by Karen Kirst
Raven whistled. “Bloody Tony. What’s she doing in our neck of the woods?”
The tips of Mason’s ears burned. He didn’t relish revealing his private business, but these three had his back, no matter what. “I knew her as Tessa Elliott. We were once in a serious relationship, and she’s returned requesting my protection. Apparently, Antonio is in poor health and is slowly relinquishing his duties to his heir, Dante.” He explained her involvement with the unfortunate Officer Fisk. Their expressions darkened with dismay. “The little girl with her, Lily, is my daughter.” Saying it out loud for the first time choked him up. Staring at his boots, he used the ensuing silence to mentally regroup. “I understand you’re as shocked as I am.”
“She didn’t tell you?” Raven demanded, outraged on his behalf.
He lifted his gaze. “Tessa and I have a lot to work through. I know I can count on you to treat her with respect.”
Cruz inclined his head, a silent show of support. Raven clamped her lips together. Silver’s gaze was probing, solemn. Then his famous grin flashed, and he looped his arm around Mason’s shoulders. “This makes me an honorary uncle, right? I’m going to spoil her rotten.”
Mason actually smiled. Inside the house, he left the others in the living room and followed the sound of tinkling glass. Tessa was sweeping up the broken bits and didn’t look up at his approach.
“I’ll take care of that later.” His voice was gruffer than he’d intended. Her presence in his home was throwing him off-kilter.
She propped the broom against the wall. When she came near, he said, “I told the others about our connection and about Lily.”
“I figured.” A flush worked its way up the slender column of her neck.
“They have to know the facts if they’re going to help.”
“I understand, Mason.”
Tessa remained at the room’s edge, using the armchair as a shield. Cruz and Raven sat on opposite ends of the sofa, and Silver leaned against the fireplace, arms crossed. Awkward tension hung in the room. Silver offered a quiet greeting. The other officers merely nodded in reaction to his introductions. Mason retrieved his laptop from his office and brought up Dante’s image. Sour resentment rushed to the surface. This man had orchestrated his and Tessa’s breakup. If not for him, Mason might’ve had a chance to attend his daughter’s birth, to be involved in her early years.
Wrangling his focus on the matter at hand, he set the laptop on the ottoman and jerked a finger at the image. He hadn’t changed much in the intervening years. Whipcord-lean and well over six feet, Dante carried himself like a prince and dressed like one, too.
“This is Dante Vitale. Thirty-one years old. Has a distinguishing scar above his left eyebrow. He’s unmarried?”
“That’s right,” Tessa confirmed. “He’s had an on-again, off-again relationship with a woman named Shelly Miles.”
“New Jersey is home base. How many guards does he usually travel with?”
“Four. Bruno Esposito is the one who sticks like glue to my brother. He’s a Mack truck.” When Mason searched more images and angled the screen toward Tessa, she nodded. “Bruno’s the grizzled one. Don’t let his age fool you. He’s in better shape than I am. And he’s been in the Vitale service for decades. He won’t hesitate to sacrifice himself for my brother.”
“Do you recognize anyone else?” Cruz asked her.
Tessa leaned forward, resting her hands on the chair’s curved top, and studied the screen again. “The short guy on the end, the one with the mustache, is James Lisowski. He’s a follower, not an original thinker. I don’t know the others.”
“The license plate I glimpsed was from Georgia,” Mason said. “I’m guessing Dante likes to travel in style.”
“My father owns a private plane. They probably flew down and then rented vehicles.”
Raven flipped her long black braid behind her shoulder. “They’ll dump the Cadillacs. The tags make them easy to spot.”
“Or they’ll switch out the plates for locals and remove the rental stickers,” Cruz said, rubbing his jaw.
Mason caught Silver’s gaze. “What are you thinking?”
Uncrossing his arms, he pushed off from the mantel. “This guy’s got wads of cash at his disposal. He can get his hands on weapons, getaway vehicles, you name it. He can pay for information or dirty jobs. That makes him more dangerous than most.” His violet gaze fell on Tessa. “You’re going to require twenty-four-hour protection.”
Although what he said hadn’t been an accusation, Tessa flinched.
“Let me be clear about something,” Mason said, making eye contact with each of them. “I’m not asking any of you to go above and beyond the usual job requirements. We have our patrols and other cases. I don’t expect anyone to put in extra hours on this.”
Silver rolled his eyes. “Don’t be so dramatic, brother. We’re in this with you, one hundred percent.”
Raven jutted her chin. “I’m willing to do whatever needs to be done.”
Cruz left the couch to clap Mason’s shoulder. “There’s no doubt in my mind that you’d stick your neck out for us. I’d do no less for you, Sergeant.”
“Thank you,” Mason said gruffly, catching Tessa’s touched expression.
“I’d like to thank you, too,” she said. “I appreciate your willingness to help.”
Raven and Cruz were all business, acknowledging her with solemn nods.
Raven swung her head, her long braid sliding along her crisp uniform. “Let’s go, Cruz. We’ve got to see to the horses.”
“I’ll take guard duty tonight,” Cruz offered.
“Already called it,” Silver announced, smirking.
Cruz planted his hands on his utility belt, a teasing challenge in his eyes. “I didn’t hear you call it.”
“Then you weren’t paying attention.”
A disgruntled noise escaped Raven. She hooked her arm through Cruz’s and tugged him toward the door. “When will you two stop acting like teenagers?”
Mason observed Tessa watching the interplay between his teammates. She must be aware of their loyalty to him and that they weren’t thrilled with her. But she wasn’t in a position to care whether they liked her or not. She was desperate for help, and that desperation had driven her to him.
He wished she’d come for different reasons, like his right to know he was a father. Despite the circumstances she’d found herself in, he couldn’t completely let her off the hook. He wasn’t sure he’d be able to forgive her, and that was a problem. Because they were going to have to work together to keep their daughter safe.
* * *
Yesterday morning, Tessa wouldn’t have dreamed she’d be sharing a meal with Mason. As the years had passed, she’d thought of him often, reliving their many happy moments together. What she hadn’t allowed herself to do was envision a reunion. It was too fraught with regrets and disappointments. Now, she was seated in his living room, and the reality was much worse than she’d feared.
He was painstakingly polite to her. When he did look at her, his face was a calm sea, while his eyes were twin hurricanes. They whipped at her, threatening to topple her. How could you do this to me?
Her reasons for staying away had seemed so right and solid when hundreds of miles separated them. Face-to-face, her logic disintegrated like a sand dune in gale-force winds. She hadn’t calculated the depth of his hurt. She’d wounded Mason, the one person she never would’ve chosen to hurt, not in a million lifetimes.
The salted fry turned to dust in her mouth. Gulping orange soda—apparently Silver’s idea of a proper drink for adults and toddlers alike—she begged God to stall her tears until she was alone.
I’m drowning here, Lord. Drowning. What have I done?
“I ordered chicken tenders, too, in case she didn’t like burgers,” Silver said, gesturing to Lily’s plate.
Lily had taken off the bun and torn the patty into pieces. She hadn’t eaten much. She’d awoken crying from her nap. The unfamiliar surroundings had scared her. Coming downstairs to find a roomful of uniformed officers hadn’t helped. Cruz and Raven had quickly made themselves scarce, and Silver had contacted a meal-delivery service.
Mason had retreated to the kitchen, rid the floor of glass and nailed plywood over the broken window. For safety reasons, he’d set up a portable table in the living room, tucked between the wall and the couch. They’d be able to see anyone coming up the drive.
“Lily, would you like some chicken?” Tessa asked.
She shook her head and scooted her chair even closer to Tessa’s. Lily hadn’t spent much time around men, especially men in uniforms with badges and guns.
“I ordered pie for dessert. Does she like pie? It’s pecan,” Silver said. “Does she have any allergies?”
Mason had spoken very little during the meal, aside from saying a brief prayer of blessing. He was seated on her left, at the head of the table.
“Fortunately, no.” Tessa looked across the table at Silver. “You’ve thought of everything. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” His unusually colored eyes seemed to take her measure.
Tessa was glad for Silver’s company, despite his reservations. He kept the meal from being conducted in complete, miserable silence. She noticed his habit of wearing long sleeves and leather gloves year-round hadn’t changed. Her curiosity stirred. When she’d asked Mason the reason, he’d gotten a funny look and declined to answer.
“When are we going home, Mommy?”
Silver’s hand stopped halfway to his mouth, the burger dripping juice onto his plate, and he snuck a furtive glance at Mason. Tessa didn’t look at him. She couldn’t.
“I’m not sure yet.” She hadn’t yet considered what exactly to tell Lily or how to explain their current circumstances.
Mason cleared his throat. “You don’t want to leave before you see the stables, do you? We have six horses. You can help me feed them.”
Lily’s expression brightened. “Tonight?”
“My friends, Cruz and Raven, are already getting them tucked in. I thought we could go in the morning and feed them breakfast.”
“Can I give them mints?”
Mason smiled. “They’d like that.”
“What are their names? Are they boys or girls?”
Lily listened as he explained about the horses in their care. Tessa used the distraction to hand her daughter bits of meat and fries, which she ate without complaint. When they were finished, Silver retreated to the study to make phone calls.
Tessa cleared the wrappers and napkins, while Mason put leftovers in the fridge. Lily trailed behind him.
“Will you color with me?”
His brown eyes reflected surprised pleasure. “Do you like to draw? We could use blank paper and pens.”
“There are crayons and coloring books in Lily’s travel bag,” Tessa suggested.
“I’ll get them from the truck.”
“Yay!” Lily bounced on her toes.
As soon as Mason brought in the bags, Lily dug in hers and removed almost all of the items until she found the crayons and books. Toddler-sized clothes and socks, along with baby dolls and toys, were now strewn across his floor. Tessa recalled he liked to keep things tidy, but he hadn’t been obsessive about it. He patiently encouraged Lily to replace her unwanted things, helping her along the way. When the pair moved to the table and began coloring together, Tessa felt out of place. Unneeded. In Mason’s mind, unwanted.
You don’t have the right to feel sorry for yourself. Besides, he deserved Lily’s undivided attention.
Tessa carried the bags upstairs and, for lack of anything better to do, transferred their belongings to the dresser drawers. There was no way of knowing how long they’d be staying, but she didn’t think he’d mind. When she finished, she waited in the open doorway, letting their mingled voices waft up the stairs and over her.
Lord Jesus, please protect us and lead law enforcement to Dante. Please give Mason a chance to form a lasting bond with Lily.
She thought about asking God to not let Mason hate her, but it seemed selfish.
Retrieving her Bible from the top drawer, she spent the next half hour reading through her favorite Psalms. She heard the study door open and close, and Silver’s voice as he addressed Mason. The front door creaked and boots thudded on the porch.
Mason and Lily came looking for her not long after.
“Mason’s a good colorer, Mommy,” Lily said as she scampered onto the bed.
“Is that so?” Tessa closed the heavy book and placed it on the nightstand.
“Guess what? He used the glitter crayons.”
Mason remained on the threshold, his hands in his pockets. He looked as uncertain as she had felt earlier. He took note of the Bible, and she could tell he was still adjusting to the fact she was a believer. She could say the same about him. As wonderful as their relationship had been, it hadn’t been built on God’s standards. Without Him as their foundation, they wouldn’t have found lasting happiness together.
Tessa stood to her feet. “She usually takes a bath before bed. Do you mind?”
“Of course not.” He twisted toward the hall. “There are fresh towels and washcloths in the linen closet.”
“I didn’t see Ducky in my bag,” Lily announced.
“I’m afraid we left him at home.”
“I can’t take a bath without Ducky!”
Sensing the brewing meltdown, Tessa plucked her off the bed. “Ducky wouldn’t want you to sleep in Mason’s nice clean bed without washing off the dirt first. He’d be sad if you did.”
She contemplated that. Mason slowly nodded. “Maybe we can find a friend for Ducky in one of the stores here.”
“Can I take the new friend back home with me?”
His features shuttered. “That’s a possibility.”
Tessa felt like they were navigating emotional land mines. They couldn’t make plans for the future until they’d dealt with the present.
Mason left them to their own devices. After Lily had bathed, brushed her teeth and climbed into bed, she asked if he could read her a bedtime story. Tessa found him downstairs on the couch, his laptop on his lap.
“Sorry to disturb you. Lily’s requested that you read to her.”
He closed the laptop. “Is that part of her bedtime routine?”
“It is.”
“Books were a big part of your life.”
“They always have been.” They’d been her escape when life became difficult. “I’ve read to Lily since she was about six months old. Story time at the library is a long-standing tradition.”
He looked at her, his gaze unreadable. “I’m glad you’re passing that passion on to our daughter.”
He gave her a wide berth and ascended the stairs. Tessa couldn’t resist following him. He hadn’t asked her to stay away, so she didn’t.
“What are we reading?” Mason got comfortable on the bed, stacking pillows behind his back and stretching his legs out.
Lily’s damp curls kissed her pink nightgown, and her cheeks were rosy from the warm bath. She snuggled close to him and handed him the book. “The horses are named Tillie and Toni.”
“I remember you told me about them earlier today.” He opened the book to the first page and began to read.
Tessa hovered in the hallway, thrilled with the sight of Mason and Lily together, like a father and daughter should be. She was also ensnared by the soothing cadence of his velvet-wrapped voice.
Lily must’ve found his voice just as soothing, because she fell asleep before the end. Mason gingerly got to his feet and, leaving the book on the nightstand, joined Tessa.
He pulled the door almost closed. “How
did I do?”
“You’re a natural.”
“She keeps reminding me this isn’t her home.”
“Kids her age don’t like change. Our departure was rushed and fraught with danger. Dante almost succeeded in running us off the road, and I had to skirt a log truck to put distance between us, in the process playing chicken with a sports car.”
His face hardened. “You didn’t tell me.”
“I didn’t have a chance to in the handful of hours we’ve been here.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I didn’t mean to put you on the defensive.”
“I’d say you’re handling everything amazingly well.”
“I want to tell her the truth about who I am.”
“Okay.”
“We’ll tell her together, when the time is right. After the danger has passed.”
“Dante won’t be easily defeated or distracted from his goal.”
“We’ll be ready for him.”
Tessa wanted to believe Mason, but he had no idea the depth of evil he was up against.
FIVE
Mason had been awake since two in the morning, when he and Silver had switched guard duty, but he was wired. It could be the gallon of coffee he’d downed. More likely, it was because his mind wouldn’t rest. He had a daughter who was in serious danger of being abducted and an ex-girlfriend with a target on her back. His enemy had been groomed for crime since birth.
Muddling matters was the very real resentment clamoring for attention. Every time he thought about Lily’s birth, her first birthday party, her first words—all the major milestones he’d missed—his heart spasmed with pain. Tessa had professed to love him. But if she really did, she wouldn’t have robbed him of precious time with his daughter.
He should take his hurt to the Lord and ask for healing. Right now, he wanted to wallow in his anger, because forgiving Tessa meant what she’d done was okay. And it wasn’t. Not by a long shot.
Mason drove past the courthouse. Tessa was hunkered against the passenger door, her focus on the lush green landscape that typified a wet spring in the Smokies. She had been withdrawn this morning, content to let Lily’s chatter fill the silence. In the past, he would’ve pulled her into a hug and rained kisses over her face until her trilling laughter erupted. She must’ve sensed his attention, because she shifted away from the window and looked at him. She’d donned a fitted black jacket over a cotton-candy-pink shirt and the same black pants and sparkly flats from yesterday. Her lips were shiny with her favored gloss. Silver cross earrings shimmered at her ears. The striking combination of her dark, riotous hair and gold-green eyes against her olive skin made him feel as if he’d been kicked in the chest.