Page 37 of Security Breach

“How is Rachelle?” David asked Cal.

He grinned. “She’s great. Beautiful and perfect, too. Thanks for asking.”

“Ask him how many days until he marries the lovely Rachelle,” Rafe said.

“Well?” David asked.

“One hundred and twenty days and,” he glanced at his watch, “seven hours.”

“But who’s counting,” Jackson said as he dropped into the nearest chair at the kitchen table.

Cal squeezed his shoulder before taking the seat beside him. “You’re just envious, buddy.”

“Yeah,” the man admitted. “I am. If you’re dumb enough to let Rachelle slip through your fingers, I have first dibs on asking her out.”

A snort. “Don’t hold your breath.”

Caleb pushed back from the table and walked to the cabinet with coffee mugs. “Need cream or sugar?” he asked the visitors.

Each member of Wolf Pack shook his head.

Of course they didn’t doctor their coffee. They most likely drank it black and strong enough to peel paint from the walls like David and his brothers did.

When David seated Emma at the table and sat beside her, the rest of the men joined them.

Eli said, “Jon updated us on the drive from Nashville. How can we help, David?”

“I didn’t ask for a full team. I requested an operative or two so I could sleep. My brothers and I have a responsibility to protect the citizens of Morgan County along with Emma. Although I appreciate the help, I don’t understand why Maddox sent five operatives.”

“Cal was a Metro Nashville homicide detective and Rafe was FBI,” Eli said. “They can help patrol the county while the rest of us protect Emma and hunt for the Butcher.”

“I can handle my job and the protection detail,” David said.

“Your attention will be focused on Emma, not your job. Inattention on the job can be deadly.”

“He’s right,” Elliot said. “You won’t want to be separated from Emma. You’ll focus better if you’re working from home or wherever your base happens to be.”

David looked surprised.

His brother folded his arms. “Did you think we wouldn’t know how scattered your focus is right now? Sorry, bro, but you weren’t worth much after you returned from that last deployment and began the hunt for Emma. Yeah, you pulled yourself together, but not right away.”

“We also know you want to move Emma from the Rocking M, especially since the Butcher suspects she’s here,” Owen added. “We need to find a place to hole up that we know well. If we can’t use home turf, we need a safe house close by so we can provide backup when it’s needed.”

When, not if. Emma shuddered. The brothers were correct. The Butcher would come after her sooner or later. When he did, they’d need every advantage to defeat him. Agent Wells’ offer of protection drifted through her mind again. She rejected it, her stomach twisting into a knot. Although she couldn’t put her finger on why, but she would rather choose Craig Jordan than Wells if the Fortress team and the Montgomery brothers couldn’t watch over her.

Emma’s lips curved. A true testament of how uncomfortable she was with Wells because she trusted Jordan about as far as she could throw him. In other words, not at all.

“A safe house is best,” Jon murmured. “We don’t want Mrs. Grady in the line of fire again.”

Again? Brows knitted, Emma looked at David for an explanation but it was Cal who explained.

“Mrs. Grady was injured when gunmen came after Rachelle when she was here.” He grimaced. “Our team was drawn away, leaving Rachelle and the housekeeper vulnerable. I won’t take that risk a second time.”

“Where is the safe house?” she asked David. From the corner of her eye, she noted the exchanged looks between his brothers.

“You didn’t tell her?” Levi’s eyebrows rose.

“When have I had time?” David countered, never taking his gaze from hers.

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