Protect And Serve

Her teeth tugged on her bottom lip. She looked so vulnerable. Blood surged through his veins and his gut tightened. It was all he could do not to step closer and gather her in his arms. He’d been attracted to her from the beginning, but this was more intense and focused. The disturbing urge had him backing away. The last thing he wanted was to become emotionally attached to this woman. It was one thing to guard her and help her feel safe, and another entirely to want to make her feel cared for.

“I’ll say good-night.” He stepped out of the room and shut the door, blocking her from his view. Now if he could only block her from his thoughts as easily.

* * *

Gina stared at the door. Confusion swirled through her mind. For a moment, she’d seen something in Shane’s expression that had her heart fluttering and her pulse skittering. Interest. There’d been definite interest in his green eyes. Answering attraction flared within her. But then his gaze had shuttered and he’d retreated, leaving her wondering if she’d only imagined the look.

What did it matter? There was no sense in letting herself feel anything for him. For anyone. With her brother back in her life, she was intensely aware that she, too, had the propensity for evil. She shared Tim’s DNA. DNA that could be passed on.

She’d never have the family she longed for. What man in his right mind would want to saddle himself with her?

With sadness filling her heart, she filled the dogs’ bowls with water and placed them on the bathroom floor, and she sank down on the edge of the bed. She dropped her head into her hands.

What a nightmare her life had become. Tim was attempting to follow through on his threat to kill her. She didn’t understand what purpose Tim had for wanting her dead. It wouldn’t change the fact that he was wanted for murdering their father.

That he hadn’t succeeded in killing her so far was a blessing.

It hurt her heart to believe Veronica had died because of her. She had no doubt Tim had killed her boss. What other explanation could there be?

“Oh, Lord, please. I...” She didn’t know what to say or how to pray.

She wanted to ask God to stop her brother, yet the words wouldn’t come. They felt like rocks stuck in her throat. Would God even hear her? She was so used to being disappointed she was afraid to try anymore.

She lay back, wishing the oblivion of sleep would take her away, but her mind was buzzing with all that had transpired. The image of Veronica’s lifeless eyes staring at the sky tormented her. Worry for the missing puppy scraped her nerves raw.

“Please let us find Marco, Lord,” she whispered, finally finding some reserve of faith. She curled on her side. The sleeping puppies looked so peaceful. So vulnerable. They needed her now. She had to be strong for their sake.

Her mouth felt like cotton. She needed water. She rose to check the bathroom for a cup and found none. She left the bedroom to pad barefoot to the kitchen in search of a glass. As she passed the living room, she noticed Shane sitting on the couch, brushing Bella, who sat at his feet, obviously enjoying the attention to her coat.

Light from the gas fireplace played in the dark strands of Shane’s hair, making them appear more blue than black. Once again the pull of longing lurched at her and attraction flickered through her. He was so handsome and capable. And she appreciated the fact that he’d apologized for jumping to an assumption of her guilt before knowing all the facts. She figured it was probably hard for him to admit he was wrong. But he’d owned up to his mistake and that meant a lot to her.

Plus, she had enjoyed working with him during their training. Even if he was a bit impatient with the progress, he’d never once taken that impatience out on Bella or Gina. But Gina had seen the frustration in his eyes and the tension in his shoulders. She wasn’t sure what had driven him. Wasn’t sure she wanted to know. Getting too close to her protector wouldn’t be smart.

She paused, contemplating turning back. But then Shane’s gaze lifted and met hers.

He swiftly rose, the brush dropping to the floor. “Are you okay?”

The concern in his tone caused warmth to flow through her. Bella cocked her head and stared at Gina as if waiting for her answer, as well.

She smiled. “I’m fine. I just wanted a glass for water.”

He nodded and resumed his seat. “Glasses are in the cupboard to the right of the sink.”

Bella lay down at his feet, apparently reassured that all was well.

She filled a glass from the tap. She drank the cool liquid and then refilled the glass to take to her room. She halted on the threshold of the living room. “Why are you still up?”

“Someone has to stand guard. Just in case.”

A shiver of dread skated over her flesh. She felt bad that he was losing sleep to keep watch over her. However, she did appreciate his sacrifice. “Have you heard if anyone has reported finding the puppy?”

He shook his head. “No. I’m sure the chief will let us know if he turns up.”

Heaviness burdened her heart. Her hand tightened around the glass. “What if no one finds him? What if he’s hurt? Or worse?”

“Don’t go there. You can’t give up hope. We’ll find him.”

He sounded so confident. She wanted to believe him.

“Tell me about your brother,” Shane asked, surprising her. “You’re twins. Who’s older?”

She moved to sit on the edge of the recliner facing Shane. Warmth from the fire curled around her. “I am, by two minutes and forty-five seconds.”

“How long has Tim been...?” His voice faded with uncertainty.

She bit out, “It’s okay, you can say it. Mentally ill.”

“Right.” He sounded uncomfortable. Which was how most people reacted when they learned of Tim’s condition. “Mentally ill.”

Memories crashed over her, making her heart ache. “The professionals had a hard time diagnosing him. His symptoms were all over the place. No impulse control, inattentive, hyper. But then, as we got older, his mood swings became more erratic, violent even. Our mom was the only one who could handle him.” Her heart burned with grief. “She died when we were fifteen.”

“I’m sorry. How?”

She appreciated the sympathy in Shane’s voice, but she dared not look at him or the tears would break through. Instead she focused on the blue-gold flames in the fireplace. “A car accident. She hit a patch of black ice and slammed into a concrete barrier.”

Shane made a sympathetic noise in his throat. Bella shimmied closer and put a paw on her foot as if sensing her sorrow.

Gina leaned down to run her hand over Bella’s soft coat. “Tim took Mom’s death really hard.” Her heart squeezed tight and she straightened. “It was hard on all of us. I miss her every day. Dad did the best he could. But being a cop and a father of two teenagers was a lot for him to handle.”

“That’s right, you’d said your dad was a police officer. So is mine. And my grandfather was and both brothers are.”

“Ah.” That explained his drive. He had a family legacy to live up to and he was anxious to get going on his career.

“My dad would be lost without my mom,” he said softly.

“Yeah, Dad had a rough time of it. Especially as Tim’s behavior became more unpredictable. He hung around some bad influences and started down a very destructive, criminal path. Dad forced him to see a counselor, who passed Tim on to a psychiatrist. But Tim wasn’t interested in getting help. I can’t blame all of his behavior on his mental illness. He made his choices of his own free will.”

“And you? How are you?”

She could feel Shane’s gaze on her. More than curiosity drove his question. She understood. This wasn’t the first time and it wouldn’t be the last someone asked if she, too, had a mental illness. As soon as anyone learned of Tim’s disorder, she became suspect, since they were twins. “I saw the same psychiatrist, just in case.”

“And?”

“He said I didn’t display any of the markers. But no one can guarantee I won’t develop a mental disorder one day. It runs in my mother’s family.” A constant fear that hung over her life like a dark cloud threatening to wash her away and kept her from risking her heart. She wouldn’t subject anyone to that uncertainty.

“Did the psychiatrist have any idea why your brother would be affected and you seemingly aren’t?”

She shrugged. “Even non-twin siblings have a ten-percent chance of developing the same disorders.”

“That’s a pretty low percentage. Chances are you’ll never suffer the same fate.”

She wished she could count on his words to be true. “But there is still a chance. No one can make any guarantees one way or the other.”

“One of God’s many mysteries.”

She met his gaze, expecting to see wariness, pity even. Instead, his expression was open and sincere.

“I often wonder why God chose to afflict Tim,” she told him. “Dad would say God never made mistakes and that, for reasons we may never know, God made Tim the way he is for a purpose.” She couldn’t keep the bitterness out of her tone. “I love my brother but I fear him, and have for as long as I can remember. Maybe I inherently knew something wasn’t right with him. As for a purpose? That I can’t wrap my mind around.”

“I agree with your dad. God has a purpose for Tim. For you. I don’t know what that purpose is, but He does have one. You have to trust Him.”

She cocked her head and studied Shane. She hadn’t realized he was a believer. But then again, it wasn’t something they’d had reason to discuss during class, and she’d been very careful to keep things work-focused despite how much she wanted to spend time with him outside class. “My dad would have liked you.”

The green of his eyes was highlighted by the firelight. “I wish I’d had the chance to meet him.”

So did she. A wave of sadness washed over her. She missed her dad so much.

Bella jumped to her feet, her ears back. She let out a loud bark.

A shaft of anxiety tore through Gina. “What’s wrong with her?”

Shane rose. “I don’t know.”

They heard scratching and a long howl. Hawk. James opened his bedroom door. The bloodhound raced through the living room and halted at the sliding glass patio door. Bella joined Hawk, her deep growl ricocheting off the condo’s high ceiling. James came into the living room wearing sweats and a T-shirt, his expression sharp with concern and his service weapon in his hand.

From her bedroom, the puppies’ excited barks rang out. Even the pups sensed danger. A shiver of dread ran across her flesh.

Shane touched her shoulder, startling her. “Go to your bedroom and lock the door.” He and James moved toward the sliding door.

Gina nearly dropped the glass in her hand. Someone was on the patio. Deep in her heart she knew the trespasser was her brother. Hating the thought of anything happening to Shane or James, she said, “Be careful. You know how dangerous he is.”

Shane met her gaze. “I know. Now go.”

She hesitated for a second then hurried to her bedroom, locked the door and gathered the pups in her arms. “Oh, Lord, please,” she whispered.

There was only one thing for her to do.

Leave Desert Valley and hope this time Tim wouldn’t find her.

FIVE

Shane tempered the adrenaline swamping his system with the knowledge that Gina was safely tucked away behind the locked door of the third bedroom of the condo. They’d made the right call in bringing her here.

He only regretted that he hadn’t been the one to suggest it, but the idea of having her underfoot had left him feeling a bit off-kilter.

With the threat of her brother lurking so close, Shane knew his own discomfort had to be relegated to unimportant.

It didn’t matter that he found Gina attractive and interesting and that he admired how well she was holding up considering she’d been chased from her home, had discovered her boss’s dead body and was being stalked by her evil twin. Not a good day.

Shane reached the kitchen drawer where he’d stashed his service weapon. He grabbed it along with a heavy-duty flashlight, then followed James out the condo’s back sliding door.

The dogs ran for the tall fence separating the oblong-shaped patch of grass behind the building and the empty lot beyond. Both dogs sniffed the ground near a spot in the fence where a loose board had been pushed aside.

The acrid odor of tobacco hung in the chilling air. The temperature had dropped as it often did at night in the northwest part of Arizona.

Shane swung the flashlight’s beam in sweeping arcs. The light revealed a freshly lit cigarette abandoned on the cement patio floor; a wisp of smoke curled from the smoldering tip in the cool breeze.

How long had the intruder been standing outside? Had it been Gina’s brother? Of course. Who else could it have been?

James inspected the fence. “Our guy pried the nails loose.”

Which spoke of Tim’s determination. Tension knotted Shane’s neck muscles. “We need to reattach the board ASAP. And bag and tag this cigarette butt.”

James joined him on the patio. “Agreed.”

“He’s not getting her,” Shane vowed. He could feel James’s gaze on him but was powerless to keep the fire out of his voice. “I won’t let him.”

“She’s one of the good ones,” James observed quietly. “A keeper.”

Shane closed his eyes for a moment. “It’s not like that.”

“Whatever you say.” The mocking amusement in James’s voice grated on Shane. “I’ll get a baggie for the evidence.”

James whistled for Hawk and the two went inside, leaving Shane and Bella standing on the patio.

Bella nudged his thigh.

He scrubbed her behind the ears. “It’s okay, girl. We’ll get him next time.”

Because, unfortunately, Shane knew there would be a next time. He knew in his gut that Tim wouldn’t give up. “We’ll keep Gina safe.”

It was his job to protect her. But he had a feeling he’d have a hard time walking the tightrope between doing his duty and letting himself care too deeply.

He wasn’t staying in Desert Valley, and becoming attached to his beautiful charge would only complicate his life in ways he couldn’t—wouldn’t—allow.

His focus had to be on his career. Distractions like love and romance were for way down the line. He wasn’t ready to open himself up for a relationship. Even if the sweet and special dog trainer made his heart pound with longing to amend his plan.

* * *

Gina paced the floor of her suite in agitated silence. Three steps right, pivot, three steps left, pivot, repeat. She’d calmed the two puppies, now both chewing on bones she’d grabbed from the training center earlier.

Every noise beyond the confines of her room sent a jolt of alarm through her, making her heart pound and her blood rush. She was terrified to think Tim had somehow found out where she was so quickly.

Had he been watching, and trailed them to the condo? Would Shane and James capture him? Or would Tim hurt these two brave men who’d promised to protect her? Had Tim put an arrow through Shane? Was Shane even now bleeding and dying because of her?

She squeezed her eyes tight against the onslaught of horrible scenarios that played through her mind. Awfulizing was destructive, as her therapist had advised on numerous occasions. She wasn’t even sure that was a real thing but she understood the sentiment behind his caution.

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