Page 25 of Security Breach

“Sit rep,” David ordered.

“The gate guard reported that a delivery service dropped off a package at the guard house.” He inclined his head toward Emma. “The package is addressed to Em.” Caleb held up his hand. “I already warned Rex to keep his mouth shut. He swore he’d keep quiet.”

“Do you trust him?” Emma asked. The last thing she wanted was to endanger Mrs. G and the Montgomery brothers. If word spread that she was here, she would draw the killer to the Rocking M. Her stomach knotted. Someone knew she was here. Was that someone the killer?

David squeezed her hand. “He’s loyal to the family.”

“News of Emma’s return will spread eventually,” Caleb said.

“I know. Obviously, someone knows or suspects she’s here.”

“The question is, who? The feds or the killer?”

Emma shuddered. “I hope it’s Agent Jordan.”

David looked at her. “I’m not betting on it. Although my opinion of Jordan isn’t high, I can’t imagine him being stupid enough to send a package addressed to you to the ranch.”

“What’s in the package?” she asked Caleb.

“Haven’t opened it yet.” A wry smile formed. “The sheriff is a control freak. You should know that if you plan to date him.”

David scowled at his brother.

Although Emma appreciated their attempt to lighten the mood, the need to see what was in the package for herself rode her hard. “Let’s go.”

They followed Caleb to the kitchen where Elliot waited. Mrs. Grady wasn’t in the room. Elliot had probably sent the housekeeper to a different part of the house to protect her.

David stopped Emma before she walked into the kitchen. “I need you to wait in the living room until I’m sure it’s safe.”

Her gaze shifted to the package on the table. “You think there’s a bomb inside?”

“I don’t know. No one should know you’re here except Jordan. That only leaves one other person who would suspect I brought you here.”

She gripped his forearm. “Don’t open it. Call the bomb squad.”

He smiled. “My brothers and I are the closest thing to a bomb squad in this county.” David bent and brushed her lips with his. “Don’t worry. We all have some EOD training.”

Some? Emma preferred to have the best bomb experts to handle the package instead of David and his brothers.

“I’ll see what we have,” David continued. “If we can’t defuse the bomb, we’ll move to Plan B.”

“Do you have a Plan B?”

Caleb snorted. “We always have more than one plan.”

David cupped her cheek. “Please, stay here.”

“Be careful.”

“Always.” He trailed his thumb over her bottom lip. “I’m not giving up more time with you. The Butcher stole too much from us. He can’t have more.” David nudged her toward the living room. “I won’t be long.”

Emma retreated to the couch and perched on the edge of the seat, unable to relax while David was in harm’s way on her account. Although she longed to see the contents of the package, she didn’t want David or his brothers distracted at a crucial moment.

She considered who knew her location. David was right. Even Gigi, her best friend, still didn’t know. That left the FBI, and the killer. The Butcher would look for her in Maple Valley. Since David and his brothers were law enforcement and trained by the military, Emma would turn to these men for help first.

She didn’t trust Agent Jordan to maintain silence since keeping his team of agents in the loop meant sharing her location. Emma frowned. If Agent Jordan knew she was here. How would the agent know that information? David could have taken her somewhere off the grid.

Were they followed to the ranch? No, she decided. David would have noticed.

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