Targeted for Revenge

by Karen Kirst

  Mason was quiet for long moments. “I was hoping you wouldn’t. Want to talk about it?”

  Her mouth went dry as she thought about what had unfolded at the water park and inside the redbrick house. “Not really.”

  His arm left the bench to curve around her shoulders. He moved with care, no doubt to protect his ribs from sudden movements. Or maybe he didn’t want to startle her again. Either way, she liked the contact. She liked being close to him.

  “I am sure of one thing,” she muttered.

  “Yeah? What’s that?”

  “I’m going to avoid basements for a while.”

  “Good idea.” She heard the smile in his tone.

  They soaked in the serene night, content to draw comfort from each other’s presence. She assumed he found her closeness comforting. He kept his arm around her as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Occasionally, his fingers whispered over her shoulder, the soft caress unhurried.

  Sitting there together, Tessa was hurtled into the past...to a time when they were in sync, when their lives were effortlessly entwined.

  “You were amazing,” he murmured. “I always knew you were strong and resourceful. I didn’t know how strong until yesterday.”

  “I was petrified.” She shuddered, remembering the beating he’d suffered. “I thought I was going to watch you die.”

  Mason shifted and tucked her against his side. She rested her cheek against his chest and inhaled his heady scent. The cotton fabric stretched across his muscular torso was soft against her skin. His heart pounded a reassuring rhythm. When he smoothed his hand over her unruly hair and kissed the top of her head, she closed her eyes and sighed. This was as close to perfection as she could get.

  She didn’t dare speak or move, lest she shatter the moment. Minutes stretched by, and she relaxed into him. The tension ebbed from her.

  “I have an idea.”

  She opened her eyes. “Tell me.”

  “You need rest. I’ll sit outside your room until you go to sleep.”

  She reluctantly lifted her head and shifted out of his half embrace. “That’s a thoughtful offer. You need rest, too. More than I do, in fact.”

  “I want you to drift off with the assurance that you’re safe, I’m safe and Lily is safe.” Leaving the bench, he held out his hand. “Come on.”

  Not wanting him to strain his ribs, she stood on her own and then fitted her palm against his. Once inside with the door secure, he chose a cushioned chair from the entry area and scooted it down the hallway. He stationed himself across from her door and pulled out his phone.

  Tessa rested her hand on the knob. “You’re really sweet for doing this.”

  “What can I say? I’m a sweet guy.”

  The screen light allowed her to see his grin and shining eyes. His busted face, too. Her heart squeezed with tender fondness for this brave man. The renewed sense of solidarity between them filled her with gratitude. He might never love her again, but she had hope she’d win his good opinion and respect.

  Bracing her weight against the chair, she bent and brushed a kiss on his noninjured cheek. His skin was part smooth, part prickly, advertising his need for a shave.

  His forehead furrowed. “What was that for?”

  “For being you.” Swallowing the lump in her throat, she said her good-night.

  Beneath the covers again, she fell asleep within minutes of her head touching the pillow. What seemed like a short time later, she was awoken by Lily’s lilting chatter. Sunlight peeping around the curtains assured her that morning had arrived without a single bad dream.

  Lily bounced on the bed. “Look, Mommy! Mason made us pancakes!”

  Tessa sat up and spotted him near the room’s fireplace, setting a tray on the coffee table. The aromas of rich coffee, spicy sausages and something fruity brought her fully awake. He straightened and turned, white teeth flashing in his beard-shadowed face.

  “I made the good kind of pancakes,” he said with a wink. “No surprises.”

  Lily slid off the mattress and pattered over to him. “Will you cut mine? And pour syrup?”

  His smile turned protective and proud as he gazed down at her. Smoothing his hand over her curls, he nodded. “I’ll work on that while your mom gets dressed.”

  Choosing a chair that had its back to the room, he began readying Lily’s breakfast. Tessa hurried into the bathroom and chose from her meager belongings—another tourist-geared T-shirt, jeans and sandals. She looked in the mirror and grimaced at her reflection. Her skin was paler than usual, giving her freckles center stage, and there were circles under her eyes. There was nothing to be done about it, so she put on her shiny lip gloss and applied curl-taming gel to her mane.

  Tessa joined the others and reached for coffee. He’d prepared a trio of plates piled high with fluffy pancakes, sausages and strawberries. “How did you have the energy for this? Did you get any rest at all?”

  Having gotten Lily settled, he got comfortable with his own plate in his lap. “I stayed in the hallway for about thirty minutes, until I heard you snoring. I—”

  “I do not snore.”

  Eyes sparkling, he forked a strawberry. “Eat your pancakes, Tess. Tell me those aren’t superior to your pink—”

  She cleared her throat and inclined her head toward Lily, who was currently licking maple syrup off her fingers and absorbing every word.

  He smirked. “She obviously likes them.”

  “Why are you in such a good mood?”

  He looked over at Lily. “Because we’re about to have a momentous conversation.”

  “Keep her age in mind, okay? I’m not sure how much she’ll understand. I don’t want you to be disappointed.”

  * * *

  “I won’t be.” Anticipation buzzed through him. He’d initially decided to wait until the danger had passed, but yesterday had reminded him that the future wasn’t guaranteed.

  Tessa was perched on the chair behind where Lily sat on her knees, hunkered over the coffee table. Tessa balanced her breakfast on the fat cushion arm and found a safe spot for her coffee mug on the small table beside it.

  She dipped a slice of sausage in the syrup and shot him a tremulous smile. “I’m happy and relieved this day has come.”

  Lily quickly finished her breakfast and would’ve shot off to watch her favorite show if Tessa hadn’t called her back. “Mason has something he’d like to talk to you about.”

  She draped over his chair. “What is it?”

  Butterflies fluttered in his chest. He set aside his plate and took her small, plump, slightly sticky hand in his. “Lily, have you ever thought you might like to have a dad?”

  She bounced on her toes. “Tommy Hamilton doesn’t have a dad.”

  From across the coffee table, Tessa clarified, “Tommy is in her library story group.”

  “Maggie’s mom went to heaven,” Lily said, her eyes big.

  “Is Maggie also in your story group?”

  “She’s at church.”

  “I see. Well, your mom and I are old friends...” He paused to collect his thoughts and decided to just come out with it. “Lily, you don’t have to call me ‘Mason’ anymore. I’m your dad.”

  She ceased bouncing and blinked up at him. “You are?”

  His heart swelled with the drive to protect this tiny human. “Yes, ladybug, I am.”

  “Will you make me yellow pancakes every morning?”

  He chuckled. Before Tessa ducked her head to hide a smile, he saw that her eyes were suspiciously bright.

  “Not every morning, but as often as I can.”

  “Will me and Mommy live with you?”

  He licked his lips. “Do you remember that there was a fire at my house?”

  “Uh-huh. It’s broken.”

  “That’s right. My house has to be
fixed. After that, you will stay with me a lot.”

  “But what about Mommy?”

  Mason avoided looking Tessa’s way. Did she feel as sad about managing two separate households, with Lily bouncing between, as he did? “Well, we’ll have to figure that out. As soon as we do, we’ll let you know.”

  “Can I watch my show now?”

  “Not with those dirty hands,” Tessa said, standing. “I’ll help you get the syrup off.”

  While they were in the bathroom, he sipped his coffee. Lily’s response hadn’t been as jubilant as he’d expected, but he reminded himself she was only three.

  There was a knock on the door, and Silver poked his head in. “We’ve had a sighting.”

  Mason abandoned his coffee and went into the hallway. “Where?”

  “We got a call from a concerned citizen in the Bear Ridge neighborhood about an hour ago. I’m meeting Lieutenant Polk and a couple of patrol officers. I’ll report in as soon as I know something.” His violet gaze shifted behind Mason, to the remnants of their breakfast. “How did it go with Lily?”

  “Good. She didn’t pose as many tough questions as I thought she might.” He hooked his thumb toward the bathroom. “Give me a moment to tell Tessa I’m leaving.”

  “You’re not going.”

  Silver was his best friend, which gave him the right to express his opinion. But Mason outranked him. Before he could speak, his friend cut him off.

  “In this situation and with your injuries, you’d be a distraction, not an asset.”

  Mason didn’t like what he was hearing.

  “You know I’m right,” Silver persisted. “Put yourself in Tessa’s shoes. After everything that happened yesterday, is she going to be comfortable alone with my newly hired private security guards standing over her?”

  “Fine, I’ll sit this one out. I expect regular updates.”

  “You got it.”

  He relayed the development to Tessa when she and Lily emerged. Her tension abated somewhat when he told her he was staying. Silver had made the right call, after all.

  “Are you up for a shopping trip?”

  She had gone to clear her and Lily’s plates from the coffee table. Instead, she straightened and stared at him. “Shopping? Now?”

  “We’ll stay local. There’s a shop in the square that has everything you and Lily need to replenish what you lost in the fire.”

  “Are there toys?” Lily asked, her eyes alight with excitement.

  He bent to her level and chucked her chin. “If that shop doesn’t have toys, we’ll search until we find some.”

  She clapped her hands together. Tessa was still uncertain, gauging by her expression.

  “We’ll have professional bodyguards with us the entire time. I’ll be armed, as well.”

  “We are running low on toothpaste and other toiletries.”

  “This excursion is for clothes and shoes. You might even find the slipper-style you like so well.”

  “Ballet flats,” she corrected, grinning.

  “Yeah, those things.”

  As soon as the breakfast dishes were cleaned and put away, they got acquainted with Silver’s hired guards, Tyson and Angus, and were soon driving down the mountain to the heart of Serenity.

  Lily radiated excitement. She’d been mostly confined indoors since their arrival. The promise of a new toy was also at the forefront of her mind.

  The square was usually bustling on beautiful spring days, and this morning was no exception. Mason waited for a parking spot to open directly in front of the Mint Julep Boutique. Tyson and Angus scored one nearby a few minutes later. Once the men were stationed out front, Mason ushered Tessa and Lily inside the feminine, colorful shop. He greeted the owner, Sally Decker, and took great pleasure in introducing Lily as his daughter. Sally didn’t attempt to hide her surprise, and he knew the word would spread through Serenity like wildfire. He didn’t mind. It would save him from repeated explanations. He took Lily to the toy-and-book area to allow Tessa time to peruse the clothing.

  Lily’s mission seemed to be to handle every single stuffed animal and book in stock. This was Mason’s first shopping excursion with a toddler, and he found her enthusiasm charming, though it was no small task to replace everything just so. He made sure to face the shop door and windows, occasionally checking on the hired bodyguards. Silver had vouched for their professionalism, and Mason trusted his friend’s instincts.

  “I want this one.” Lily clutched a white-and-pink unicorn to her chest and looked at him with pleading big brown eyes. “This one, too.” She snagged a board book from the shelf. He was certain that with time and experience, he’d learn to say no to her. For now, he couldn’t help but succumb.

  “What do you say, Lily?” Tessa interjected. Several items of clothing were draped over her arms, and a pair of child-sized sandals dangled from her fingers.

  “Please, Daddy?”

  His gaze jerked back to Lily’s round face, his heart skipping with joy over one simple word. “Yes, you may have those two things. Let’s go pay.”

  He and Tessa wrangled over who should foot the bill. In the end, she acquiesced, probably because other patrons had entered the shop and could eavesdrop.

  Emerging onto the sidewalk, he made eye contact with the guards. Angus gave him a thumbs-up.

  “Look, Mommy, a fountain.” Lily pointed to the parklike square across the street. “Can we go see it?”

  The square was bustling with folks congregating on benches, enjoying donuts and coffee, and others walking their dogs along the brick paths. To the left and right of the Mint Julep Boutique, tourists and locals strolled along the sidewalks, their purchases swinging at their sides. It was a normal scene on a day with lovely weather. He looked at the beautiful woman beside him and wished the three of them could explore like a regular family. But the threat hadn’t gone away.

  “I’ll bring you here again, I promise. For now, we should return to the cabin.”

  Lily started to pout. Tessa said, “We can ask Mimi if she wants to come over and swim. What do you think about that?”

  “Okay.”

  Tessa locked gazes with him. “You didn’t buy yourself anything.”

  “I’ll stop in a store down the road. Won’t take me five minutes to get what I need.”

  He made arrangements with Tyson and Angus, and they followed closely during the brief drive to the Village Tinker. Tessa’s eyebrows lifted. “This is where you’re getting clothes?”

  “I’m not difficult to please.” He winked.

  Inside, he breezed through the clothing section, snagging the bare necessities, then hurried to the real reason he’d come here. Back in the truck, he produced a large white box. Tessa wet her lips.

  “Is that what I think it is?”

  Lily leaned forward, only to be snagged by her booster-seat belt. “Can I see?”

  “Lily, your mom and I used to come to this very store and buy their homemade fudge.”

  He opened the lid with a flourish, and the scents of rich, buttery caramel and chocolate filled the cab. Lily’s eyes got huge as they took in the confectionary slabs.

  Tessa immediately reached for her favorite, butter pecan. Her eyes closed in bliss as she tasted the first bite. “This hasn’t changed a bit. Sweet perfection.”

  Mason chuckled. “Not as perfect as rocky road.”

  He handed Lily a piece of both. “Next time, I’ll take you inside and let you choose a flavor.”

  In the middle of enjoying a second piece of fudge, his phone chirped. Tessa’s enjoyment faded as he read the text.

  “The tip didn’t pan out,” he told her, mourning the dip in her mood. Her gaze darted to the store and parking lot.

  Mason tucked the purchases on the seat between them and put the gear in Reverse. Dante wasn’t in the Bear Ridge neighb
orhood, as suspected, which meant he could be anywhere.

  NINETEEN

  Despite Mason’s misgivings about the unit’s involvement in the community outreach event, Lieutenant Hatmaker’s stance didn’t alter. They couldn’t bow out. Mason and the others debated whether to leave Tessa and Lily at the cabin with the private security guards, Tyson and Angus, or to keep them with them. Because of the distance between Serenity and the neighboring city of Pigeon Forge, they decided on the latter.

  Tyson and Angus had commandeered one of the stadium locker rooms for their use, and that’s where she, Lily, Gia and Candace were supposed to stay until the community event was over. Restless and dogged by worry, Tessa had paced the smelly, oppressive room until Angus had had enough. He’d offered to accompany her for a quick peek at the mounted-police unit, to put her mind at ease, he’d gruffly said.

  She remained in the cool shade created by the bleachers rising above her on either side. Behind her, a long tunnel led to the interior restrooms and snack bar. Angus stood slightly behind her shoulder, ready to shield her at any hint of trouble. As much as she disliked Lieutenant Hatmaker’s attitude toward Mason, she had to agree with his assessment of today’s threat level. Dante was arrogant, but he wasn’t stupid. Even he would have second thoughts about trying something in the midst of this law-enforcement extravaganza.

  The bleachers on this side of the high-school football field were mostly empty, as the event attendees were busy roaming the turf and drifting from one organization to the next. Students and faculty were joined by hundreds of citizens of all ages who’d come to learn about and interact with law enforcement and emergency services. Children got their pictures taken in shiny fire trucks. EMTs let volunteers practice wrapping and stabilizing pretend broken bones. The SWAT armored vehicle was obviously a crowd favorite.

  The biggest draw of the day, though, was the mounted-police unit. The foursome and their respective mounts were mere yards away from this access point, and they were an impressive sight in their official Serenity PD gear. The equine officers’ manes were in elevated, elegant braids along the crests of their necks. Their navy-and-silver saddle pads bore the department symbol and their individual names. Reflective breast-collar covers and leg wraps glinted when struck by the sun’s rays.