Page 71 of Under Fire

“Oh, man. I hope he did. I don’t relish the prospect of having him evicted from the property. Talk about being labeled as heartless. My reputation would never survive the onslaught of venom from Randy. Everybody in town thinks he’s a lovable teddy bear.”

They entered the coffee shop and headed for Cade and Sasha’s table.

Cade placed a cup of coffee in front of him when Matt sat down. “You look like you can use this.”

He needed to take a long, hot shower to wash the slime from his body after spending those minutes enclosed in Norris’s office. A cup of coffee would have to do for now. “Thanks.”

Sasha slid Delilah’s tea across the table. “Tori refreshed the tea for you.”

“What’s next?” Cade asked.

“A trip to the bank to present the document proving I have signing privileges for Mom’s accounts. After that, a visit to my childhood home to assess what needs to be done before I sell the place.” Delilah sipped her tea.

“You don’t want to keep the house and move back here?”

Matt’s heart stuttered. Under the table, his hand gripped his thigh, his emotions chaotic and dark despite the cheerful atmosphere of the coffee shop. He’d never considered she would want to move back to Harmony, especially after her experiences as a teenager in this town. Instead of building a new life in Otter Creek, she could resume the old one on her terms. An old life without him.

Delilah shook her head. “My home is in Otter Creek. I love my store and the life I’ve built.” Her gaze skated to Matt. “I don’t want to leave my store, my friends or Matt. As soon as I’m able, I’ll leave Harmony. Unless Zach needs me, I won’t come back.”

Relief flooded Matt. He was invested in this relationship with Delilah. He would have kept their relationship alive by commuting to Harmony as often as work permitted. Long distance relationships were tough and his schedule was erratic. The weeks when Bravo was on call, Matt couldn’t leave Otter Creek. The Fortress units were on deployment rotation for a month at a time. Worse, if Bravo deployed, he didn’t know how long he’d be in the field.

He didn’t want to be separated from Delilah that long. He already knew he’d have a hard time leaving her during his deployments. Good thing he’d be able to text and call during downtimes on missions.

Cade’s eyebrows rose. “You plan to mail large checks to your family every year for the next five years?”

“I’ll pay them off today if I talk to them. I don’t want that burden hanging over my head. They can do what they want with the check as long as they understand the money train has officially dried up after this payment.”

He studied her a moment. “And you’re hoping to take the target off your back.”

“That, too.”

“I don’t think Holloway and the Frosts will be satisfied with the payoff.”

Matt didn’t think so, either. Not when so many millions of dollars were at stake.

“Want us to stay on Norris?” Cade asked him.

“No. If he takes off, you won’t be able to follow him without a vehicle anyway.” A slight smile curved his lips. “Besides, I doubt he’s anxious to leave his office.”

Sasha tilted her head, a puzzled look on her face. “Too much work to do?”

“He was more interested in his assistant than his work. In fact, his desk didn’t have anything on it except a phone and his computer.”

“The phone wasn’t ringing and his computer was off.” Delilah’s expression reflected her disgust.

Sasha’s eyes widened. “Oh.”

“And get this,” Matt said. “Norris runs a foundation benefiting children.”

Cade snorted. “Ironic.”

“I can use two more sets of eyes in the Holloway house. If anything connects Randy to Michelle’s death or the attacks on Delilah, I want to find it and notify Russell.” To protect Delilah, Matt would play nice with the local police. “Once we finish with Michelle’s house, we’ll find a place for lunch, maybe meet with the rest of Bravo.”

After finishing their drinks and taking the documentation of Delilah’s right to legally access Michelle’s accounts to the bank, Matt drove the SUV from the center of town, following Delilah’s directions to her childhood home. Ten minutes later, he parked in front of a brick one-story house with elaborate landscaping in the yard.

Delilah’s jaw dropped. “What in the world?”

He looked closer, hoping to see what had surprised her. Nothing. “What is it?”

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