Page 47 of Condemned By Secrets

“Richard came to see me.”

“What? When?” Luther’s blood pressure spiked, and he had to work to keep his hands gentle on hers when every part of him was roaring to go after Cartwright.

“This afternoon.” She took a deep breath before continuing, “He apologized for the tire and the harassment.”

Luther’s eyes narrowed. Why would Cartwright do that? What was his angle?

Anna frowned, and her eyes were troubled. “He said he was trying to get me to quit. Apparently, he wanted my job and was mad when he didn’t get it.”

“He may have told you why he did it, but it doesn’t change anything.” Luther gritted out. “He’s still out on bail and ordered to stay away from you.” And Luther would be sure to remind Cartwright of that when he arrested his ass—again.

“No. Well, maybe?” Anna sighed. “He asked for a truce. Said he would wait for me to leave Rolling Brook, then try for the job again.”

At the thought of Anna leaving town, Luther’s chest tightened, and breathing became difficult. He struggled to get words out through the constriction choking his airway. “Is that what you plan to do?”

“No!” Anna shook her head. “I’m not going anywhere. He doesn’t get to win.”

Hallelujah.At her answer, the rope around Luther’s lungs loosened, and he took a deep breath in. “Good. What else did he say?”

“That was basically it.” Anna shrugged a shoulder and avoided his gaze.

“He didn’t threaten you?” Luther reached up and tucked her hair behind her ear so she couldn’t hide behind it.

At the gesture, her eyes came back to his. They were guarded, and he needed to know why.

“Hurt you?” he asked softly. If Cartwright so much as laid a finger on her, Luther would kick his ass—job be damned.

“He didn’t hurt me.” Anna’s voice was barely above a whisper. Her eyes were overly bright, and Luther knew she was fighting tears.

“But he threatened you?” The vein at his temple was pulsing as he waited for her answer.

Anna looked down at their hands and threaded her fingers through his. The simple gesture eased some of the rage filling him.

When her eyes met his again, the tears were gone. “He didn’t overtly threaten me. He just made some biting comment about how I’d regret not dropping this.”

“That sounds like a threat to me.” The pulsing was back, and it wasn’t just at Luther’s temple as adrenaline surged through his body like a tidal wave. He had a fierce need to protect her . . . at any cost. “I’m going to arrest him, Anna. He violated the terms of the bond.”

Luther stood, intent on going after Cartwright. His vision had tunneled with his rage, and he didn’t notice Anna rise with him, their hands still entwined.

“No!” She dropped his hands and fisted his shirt with desperate fingers. “Don’t! He was just being a jerk. Please, Luther. Let it go.”

Luther frowned down at Anna’s pleading eyes. Why wouldn’t she want Cartwright behind bars?

“He’ll answer for it in court. I don’t want to stir up any more trouble. The mayor . . .” Her voice cracked in panic, and the sound helped Luther push through the fog of his fury.

He kept his voice even though he still struggled for calm. He placed his hands on Anna’s shoulders. “What about the mayor?”

“They’re related. She even called me to apologize for him. If Richard were to go to jail again . . .” Anna shook her head. “She’ll hold it against me. Possibly even retaliate.”

Luther’s jaw clenched as his anger spiked, this time at the mayor. He couldn’t believe the woman called to defend Cartwright’s actions. “Dammit!” Luther stared over Anna’s head as he tried to think of a way around the mayor. The woman had pull, and if she got her lawyer to help Cartwright again . . . Luther didn’t like the odds against them.

“Luther?”

He brought his attention back to Anna. She was still holding onto his shirt for dear life. Her knuckles were white where she’d gripped them so tight. Luther took a deep breath and started to count. He gently pressed Anna's hands as he used his training to settle himself down. “Okay. We’ll figure out another way.”

On a sigh of relief, she closed her eyes for a brief moment, then loosened her hold. Luther kept her hands in his and used them to pull her into his chest. He locked her arms behind his back before letting go and squeezing her in a hug. She laid her head against him, and he cradled it as he promised himself he’d do whatever it took to keep her safe.

CHAPTER 19

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