Page 77 of Caught in the Crossfire

“Did you recognize him?”

She shook her head.

Linc ran into the room, a Sig in his hand. “Sit rep.”

“A man looked in the window and scared Nicole. Stay with the women.” Mason slipped out into the night. He noted boot prints in the dirt under the window and followed the trail of flattened grass through the yard to the edge of Linc’s property.

He grasped the top of the fence, hauled himself over the structure, and landed in a crouch. No grass or dirt on this side of the property line since Linc’s fence line backed up against an alley.

A figure dressed in black pounded the pavement in his haste to flee from Mason. Heading toward Azalea Street, he chased the guy, cutting between two homes, and darting toward the intersection where the peeper had probably parked for a quick escape. What did he hope to see at midnight? The only light on in the house was a lamp in the living room on its low light setting.

The runner banged into a trashcan and sent the neighborhood dogs into a barking frenzy. Mason’s lips curved when he spotted the figure heading exactly where he thought the guy would go.

Putting on a burst of speed, he veered to the left and slid in right behind the runner. Mason tackled him and took him to the ground. Felt good using those football skills from his high school and college days. The man fought to turn over, but Mason controlled him with a knee on his back, arm twisted behind him.

“Get off,” the man snarled. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Trespassing on private property and peeking into a window in the middle of the night isn’t behavior to write home about.” He hauled the runner to his feet, easily quelled another escape attempt, and propelled him back toward Linc’s. “Let’s go.”

When Linc opened the door to admit them, satisfaction filled his gaze. “You nabbed our rabbit.”

The stranger scowled. “Let me go, and I won’t call the cops on you.”

“Already done. They’ll be here soon. Escort him to the kitchen, Mase.”

“Where are the women?” Mason asked. He wouldn’t take this man near Nicole.

“Security room.” He sent Mason a wry look. “It was all I could do to prevent your woman from following you. She’s not happy that I refused to let her go or assist you.”

The dark-haired man with brown eyes glared at Linc and Mason in turn. “Let me go. I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Tell that to the cops.” Linc inclined his head toward the kitchen. “Once he’s secure, go to your lady, Mase.”

“Nicole?” The stranger called out, twisting to free himself from Mason’s hold. “Come on, baby. Tell these thugs who I am, will you? You know I’m not here to hurt you, right?”

Baby? Mason wrenched the man’s arm higher up his back, causing him to curse. Who was this guy? Did he know Nicole or had he created a relationship that didn’t exist?

Nicole rushed into the living room. Shock was soon replaced by outrage on her face. “Why are you here, Ivan?”

Mason scowled as understanding slammed into him. “You must be Ivan Dannon.”

“Tell this Neanderthal to let me go,” Ivan groused.

“You didn’t answer my question.” Nicole moved closer, hands fisting on her hips. “Why are you here?”

A smug smile curved his mouth. “You know why.”

“I don’t.” Mason tightened his grip, his tone curt. “Spell it out for me.”

“To get her back, of course.” Ivan looked at Mason as though he were dense. “We’re in love. We just had a little misunderstanding.” He looked at Nicole again. “You’ll give me another chance, right?”

Linc snorted. “You’re an idiot if you think she’ll take you back.” He took over Mason’s hold on Ivan and steered him toward the kitchen. “Let in the cops when they arrive, Mase. I’ll keep our friend company.”

Wonder if that was a euphemism for persuading him to confess everything, including Riva’s murder? Mason tilted Nicole’s face up to his. “Are you okay?”

“I will be. He scared the daylights out of me,” she muttered. “What would make him think he could waltz in here and convince me to pick up where we left off? That wouldn’t happen if he was the last man on earth.”

“Did you know he was in town?”

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