Page 9 of Sachie's Hero

Officer Jacobs held up Teller’s wallet. “He is.”

Teller nodded.

A frown passed over the officer’s face. “The chief got a call from his buddy, John Parkman of Parkman Ranch.”

Officer Layne frowned and adjusted his hold on his weapon. “Yeah, so?”

“You know Parkman has a security agency operating on his ranch called the Brotherhood Protectors.” The officer tipped his chin toward Teller. “Parkman said they sent one of the Brotherhood here to provide protection for Sachie Moore.” He turned to the blond woman. “Is that you?”

Ms. Moore nodded. “My friend, Kalea, John Parkman’s daughter, is married to the man in charge of the Brotherhood Protectors here in Hawaii. I called her when I first realized someone was outside my house and that he’d smashed the windshield of my car. She said they were sending someone over to protect me.” Her gaze shifted to Teller.

“That would be me,” Teller said, his lips twisting. “I didn’t have a chance to formally introduce myself.”

Ms. Moore bit her bottom lip. “I’m sorry. I thought you were the stalker.”

The man with the bullet casings nodded toward Officer Jacobs. “You can release him. He’s legit.”

“At least escort him out of the house before you do,” Officer Layne said. “Then Ms. Moore can decide whether or not she wants him to stay.”

Officer Jacobs grimaced apologetically and led Teller out of the house into the yard, where strobing lights blinded him.

“Ms. Moore, I can’t protect you if I’m not with you,” Teller said as Jacobs unlocked the cuffs and freed his wrists.

Officer Layne stood with the woman on the porch, looking down at Teller. “Ms. Moore, it’s your call. Do you want him to stay or leave?”

“Look, Ms. Moore,” Teller said, “I could leave, go back to my apartment and sleep. You were attacked, not me. How well will you sleep without protection?”

She met and held Teller’s gaze for a long moment. Finally, she nodded. “I want you to stay.”

CHAPTER 3

The police stayeduntil they’d thoroughly searched her house and around her damaged car for any evidence they could find to identify the culprit.

They’d asked her to stand out of the way out on the porch.

Sachie frowned. “Okay, but first, I’d like to get dressed in something...more substantial. Could I go to my bedroom long enough to do that?”

Officer Layne nodded.

“I’m going with Ms. Moore,” Teller Osgood said and moved up to stand beside her.

Her cheeks heated. “I think I’m capable of finding my way to my own room.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said. “But I’d like to clear the room before you go in, just in case your attackercircled around and re-entered the house while no one was looking.”

Officer Layne snorted. “With police officers all over this property? He’d have to be insane.”

Osgood met and held the officer’s gaze, his jaw firm. “Either I clear the room, or one of you officers can.”

Layne shook his head. “Go ahead. Just don’t disturb any evidence.”

When Sachie stepped past the man, he caught her arm in a loose grip, his touch sending a surprise jolt of electricity through her.

She stared down at his hand on her arm, then up into moss-green eyes, a little dazed and confused. Probably from everything that had happened. “Right. You go first.”

He led the way into the cottage.

Sachie followed, studying the man while he wasn’t looking.

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