap spoke with an authoritative tone. “It’s an order. You’re one of the best detectives I’ve had under my command, but you’re no good to me dead.”
Riley’s resentful gaze bounced back and forth between him and Cap before she pressed her lips into a tight smile. “Guess I’ll go pack a bag.”
Eric waited until she went into the room to run a hand over his rough jaw. “She’s pissed.”
“Yep.” Cap turned to him. “Send me the address to that beach house. We’ll keep you in the loop.”
The other man started to walk away but stopped mid-stride. Turning back toward the bedroom, he gave Eric one final command.
“Keep her safe. Whatever it takes.”
Eric’s chest tightened as he gave the man a solemn nod.
He didn’t need anyone telling him to keep Riley safe.
She was his life. His everything. And he’d protect her until his dying breath.
