Amish Safe House (Amish Witness Protection Book 2)

by Debby Giusti

  “You will marry me, Julia?” he asked.

  “Yes! It’s what I’ve wanted for so long.”

  “And the children?”

  “They already think of you as their father, their datt. Kayla gave her doll to a little girl who had recently lost her father. Kayla said she didn’t need Annie anymore.”

  Abraham was visibly touched by the child’s thoughtfulness. “I told you about the boy who was kidnapped years ago?”

  Julia nodded. “He was the reason you became a police officer.”

  “Which is what I always thought. But in the hospital, I realized the little boy I wanted to save was really me, although I never knew what I needed to make my life whole. Not until you and the children came into my world.”

  “Oh, Abraham, I love you.”

  They kissed and then kissed again and again until a buggy turned into the drive and the sound of children’s laughter filled the air. Julia opened the door. Abraham bent down and Kayla ran into his arms.

  “Careful, Kayla, of his side,” Julia cautioned.

  “Mr. Abraham, Mamm said you would be here when we came back from town. I did not think the buggy would go fast enough.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek, her face aglow.

  “You have gotten so big, Kayla,” he said.

  “And I help Mamm. Now I can bake cookies almost by myself, and I’m studying hard so I can be a teacher.”

  He kissed her cheek, then stood and looked toward the door where William waited, as if not sure what to say.

  “When did you grow up, William?” Abraham asked, the pride evident in his tone.

  “I still have a lot to learn.”

  “Yah, and I have a lot to teach you. Come here. Let me wrap my arms around you, son.”

  The invitation was all William needed. His smile was almost wider than his face as he stepped into Abraham’s embrace.

  Kayla pushed between them and Julia stepped closer, her heart bursting with joy as she stretched her arms around the family she loved.

  Later, when the children were doing their afternoon chores and dinner simmered on the stove, Julia sat with Abraham, their hands entwined.

  “Have you talked to Jonathan recently about the Philadores?” she asked.

  “Without Fuentes, they seem to have lost their edge.”

  “Does that mean William is truly safe?”

  “For now, especially living here. Are you sure you do not want to go back to your old way of life, Julia?”

  She shook her head. “I have found everything I have ever wanted, Abraham, living Amish. There was only one thing I was missing.”

  He raised a brow.

  “You.”

  She snuggled closer and turned her lips to his. They would face the future together. Abraham would always be her protector, her husband and her friend.

  Someday they would have children of their own. Kayla would be big sister. William would help Abraham with the livestock and the farm and learn to take on more responsibilities as he grew.

  Jonathan had mentioned helping other families who would need new identities to escape crime. Julia trusted God would reveal who needed their assistance and support in the future. Right now, she was only interested in the present moment with Abraham by her side. What else could she want? She had everything and more, her children, her faith and a wonderful man who filled her heart with love.

  * * *

  If you enjoyed Amish Safe House, look for the thrilling conclusion to the Amish Witness Protection series, Amish Haven by Dana R. Lynn.

  Keep reading for an excerpt from Protecting His Secret Son by Laura Scott.

  Join Harlequin My Rewards today and earn a FREE ebook!

  Click here to Join Harlequin My Rewards

  http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards.html?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010003

  Dear Reader,

  I hope you enjoyed Amish Safe House, book two in the Amish Witness Protection continuity. In this story, Julia Bradford’s son witnesses a gang murder, and she and her two children are forced into witness protection. They find refuge with Abraham King. The reclusive former cop, now living Amish, lost his wife and child tragically to violence three years earlier. If he couldn’t protect them, how will he be able to protect Julia and her family now? They’re in danger of losing their lives while Abraham is in danger of losing his heart.

  I pray for my readers each day and would love to hear from you. Email me at debby@debbygiusti.com, write me c/o Love Inspired, 195 Broadway, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10007 or visit me at www.debbygiusti.com and at www.Facebook.com/debby.giusti.9.

  As always, I thank God for bringing us together through this story.

  Wishing you abundant blessings,

  Debby

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense story.

  You enjoy a dash of danger. Love Inspired Suspense stories feature strong heroes and heroines whose faith is central in solving mysteries and saving lives.

  Enjoy six new stories from Love Inspired Suspense every month!

  Connect with us on Harlequin.com for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!

  Harlequin.com/newsletters

  Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks

  Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks

  HarlequinBlog.com

  Join Harlequin My Rewards and reward the book lover in you!

  Earn points for every Harlequin print and ebook you buy, wherever and whenever you shop.

  Turn your points into FREE BOOKS of your choice

  OR

  EXCLUSIVE GIFTS from your favorite authors or series.

  Click here to join for FREE

  Or visit us online to register at

  www.HarlequinMyRewards.com

  Harlequin My Rewards is a free program (no fees) without any commitments or obligations.

  Protecting His Secret Son

  by Laura Scott

  ONE

  Private investigator Mike Callahan scrunched down in the driver’s seat of his black SUV and watched the front door of Duncan O’Hare’s house through the open driver’s-side window. He was parked in the driveway next door, knowing the young couple was out of town for the weekend. Duncan O’Hare was a Milwaukee cop, but Mike didn’t believe the guy was dedicated to upholding the law.

  Quite the opposite.

  However, witnessing a meeting between Duncan O’Hare and Lane Walters, believed leader of the Dark Knights, two days ago outside an apartment building owned by Walters, wasn’t enough. He needed proof to back up his suspicions. Mike had tailed Duncan, but the cop had managed to evade him.

  On a mission to solve his father Max Callahan’s murder, Mike wasn’t about to let anything stand in his way.

  His father had been shot in the back while visiting the crime scene of an officer-involved shooting. Four years later and the crime remained unsolved.

  The key was buried deep within the Dark Knights, a civilian vigilante group known for meting out its own brand of justice against alleged criminals. There were several unsolved murders that were believed to be the work of the Dark Knights. As the police chief, his father had vowed to bring the Dark Knights down. Yet Mike knew the group had connections within the police force—possibly to Duncan O’Hare and Duncan’s father, Ian O’Hare, who had conveniently taken Mike’s father’s place as chief of police after his death.

  The night of his father’s funeral, Mike had overheard a conversation between Ian and Duncan O’Hare about how much they secretly admired the Dark Knights. Mike’s theory was that his father had learned about their connection to the vigilantes and had been murdered because of it. Mike wanted them arrested and held accountable for the role they’d played in his father’s death. Staking out Duncan’s house tonight had been a recent attempt to confr
ont the cop about his meeting with Walters.

  Duncan’s front door unexpectedly opened and a pretty blonde stepped outside, holding the hand of a small boy who, in Mike’s estimation, was around four or five years old. In the balmy May evening, there was plenty of light in the sky to see them clearly. The woman was wearing jeans and a pink hoodie with a white T-shirt underneath. He gasped and abruptly straightened as he recognized her.

  Shayla O’Hare. Duncan’s younger sister and Mike’s former fiancée. He hadn’t seen Shayla in four years, since their heated argument and breakup over her family’s complicity in his father’s murder. The child was a surprise. Since she hadn’t had any children while they were together, Mike assumed the boy was a stepson or an adopted son. He ignored the shaft of pain to his heart at the thought of her being married to another man. She paused near the Jeep and leaned over to talk to the boy.

  Out of the corner of his eye he noticed a dark sports car with tinted windows rolling down the street toward the O’Hare house. A tingling sense of danger had him tugging his gun from his shoulder holster.

  The low-slung car slowed and he watched in horror as the passenger’s-side window silently slid down, revealing the barrel of a gun. From what he could tell, the weapon was pointed directly at Shayla.

  “Get down!” he shouted as he instinctively fired at the car in an attempt to save Shayla and the boy. The gunshot was loud, hitting the frame of the car with a metallic thud. Shayla screamed and he hoped and prayed she hadn’t been hurt. He fired again, then shifted the gun to his left hand so he could push the start button. The SUV’s engine roared to life.

  The sports car accelerated and Mike yanked the gearshift into Drive. He stomped on the gas, gunning down the driveway toward the sports car. He attempted to ram his larger SUV into the small vehicle to halt its escape, but only clipped the back fender. The sports car fishtailed for a moment, then sped off.

  He considered following it, but knowing that Shayla and a young boy were in danger had him twisting the wheel to pull in behind the Jeep. He hastily shut down the engine and jumped out, pausing for a moment to holster the gun.

  “Shay? It’s Mike Callahan. Are you and the boy all right?”

  “Mike?” Her voice was faint and he approached cautiously, unwilling to scare them. “What’s going on?”

  Shayla and the child were huddled together behind the Jeep, smartly using the bulky frame as cover. The boy was crying, his faced pressed against Shayla.

  “Are either of you hurt?” he asked, dropping down on one knee. “He’s not crying because he’s hit, is he?”

  “N-no, we’re fine. Just scared.” Her pale, frightened face belied her words. “Brodie, it’s okay. We’re safe now. You don’t have to be afraid.”

  The little boy’s sobs faded and he turned his tear-streaked face to look at Mike. “Is he a good guy, Mommy?”

  Mike did his best not to flinch at hearing the word mommy. Shayla had broken his heart four years ago; he should be over their breakup by now.

  “I—um, yes. He’s a good guy.” Her voice sounded thick as if she were on the verge of tears, as well.

  He couldn’t blame her. That had been a seriously close call. He wasn’t surprised someone had come to Duncan O’Hare’s house with a gun, although he didn’t understand why Shayla and her son would be a target. “Come on, we need to get you both out of here before they decide to return.”

  “They who?” she asked. “I heard gunfire and caught a glimpse of the sports car driving away, but who was behind the wheel?”

  “I don’t know.” He stared at her, amazed at how she was still so heart-wrenchingly beautiful. “I was hoping you could tell me.”

  She dropped her gaze and hugged the boy close. “I have no idea. I’ve only been back in Milwaukee for a couple of days.”

  Ignoring the urge to dredge up the past, he glanced at the Jeep. It must have belonged to her because Duncan drove a white pickup. “Let’s go. We’ll take my car.”

  “Wait.” Shayla frowned. “Shouldn’t we call the police?”

  “My first priority is to get you and Brodie somewhere safe. We’ll work out the rest later.”

  “O-okay.” Shayla still looked a bit rattled but slowly rose to her feet. Brodie clung to her, so she hauled him up and into her arms. The kid was husky, no doubt about it. Smaller than Mike’s seven-year-old niece, Abby, but not by much. “Will you get the child safety seat out of the Jeep?”

  “Sure.” He wrenched open the door and, thanks to practice with his abundance of nieces and nephews, expertly unlatched the seat and carried it to his SUV.

  Five minutes later they were on the road, putting distance between them and the scene of the crime. If he hadn’t been there, watching and waiting for Duncan to show... He shuddered. It was too easy to imagine the worst.

  The attempt to kill Shayla and her son had to be related to Duncan’s illegal activities. Unless there was something going on in Shayla’s life that had placed her in danger.

  “What brings you back to Milwaukee?” he asked, breaking the long silence.

  Shayla didn’t answer for a moment, glancing surreptitiously over her shoulder at the child tucked into the back seat. “I came to visit my father. He’s in the hospital. In fact, that’s where I was headed just now.”

  He inwardly winced. As much as he held her father and brother responsible for his father’s death, he felt bad for what she was going through. “Is he going to be okay?”

  She bit her lip and shrugged, avoiding his gaze. “He needs open-heart surgery. And you can stop pretending you care about my father’s health. We both know that’s a lie.”

  The bitterness in her tone reminded him of their last, horrible argument a few months after their breakup. Shayla had reached out to him, but he’d shut her down, unwilling to let go of his beliefs about her family’s guilt. She’d accused him of being obsessed, and maybe he was.

  He held his tongue, realizing there was no point in antagonizing her.

  “Where is your brother? At the hospital? Or back at the house?”

  She hesitated. “I’m not sure. He was supposed to meet me at the house for dinner, but didn’t.”

  “Call him,” he suggested.

  “I did. Twice. It goes straight to voice mail.”

  “What time was he supposed to meet you?”

  “We spoke to the doctor about Dad’s surgery at eleven a.m. We both left the hospital then and were supposed to meet up again at three p.m., but Duncan never showed. I thought for sure he’d meet me at the house at five thirty for dinner, as planned. But he didn’t do that, either.”

  Had Duncan realized Mike was following him? Mike glanced at the clock on his dashboard, noting it was almost seven o’clock. Seven hours wasn’t a long time to be missing, but considering what he knew about Duncan’s recent activities, he figured the guy may have got himself into trouble. Either that, or he was hiding from Mike.

  “Do you know where Duncan likes to hang out?” he asked, hoping for a kernel of information he could use to find the guy.

  “How would I know something like that?” Her voice shimmered with exasperation. “I live in Nashville, Tennessee. I’m only here because of Dad’s hospitalization and upcoming surgery.”

  “Does your husband know you’re here?” The blunt question popped out of his mouth before he could stop it.

  “I’m not married, and my personal life is none of your business.” She crossed her arms over her chest in a familiar, defensive move. “Where are we going?”

  Shocked to hear she wasn’t married, he didn’t answer right away. His thoughts whirled and he wanted to know more about what Shayla had been doing over the past four years.

  Mike forced himself to stay on task, keeping his eyes on the highway as he inwardly debated where to take Shayla and her son. No way would she agree to go to his place, and that seemed too
personal anyway, so a motel was their best bet.

  “I’m going to put you and Brodie up in a motel for the night.” He took the exit ramp that would take him to the American Lodge Motel. The place was owned by a former firefighter and friend of his brother Mitch’s. Their entire law enforcement family had used the motel as a safe haven while on the run from bad guys so often that they’d joked about renaming it the Callahan Lodge.

  Now it was his turn to use it as a place to hide Shayla and her son. And he finally understood a little of what his brothers and his sister had gone through when they’d been in danger.

  “Okay,” she agreed. “Thank you.”

  The fact that she didn’t argue was concerning. He couldn’t help but wonder if she was keeping information from him.

  “Shay, I need you to be honest with me. Is there anyone who wants to hurt you or the boy? Are you running from his father?”

  “What?” Her eyes widened in horror. “No! Of course not.”

  “Then what’s going on?”

  “I don’t know!” The denial was spit out through clenched teeth.

  “Is this related to Duncan?” he pressed. “It’s hard to understand why he wouldn’t have met with you, considering your dad’s upcoming surgery.”

  “He’s a cop. I’m sure he had a good reason.”

  Her continued support of her brother grated on his nerves. He knew Duncan was up to his eyeballs in the Dark Knights’ illegal activities. And that involvement must have put Shayla in harm’s way.

  As much as he wanted to find out the truth about his father’s murder, keeping Shayla and her son safe had to be his top priority.

  * * *

  Shayla twisted her hands in her lap, hoping Mike wouldn’t notice how badly she was trembling.

  Of all the men to come to her and Brodie’s rescue, why did it have to be Michael Callahan?

  Seeing him so unexpectedly after four years had sent her into an emotional tailspin. In some ways he looked the same—his dark hair worn long and shaggy, muscular build and brilliant green eyes. Dressed in black from head to toe had made him appear sinister at first, until he’d rushed to her rescue, his fear and worry for her and Brodie clear in his facial expression and tone.