Page 161 of Come Back to Me

Sally-Anne sniffs. “Because I listen, Dion. I have ears and I’m not afraid to use them.”

“I have ears too!”

“Where did I work before, Dion?”

“The doc’s office.”

“Exactly. Sometimes, women came in with their faces smashed up and we had to keep it on the down-low while recording everything for their case files. Some of the shit their spouses put those women through...” She shivers. “Rotting in hell’s too kind a fate for some of them.”

Stacking his hands on his hips, Dion growls, “You mean to tell me we have a full-on women’s shelter in Pigeon Creek and no one knows about it?”

“This department does now,” I say dryly. “The RCMP is aware too, as far as I know.

“But we’ll be working tighter with Dove Bay simply because I’ve taken over security for the sanctuary and the ranch.”

“Isn’t that a conflict of interest?”

Attention fixed on Dion, I take a bite of my apple and chew. Slowly. “Do you have a problem with me safeguarding victims of domestic abuse while simultaneously protecting my family, the founders ofsaidsanctuary, from being hurt bysaidabusers?”

Dion shuffles in his seat. “No.”

“Good.” My lips flatten. “So, we’ll be integrating patrols simply to display a police presence. The bulk of the security will be managed by a private firm. Any deterrent is welcome if it keeps those bastards away.”

Dion rubs the back of his neck. “I know I’m new to this, but isn’t it more terrifying to come face-to-face with black ops security than us?”

I hide a smile. “Perhaps, but a presence is necessary. Why Reilly didn’t handle this before is beyond me. It’s not just my family who has a target on their backs if some jealous ex decides he wants his wife back.” I refuse to think about Brackton. “God only knows what they’re capable of and who they’ll hurt to get what they want.”

Sally-Anne clutches the cross pendant she’s wearing, but Dion boasts, “They’ll have to get through us.”

“Hopefully not through,” I correct. “Ever taken a bullet?”

He swallows. “No.”

“I don’t recommend the experience.”

That earns me a bunch of looks.

“Regarding Amy Nygard?—”

Say what you will about Dion, when he has the bit between his teeth, he won’t let it go.

“Keep the patrols up at the bar. We may have to confer with the RCMP to deal with the MC.” I pluck a business card from my pocket. “This is the security firm working with Dove Bay.” A change of subject is required. “We have reports that investigators are sniffing around town, asking questions about a high-profile resident of the shelter. We’re working on figuring out how they pinpointed her to Pigeon Creek.

“Dion, I want you to speak with the security firm. An ex-MP called Michael St. John is our on-site lead. I need you to become comfortable with him, as I’m appointing you as an official liaison.”

Marty argues, “But, sir!”

I shut down his complaint with a: “I need you with me, Marty.”

Dion dips his chin. “I won’t let you down, chief.”

“It’s not me you have to worry about. It’s the refuge’s residents who matter most. They already know that men aren’t worth shit. Let’s prove to them that some are decent.”

He stands tall. “On it.”

With him on task and distracted from thoughts of Amy Nygard, I arch a brow at Marguerite Dubeau, who’s eyeing me curiously despite not joining in with the conversation. “Are you still working on that mugging in Graceville?” At her nod, I ask, “No CCTV?”

After her update, I snag Brogan’s leash and leave her to work.

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