Page 32 of Holding Out For A Holiday Hero

He was the bastard. The one who hunted down criminals for money. The one who got a sick rush from the job because he was a predator straight to his core.

She should be running far away from him.

I will not let her go.

“Uh, boss?” Perry was back to squinting at him. “You said you needed me for some work?”

Actually, he had quite the to-do list for his assistant. “Find Richard Wells.”

True’s head swung toward him. “My ex? You want Perry to find him?”

Damn straight, he did. Jake nodded grimly even as he focused on his assistant. “I want to know exactly where the guy was tonight. And yesterday, for that matter. I also want to know what connection he may have to Dylan Dunn.”

Perry straightened. “This is my first big case, isn’t it?”

“Perry, don’t you disappoint me.”

“I would never.” Passionate. The kid looked like he was fighting the urge to salute. The ski cap on his head bobbed with his eagerness. “On it. Anything else?”

Perry was good with computers. Far better than just good, actually. One of the reasons Jake had finally given in and hired Perry had been because of the kid’s tech skills. “Check the financials of the employees at the museum. I want to know if anyone has seen a recent influx of cash.” The background checks on the employees had turned up clean, but Jake needed a deep and dirty dive into their financial records.

True sucked in a sharp breath. “On everyone? Even Aliyah?”

“Everyone.” They had to be thorough. “Let me know if any red flags fly, particularly on Braden Wallace and Robert Moss.”

Perry nodded. “I swear, I will not disappoint you.”

“Great. Fabulous. I know you won’t.”

“And may I say, sir, how happy I am to see that you’ve gotten into the holiday spirit?—”

“No, Perry, don’t say that shit. Just get to work.”

Perry all but ran away. His red scarf billowed behind him.

The snow flurries fell a little harder.

“I’d already decided to investigate your ex even before I found out about the phone call,” he told True as they made their way to his SUV. He opened her door. Lifted her into the seat. Not that she needed lifting.

Another excuse to touch her.

Jake didn’t immediately shut the passenger door. Instead, he leaned in toward her. “I’m going to investigate anyone that I think is a danger to you. You aren’t going to be threatened again. That shit is stopping.”

She pulled the red Santa coat closer to her body.

His chest ached. She’d just wanted a good night. Wanted to make the kids happy. He’d seen her working tirelessly. Preparing the hot chocolate. Giving out brightly decorated packages—a gift for each kid. The event had been free, he knew that. He also knew she’d had to spend hours and hours getting all the decorations just right. The place had been perfect. A Christmas dream. And she’d been happy. Her smile had lit the room. He’d been distracted by it more than once.

More than once? Try over and over again.

But she wasn’t smiling any longer. She was too tense. Too pale. Too scared.

He hated that. “How can I make it better?” Gruff.

She blinked. No answer came from True. Right. Because he couldn’t make it better. Not yet.

It will be better when I catch this bastard and throw him into a cage.

“Put on your seatbelt, sweets,” he urged her. “We’ll be home before you know it.” He shut the door. Double-timed it around the SUV. He climbed in the driver’s side. Cranked the vehicle, and started to shift the ride into reverse.

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