Page 25 of Clara's Secure Hideaway

Frowning, she tilted her head to the side. “What do you mean?”

He rubbed the back of his neck, hating he had more bad news to deliver. “Someone smashed the rear window of your car.”

She closed her eyes and drew in a large breath, defeat clear in the slump of her shoulders.

He ached to touch her, to hold her, to comfort her. Words sat unspoken on the tip of his tongue. Promises to protect her and make sure Mitch paid for every sin he committed. Vows to stand beside her and support her.

But he could do nothing more than stand before her and wish things were different.

When she opened her eyes, the fire sparking from her green irises set him back on his heels. “There’s no need to say ‘someone.’ We both know it was Mitch. Just like I know he was in my house earlier. But now, we’re going to nail his ass to the wall.”

Her determination lifted the side of his mouth. “Okay. And how are we going to do that?”

“I found his computer and gave it to Dean. He uncovered some unsavory things.” Her momentary grin fell. “He wouldn’t show me, but he said it’s bad. He called Owen, and we came right here.”

Bits of information clicked into place. “You said you found the computer at your house?”

“That’s right.”

“And was that when Mitch was watching you?”

She nodded.

“Shit,” he said, rubbing the heel of his palm over his sternum.

“What?”

“If you saw him, he saw you. Which means he saw the computer. His retaliation against your car might be more than anger about being served the emergency order.”

Her expression fell and all the color drained from his face. “He knows we’re aware he’s involved in something bigger. Oh no, what have I done?”

Unable to stop himself, he braced his hands on her shoulders and took a step closer. The smell of lavender and vanilla invaded his senses, but he couldn’t lose himself in the now-familiar scent of her perfume. “You haven’t done anything, you hear me? Nothing. You’ve fought for what’s right. You’re protecting yourself and your kids. If what Dean said is true, then all this is over. Mitch will be arrested, and he won’t bother you again. You won.”

She drew in a shuddering breath. “It’s hard to imagine this will ever be over.”

“You’ve got to believe, okay?”

Uncertainty danced in her eyes, but she nodded.

Someone cleared their throat behind him. Heath turned to find Owen back in his doorway. “Sorry to interrupt. You’re going to want to see this.”

“Dean said I shouldn’t see,” Clara whispered.

“Do you want to know what was on that computer?” he asked, not caring what Dean said.

“Yes. I have to know.”

“Then come on. You can sit and listen, and if it gets to be too much, we leave. Plain and simple. But you have a right to be told what Mitch was doing in your home. But you don’t have to see anything, watch or listen to anything that’s on that computer.”

She offered a weak smile. “Will you stay with me the whole time?”

“Honey, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

Her smile grew, dissolving the knots that instantly tied around his gut as soon as the words were out of his mouth. “Thank you.”

Emotion lodged in his throat, and he dropped a hand to the small of her back to usher her in front of him. The burn of a handful of curious gazes singed the back of his neck, but he shook it off. Screw overstepping. Clara meant a lot to him and there was nothing wrong with showing her that.

Once in the office, Owen shut the door. Elsie patted the visitor’s chair beside where she sat while Dean stood behind the desk. The laptop was open, and the knots came back in full force.

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