Page 62 of Last Chance

“This is the only way. We have to try. I can’t stay in hiding forever.”

“It hasn’t been more than a day, sweetheart.”

“And already we’ve had two attempts to either kill or reacquire me.” She shook her head. “Let’s find out if David is responsible or if he’s tangled up in something and can’t get out on his own.”

Sawyer sighed. “Your heart is too soft, Janie. This is risky.”

“Please? You can make it safe for me. I’m asking you to work something out so I can have some answers and my employees will be safe.”

He glanced at his team leader, eyebrow raised.

“Wuss,” Brody muttered.

Sawyer punched his friend on the shoulder. “We’ll make it work, Janie. All of us will talk to him.”

“He’ll want to talk to me alone.” She knew David. He wouldn’t pass up a chance to press his case one more time.

“Not happening. Where you go, I go. Period.”

“He won’t be happy about it,” she warned. Her brother would be quite vocal in his displeasure.

“Tough. Your safety is my priority, not his happiness. If he loves you as much as he’ll claim, David will understand my precaution.”

Not likely. “You don’t know him like I do.”

He inclined his head. “He doesn’t know me, either. Yet.”

Well, this would be fun. Unless she missed her guess, David had met his match. “All right. I’ll follow any rules you lay down so I can see him. Maybe we’ll mend our broken relationship.”

Sawyer brushed his mouth over hers. “For your sake, I hope so.” His voice gave away his skepticism.

She felt the same way. Still, Janie wouldn’t give up on David. Despite everything, she still loved him. “Thanks, Sawyer.”

“I just hope we don’t regret this plan.” He grabbed his phone and called Jeremy. “It’s Sawyer. Brody and I are bringing Janie into Hartman. Send Moran to Main Street Coffee Shop in ten minutes. We’ll meet him there.” After answering a few cryptic questions, Sawyer ended the call and slid the phone back into his cargo pocket. “Let’s go. We don’t have much of a head start.”

“I’m riding with you.” Brody opened the back door and stepped outside to scan the area. He glanced over his shoulder. “Clear.”

Sawyer wrapped his arm around Janie’s shoulders and tucked her close to his side. After resetting the alarm, he escorted Janie to the SUV and helped her into the shotgun seat. He drove into the town of Hartman and headed for the coffee shop.

“Why aren’t we meeting David at my shop?”

“Too great a chance that the person who left the box at the front of the store will be lying in wait for you to return.”

Of course. She should have realized his logic. The precaution of staying away from the shop wouldn’t change just because her brother showed up unexpectedly. In fact, his appearance in town was even more reason to go somewhere out of her normal routine. Since Janie didn’t drink coffee, she didn’t go to coffee shops in town.

Sawyer and Brody remained vigilant during the drive. Thankfully, the journey was uneventful. Just the way she liked them. After what happened earlier this morning, she would never take a peaceful drive anywhere for granted.

When Sawyer parked in the lot beside the coffee shop, Brody climbed out and went inside the establishment. Two minutes later, Sawyer received a text. He circled the hood of the SUV and opened Janie’s door. “Straight inside,” he murmured. “We’ll sit at the back of the shop in the corner. Brody’s waiting for us.”

Janie glanced around as they hurried to the door of the shop and Sawyer ushered her inside.

Brody lifted a hand, and they joined him at the back corner table. Sawyer seated Janie, then the two men sat with their backs to the wall.

“Want tea or something else?” Brody asked her.

She shook her head. “I don’t think I could keep anything down.”

“We don’t have to do this,” Sawyer said. “We can leave right now.”

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