Cops And...Lovers? (19 page)

"You're too late," Nick said tonelessly. "We've had two incidents here already—"

"If
DiCarlo
,
wanted her dead, she'd already be buried." A wave of fear washed over Nick, mingling with the anger, burgeoning into something volatile and dangerous. He looked down, found his free hand clenched into a fist so tight his knuckles hurt. "I want McNeal protected."

"I can have a U.S. Marshal down there first thing in the morning. We'll transport her to a safe house out of state—"

"Make it two marshals, and they'd damn well better be here before morning." Fear stabbed through the anger like an ice pick through slush when he realized
Erin
wasn't the only one who was vulnerable. His entire family was at risk. Stephanie. Mrs.
Thornsberry
. "I want my family protected, too."

"
DiCarlo
isn't after you or your family, Nick."

"Unlike you, Frank, I'm not willing to take that chance. Just do it. Two marshals for Erin, and two for my family." Without waiting for a reply, Nick slammed down the phone.

He couldn't believe it had come to this—the sludge from
Chicago
's underworld leaching all the way down to
Logan
Falls
. Why the hell hadn't
Erin
confided in him?

The urge to go to her was overwhelming. He had to know she was safe. He had to keep her that way until the marshals arrived. But the need to protect
Erin
was tempered with the terrifying knowledge that he hadn't been able to keep Rita safe. He hadn't been able to keep Stephanie safe.

Nick stood abruptly, aware that his heart was beating out of control. How was he going to protect her and his family against a Mafia kingpin who had his own private army at his beck and call? Striding to the door, he swung it open and stepped in to the outer office.

Hector looked up from his desk, his brows drawing together. "What's wrong, Chief?"

"I want you to get the cruiser and follow me to my house." Crossing the room, Nick unlocked the gun cabinet and removed the department shotgun, which hadn't been touched since last year, when he'd cleaned it up for the Boy Scout tour. "Take this along, with extra ammunition for your sidearm. Wear your vest."

"My vest?" The other man jumped to his feet, his eyes as big as saucers. "Holy cow, Chief, what's going on?"

"Precautionary measures. I just spoke with Chicago PD. Vic
DiCarlo
might be paying McNeal a visit for something that happened back in
Chicago
a few months back."

"Vic
DiCarlo
?"
Hector's
mouth dropped open.
"
The
Vic
DiCarlo
?"

The name sent an icy finger of dread scraping up Nick's spine. "We're going to drive over to my house,
then
you're going to escort
Steph
and Mrs.
Thornsberry
to that physical rehab center in
Indianapolis
."

"
Indianapolis
? You mean, like, right now?"

"I mean like five minutes ago," Nick said sharply. "No one's looking for them, Hector. This is only precautionary. But I'd feel better if they weren't here in
Logan
Falls
."

"
Yessir
! I'm on it, Chief."

"You'll be secure at the rehab center.
Em
has the address. Two
U.S.
Marshals will meet you there in a few hours. I'm going to stay here and make sure McNeal gets to a safe house."

Looking excited and uncertain at once, Hector strode to the coat tree and grabbed his hat. "I'll take good care of them, Chief. I'll guard them with my life."

Nick stood in the center of the room feeling gut-punched, praying that wouldn't be necessary.

* * *

Erin
landed a punishing blow to the punching bag, the force of it vibrating up her arm all the way to her shoulder. She'd long since worked up a sweat. Her temper was beginning to calm, but her muscles felt like overcooked noodles. The bruises she'd received in the car accident weren't helping matters, but she couldn't stop now. Boxing, she'd learned, was the secret of the universe when it came to relieving stress.

Of course, it didn't surprise her that Nick Ryan had shot that theory to pieces.

She hadn't seen or spoken to him since the scene at her apartment the day before. Just as well, she told herself for the
dozenth
time. He'd had no right to put her on administrative leave. Other than to avoid her, he hadn't had a solid reason for pulling her off the street. He sure didn't have a reason for posting one of his deputies outside her apartment like some kind of bodyguard.

But she knew it was the bit about him avoiding her that bothered her most. It hurt, she realized. Not only because he'd pushed her away just when they'd formed a sort of tentative friendship, but more importantly because of all the other emotions swirling around in that foolish heart of hers. She cared for him—a lot more than was wise or prudent or all those other virtues she'd never gotten the hang of. She cared for him a lot more than a woman like her should, knowing what she did about men like Nick.

The thought made her want to laugh—or cry. She'd fallen headlong for a man who couldn't handle her being a cop. A too strong, too proud, overprotective man who would never tolerate her love of law enforcement. Who would never understand
her.
Who would always try to control her under the guise of keeping her
safe.

A man just like Warren, who'd yanked her young heart out of her chest and torn it into little pieces right before her eyes. Six years ago, she'd stood there like a fool, feeling every rip, and finding herself willing to give up everything just so he would love her. No matter how much it hurt, she wouldn't make the same mistake with Nick.

A harsh laugh escaped her as she stilled the bag and centered up for her next blow. Why did everything always have to get so complicated, anyway?

Dancing to the left, she jabbed with her right arm and connected solidly with the bag.
Thwack!
The sound of her glove against vinyl echoed through the bedroom, giving her a small, greedy dose of satisfaction. So what if he didn't want her?
Erin
could handle that. The man was still in love with a memory, for God's sake. They were both better off without the complications a relationship would bring. She didn't need him or his uncompromising attitude.

Thwack!

Just because he was the only man who'd ever kissed her senseless didn't mean her feelings for him went any deeper than hormones.

Thwack! Thwack!

Just because her heart felt as if it were being ripped from her chest every time she thought of spending the rest of her life without him didn't mean she was in love with him, did it?

Love?
Good Lord, who said anything about love?

"You ought to keep your door locked, McNeal. There seems to be a few shady characters running around
Logan
Falls
lately."

Erin
spun at the sound of Nick's voice. Her legs went weak as his presence registered. The blood drained from her head at the sight of him. She'd seen plenty of cops in her time, but she'd never seen a man look as good in a blue uniform as Nick. Of course, he didn't look happy to see her. Like that came as a surprise. He was never happy to see her—unless he was going to fire her or otherwise do his best to make her miserable.

She stared at him, aware of her pulse jumping, her heart climbing into her esophagus. His eyes raked her like cut onyx. His mouth was set into a grim line. She wondered how long he'd been standing there, watching her.

Intent on playing it cool, she turned away and threw another jab at the bag.
Thwack!
"What are you doing here?"

"We need to talk."

Thwack!
"About what?"

"About Vic
DiCarlo
."

Everything inside her froze into a solid ball of ice. Reaching out, she stilled the bag with her gloves,
then
turned to Nick. For the first time, she saw the anger smoldering like hot coals in his eyes.

"Frank filled me in on your little secret," he said in a low, dangerous voice.

She didn't know what to say. "I know how this might look to you, but—"

"For crying out loud, don't play dumb, McNeal. It's insulting, and you don't do it very well." A humorless smile twisted his mouth. "You lied to me. You figured out
DiCarlo
wanted you dead the day the sedan hit you at the crosswalk, only you didn't see fit to discuss it with me, did you?"

"I didn't lie to you—"

"You shot
DiCarlo's
only son in the warehouse that night, McNeal. Did you think he was just going to let that slide?"

Erin
felt the words like a punch. "I didn't know for certain
who
I shot in that warehouse."

"I don't believe you," he said. "I took a chance on you, and you lied to me. I took you on against my better judgment, and you made a fool of me." He laughed bitterly. "I didn't need much help, did I?"

His self-deprecating tone stirred her temper. "Back off, Nick."

"You suspected it was
DiCarlo
. You should have told me."

"Frank asked me to keep it under my hat until we had proof."

"Frank's an idiot for not having you in a safe house."

"You're overreacting," she said, but there was no conviction in her voice.

"The DNA came back,
Erin
. It's a match to Damon
DiCarlo
."

Suddenly, she felt sick to her stomach. "I'm sorry—"

"You might get off on adrenaline and the occasional game of risk, but I can do without it." He started toward her, his mouth set in a grim line. "You not only endangered yourself this time, but you endangered my town … and my family."

Erin
had never seen him so angry. His jaws were clenched tight, his hands fisted at his sides. The sight of him, combined with the shocking knowledge that
DiCarlo
was behind the two attempts on her life, sent a wave of fear slicing through her.

"I wouldn't—"

"You brought my child into this." Nick reached her, eyes narrowed, nostrils flaring. "You put her in danger." He shoved the punching bag hard with the last word. The bag swung, catching
Erin
on the shoulder, hard enough to knock her off balance. Temper, rising, she lashed out. Her glove glanced off Nick's jaw, sending him back a step.

Thwack!

Regret knotted her stomach the instant she hit him. In all the nine years she'd been a cop, she'd never struck anyone in anger. Not even when they'd deserved it. Yet here she was, taking her anger and fear and frustration out on a man who clearly didn't deserve it.

Anger flashed like black diamonds in his eyes.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—"
Erin
barely saw the blur of his uniform as he rushed her.

In a classic wrestling move, he took her down on the mat. She landed flat on her back. Surprise rippled through her that she'd landed so gently. Anger followed when it dawned on her how easily he'd overpowered her. Those feelings turned quickly to something much more intense the instant he came down on top of her.

He straddled her, pinning her arms at her sides. "Don't ever hit me again," he growled.

Erin
couldn't catch her breath. Too many emotions and sensations pummeled her all at the same time. He was too close. She was too weak to fight her feelings for him much longer. They were both too involved to do anything except make the situation infinitely worse.

"Let go of me," she said breathlessly.

"Not until you explain to me what the hell is going on."

"I can explain standing up."

"Like you did a moment ago, when you punched me?" His left jaw was red.

She stared at him, guilt tugging at her conscience. "I'm sorry."

"I've been beating my brains out for days trying to figure out who wants you dead, McNeal. All the while, you're holding out on me."

"What did you expect me to say, Nick? That I need a job, but by the way, there's an outside chance a well-known Mafia
don
is trying to kill me? I'm sure that would have gone over well."

Nick cursed.

"Frank thought I'd be safe in
Logan
Falls
," she said.

"That was incredibly irresponsible of both of you!"

"I didn't intend to endanger your family." The repercussions of her own words settled over her like a dark cloud. "Oh, Nick… You don't think Stephanie… I wouldn't—"