Zamsky said something to Ian, then handed the box to him. Ian shook Zamsky’s hand. While the squad packed up, Ian marched in their direction.

  “I wish I could tell from his expression what’s in that box.”

  “Must not be dangerous or contain a hazardous substance if he’s bringing it with him,” Clay said.

  “But his expression says it’s not good,” Aiden added.

  Ian slid into the back seat. “Feel free to open this, but if it was delivered this way, I doubt you’re going to like what you see.”

  He took the box from the bag and sliced the box open with his Leatherman.

  She held her breath and lifted the lid. A large picture of Sierra, Reed, and baby Asher at the park lay in the bottom of the box. Written in sloppy red marker it said, “Testify and the baby dies.”

  12

  Malone’s hand shook, and she could barely keep her phone to her ear. “C’mon. C’mon, Reed. Answer. Please answer.”

  She paced her living room, moving past Ian, who stood watching her. She pivoted and reached for him. He grasped her free hand, and she came to a stop and looked at him as she waited for Reed to answer his phone. The warmth of Ian’s hand helped still some of her panic, but she still couldn’t settle down until she talked to her brother and knew he and his family were safe.

  “Malone,” Reed finally answered. “Everything okay?”

  She blurted out the information about the package and started walking again. “I need to know all three of you are safe.”

  “Sierra and Asher are at Veritas. They’re fine. I’m in the office.”

  “You should go home. Now! I know the Center is safe, but you should be with them. Protect them.”

  “Yeah. I will.” He sounded too calm for having heard about a threat to his child, but that was Reed. Strong and unflappable on the surface, even if he was cringing inside. But he’d always put up a good front for her. And he didn’t like to accept help.

  She had to make sure he did today. “Please let me send the other Byrd brothers to your office to escort you home.”

  He didn’t reply.

  “Please, Reed,” she begged. “I agreed to do it for you when there wasn’t a threat against me. Your family has a direct threat now. An escort is a good idea.”

  “Fine,” he said, sounding irritated, and she could easily see him shoving a hand in his hair. “But whoever sent the picture threatened the family of a federal agent, and I’m going to report this to my supervisor. We’ll open our own investigation.”

  “Do that, but be quick. I want all three of you together.”

  “I’ll call Sierra and warn her, and the center’s guard too. And put her partners on alert. Maybe have Blake stand watch outside our condo door until I get home.” He let out a shuddering breath. “And what about you?”

  “I wasn’t threatened.”

  “But the person who sent the package knows where you live. You can’t stay there, even with the Nighthawk team on duty.”

  “I’ll come stay with you.”

  “Man,” Reed said. “I don’t like that.”

  “I thought that was what you were going to suggest.”

  “I was, but you offering it up and not arguing tells me how rattled you are.”

  “Yeah.” She didn’t elaborate because Ian was watching her every move, and she didn’t want him to know that she was more frightened than she’d ever been in her life. “I’ll pack my things, and we’ll be on the way to the center.”

  “Call when you leave. I should be there before you.” He paused, and the silence hung in the air like the bomb they’d believed the box could’ve contained. “Be careful, sis. Be very careful.”

  “I will. I promise.” And she meant it. She believed Olivo was behind the threat. He didn’t want her to testify against Snipes, and he was playing dirty to stop her. Problem was, she couldn’t prove it.

  She shoved her phone in her pocket and looked at Ian. “I’m going to pack a bag and stay with Reed until this is all over.”

  “I heard.” He moved closer and took her hands.

  She wished they weren’t still trembling, but they shook like a terrified puppy facing a giant bear.

  “I wish you could stay at my place.” His gaze was dark with concern. “I want to be the one to make sure you’re safe, not fob it off on someone else.”

  “The Veritas Center is secure, and Reed will be there.”

  “I know it’s the right place for you. I just want to be there too.”

  “You could be, I suppose. Or at least we could mention it to Reed. He might appreciate an extra person. But honestly, they have guys on the Veritas team who have the skills to do the job too. Not to mention the Byrds might want to remain on duty.”

  “Yeah, there’s no need for my help.” He released her hands and, without a word, drew her into his arms. “I hope I’m the only one who can provide this kind of comfort when you’re worried.”

  She rested her head on his shoulder and slid her arms around his trim waist. Reed could give her a hug. As could Sierra. But this hug? This cocooning of Ian’s arms around her body? This hug erased her fear and replaced it with yearning for a relationship with this wonderful man.

  The warmth of his body seeped into hers, and she wasn’t sure where she started and he ended. They seemed melded in unity and purpose. And more. So much more.

  She shouldn’t do this, but she needed something good in her life. And her feelings for Ian and his for her were good. And pure. She needed pure when evil in the name of Tirone Olivo, who would be willing to kill a baby to get what he wanted, surrounded them and made everything scary and ugly.

  She leaned back and traced a finger along Ian’s cheek, enjoying touching the contour of his rugged face. She stroked his wide jaw with a peppering of whiskers and ran her finger over his full bottom lip.

  His eyes darkened and filled with passion. “You’d better stop that unless you plan to kiss me again.”

  “I plan to kiss you again.” She rested her hands on his broad shoulders and rose up on her tiptoes, but before she could lift her lips to his, he lowered his head and pressed his against hers.

  The earlier kiss had been soft and gentle, but this one spoke to the depth of his feelings. She’d thought since Junior’s attack that such a kiss might scare her, but it didn’t. Not at all. The exact opposite. She slid her hand up to clutch the thickness of his hair and draw him even closer.

  Yes. Yes. Yes. She wanted this wonderful, extraordinary man in her life. Not just today. Not just for this kiss. But forever.

  Problem was, she didn’t know what she was going to do about it.

  While Malone packed, Ian knocked on the robin’s egg blue door of the house across the street. Malone didn’t have a security camera outside her place, but Ian had spotted one on the garage of the neighbor across the street, and he hoped it caught the person who’d delivered the package.

  He got out his ID, noting how his hand shook. Not enough that another person could tell. But he could. He didn’t know if it was from the package and warning that told them that a vile man like Olivo had inserted himself in the mix, or if it was leftover emotion after Malone’s kiss.

  There was something new. Fresh, in her kiss. Almost like a promise. He was thinking about a future with her, but should he be? He still didn’t have his head on straight. And kissing her like he had instead of walking away was tantamount to leading her on. She didn’t deserve that from him. He would need to have a talk with her later.

  But when? Once she was behind the iron fortress of the Veritas Center, how much would he see her? When would he be alone with her again? They would always require an escort while in the building due to security, but would Reed let her outside? Would she want to leave?

  Because if Ian knew anything right then, he knew she was freaked out big time. Otherwise, she would never have suggested she stay with Reed. He suspected the woman he was coming to know would try to maintain her independence and argue about leaving her home until she won.

  The door opened, and a middle-aged woman with curly hair, round glasses, and a frumpy look stared at him. “If you’re selling something, I’m not buying. No matter what it is.”

  He held up his ID. “Detective Ian Blair, Portland Police Bureau.”

  “Oh.” She raised her hand to clutch her cardigan sweater in the same color as the door. “Is something wrong? My husband. This isn’t about him, it is? He’s not hurt, is he?” Her words rushed out faster than he could get a breath to answer.

  “No, ma’am.”

  Her shoulders sagged at the news. “I’m Beatrice Paulson. I watch a lot of detective shows, and I know how you detectives like to get those details.”

  “You’re right about that, ma’am. This’s about your neighbor across the street.”

  “Sweet Malone?” She glanced around him at Malone’s house. “What happened?”

  “She had a suspicious package delivered.”

  “Oh my.” Beatrice’s fingers tightened on the sweater. “Must’ve been while I was out, or I probably would’ve seen the driver who dropped it off. How can I help?”

  “You have a security camera on your garage. I was hoping it might’ve caught whoever delivered the package.”

  She frowned. “I know the camera can see her house, but I don’t remember ever getting any alerts when something happens over there.” She narrowed her eyes. “Honestly, my hubby put the camera in. He gets the alerts and tells me what he thinks I need to know. I’d much rather go out and talk to my neighbors than watch them through a camera.”

  “Could we look at your files to see?”

  “The app is on his iPad. I can try to find it. Come in.” She stepped back, and he entered the dark house that smelled like pine cleaner.

  She led him to her kitchen, where a bucket of water sat with a mop inside. “Sorry, I was mopping, but looks like the floor’s dry. Can I offer you something to drink?”

  He smiled at her when all he really wanted to do was get a look at that iPad, but she was being kind and helpful, and he needed to be patient. “I’m good, but thank you.”

  She gestured off-handedly at the stools and sat. An iPad clasped in a case with a camouflage pattern stood open on the counter.

  “My husband is a hunting fanatic.” She tapped the screen a few times. “Interesting. Looks like there’re a few files that recorded while I was out.”

  “It probably picked up the police and bomb squad arriving.”

  “Bomb squad?” Her gaze flew to him. “I really missed something, didn’t I?”

  “No bomb. Just a precaution.”

  Her expression troubled, she returned her focus to the tablet.

  “Start with the most recent video first,” he said. “That’ll likely be the delivery, and the others, recordings of the police and squad.”

  She tapped the screen and swiveled the case, allowing them both to see the screen.

  An orange drone with the drone manufacturer’s name printed in black on the side swooped down over the road and dropped the package on Malone’s doorstep.

  “A drone.” She clutched her blouse. “Oh my. Wait until I tell my husband.”

  Ian didn’t want word getting out about the drone. If Olivo was behind delivering the package, Ian didn’t want Olivo to learn that they had footage of the delivery.

  Ian looked at her. “Telling your husband is fine, but promise me you two won’t tell anyone else.”

  She frowned. “If you want.”

  “I insist.” He made sure his tone was firm and unyielding.

  “Okay.”

  “Let’s look at the other videos.”

  She opened the next ones, and it did indeed show police cars and the bomb squad arriving, and all the commotion that came along with them.

  He got out a business card. “Can you please send all of the files to this email address?”

  “Hmm.” Her frown deepened. “I don’t know how to do that.”

  “I can show you how.” He pointed at the menu. “You have to download the files before sending them.”

  She selected the download button, and the files arrived in a flash. “Where did they go?”

  He helped her find and send the videos to his email.

  “That was easy enough.” She smiled at him.

  He stood to thank her. “We’ve already canvassed your neighbors, but you have my card in case anyone remembers seeing anything. Or if you noticed anything unusual in the area.”

  “Of course. I’ll call right away.” She walked him to the door but stopped shy of opening it all the way. “Can you tell me what was in the package?”

  “I’m afraid not, but it was personal, so you shouldn’t have any problems.”

  She opened the door the rest of the way and nodded across the street. “Looks like Malone’s leaving.”

  “Thanks again for your help.” He jogged across the street in time to catch her before the brothers took off. “I’ll meet you at the Center. I have something I want you to look at.”

  “I’ll wait for you in the lobby.” She twisted her hands in her lap.

  He shook his head. “Not safe with all the windows out front.”

  “We’ll take you in through the secured parking ramp,” Clay said, then looked at Ian. “I’ll wait and open the gate for you, and you can follow us up.”

  “Great. Thanks.”

  He followed them to Veritas, his gaze searching for anyone tailing them. Clay fulfilled his promise of opening the gate. Once beyond it, Ian idled his vehicle to allow Clay to climb in.

  “Drive all the way to the top,” Clay said. “That level has the best access to the skybridge. Then you can go to the condos or the lab from there. But your first stop will be the lobby to get a visitor pass. You have to wear it at all times when you’re outside the condo. And you need one of us to escort you while you’re in the building.”

  Ian shook his head. “I knew you had tight security for the lab, but not the condos.”

  “The lab needs to protect evidence and samples,” he said. “Sure, the doors all lock and require fingerprint readers to get in, but the Veritas partners stake their reputations on being able to maintain chain-of-custody. We all aim to help them keep it.”

  “Sounds reasonable.” Ian reached the top level.

  “Park close to the door.”

  Ian found a spot and swung his car into it. Ian followed Clay as he made quick work of getting Ian’s pass from the security guard in the lobby. Ian had hoped to catch up with Malone, but she either didn’t come down for a pass or she’d already gone to Reed’s condo.

  Ian hung the lanyard around his neck, and Clay took him to the fifth floor condo. Ian knocked.

  Reed opened the door, his expression stony. “I’ve handed off my current investigation, and before anything else happens, I want a full update on finding whoever threatened my wife and child. They won’t get away with it. Not while I’m still alive and breathing.”

  Malone stood beneath the pounding spray of the shower in Reed and Sierra’s guest room, letting the water refresh her. She’d felt bad leaving Ian to fend for himself with Reed and Sierra the moment he arrived, but Malone needed a shower. She had to remove an internal coating of slime left from the box, and a shower symbolized that for her.

  Reed, Sierra, and Asher were all the family she had, and she couldn’t abide them being in danger because of her. If she had to back down and not testify to make it go away, she might just do that. And what would that make her? A coward or a wise woman?

  She finally understood to a degree why many of the battered women she worked with wouldn’t bring charges and testify against their spouses. They were setting priorities, and they prioritized their children or their own lives. She was prioritizing her family.

  Malone turned off the shower, towel dried, and swiped her hand across the steamy mirror to look at herself. “Those women weren’t letting a killer go. You would be.”

  Argh. What do I do? Will Olivo ever leave us alone even if he’s arrested for his crimes and imprisoned?

  Her days as a federal prosecutor told her that many drug kingpins continued to run their organizations from prison and called the shots. If Olivo wanted her family dead, he would find a way from prison to have them murdered. They could all go into witness protection, but she didn’t want that. She couldn’t be responsible for her brother and sister-in-law having to give up jobs they loved, because once you entered the program, you were forbidden to do anything remotely connected to your prior profession. It made you too easy to trace.

  Help us. Please. Please. Please. Help us.

  Still frustrated, she stomped to the bedroom and dressed in comfy yoga pants and a warm baby blue fleece top that surrounded her in coziness.

  She ran a comb through her hair and fired a confident look at herself in the mirror. She was already putting her family in danger, and no way would she add showing them her angst. She would have to fake how she felt. Same with Ian. Still, they were all perceptive and might pick up on her worry. She would have to double her effort to hide it.

  She left the bedroom and came to a stop. She hadn’t expected to see the scene in front of her. Sierra was in the kitchen doing dishes. Reed was sitting at the dining room table flipping through the file Ian had brought with him. That was all normal, but Ian? He sat on the plush couch holding baby Asher, who was a little over five months old. Ian made funny faces at the baby. Asher grinned and giggled, drool running from his mouth.

  Ian grinned, too, his eyes alight with joy and affection.

  He looked up and caught her watching him. He smiled broadly, one side of his mouth quirking up higher than the other. Her heart melted, just like that, into a big old blob of honey. He seemed like a natural with the baby, and yet this was the man who thought he couldn’t get married. If he changed his mind, did he even want children? Did she?

  She had no idea. She’d always thought she would be alone and dote on Reed’s kids, but now? Now she was as confused about that as she was about whether she should testify.