Page 72 of Found By You
Then I worried, thinking about McCrae’s family. “On second thought, let’s make home base in another town.”
“No,” McCrae said immediately.
“Yes, I can’t put you and your family and this town at risk. We go somewhere else.”
Agent Winters nodded. “Then it is witness protection.”
“It’s not,” I corrected. “Just another town.”
Damon waved a hand. “No, Azalea, we aren’t going to let you be a target somewhere else.”
I blinked, hating the tears that threatened to fall. “But I won’t put your family at risk.” I silently added,Or put McCrae at risk.
McCrae cleared his throat. “What if we set up security here?” he asked Agent Winters. “With your help and local support, we could keep Azalea safe while keeping her here.”
Agent Thompson looked doubtful. “In a town this small? Everyone knows everyone’s business.”
“Exactly,” McCrae shot back. “Which means strangers stand out. We’d know right away if someone who doesn’t belong here shows up. If you want this guy, it’s better we draw him out where we have the advantage.”
I watched them carefully, my heart pounding as the agents looked at each other.
“We could make it work,” Damon added. “The Armstrong family has property all over. Multiple safe houses, if needed.”
Winters studied me. “You understand the risk?”
I hesitated and turned to McCrae. “I can’t have anyone hurt your family or you.”
McCrae took my hand. “I’m not letting you go anywhere without me. May as well stay here and fight on our turf.”
I stared at our hands, then turned back to Agent Winters. “Fine. But use me as bait, in a controlled way. End this once and for all.”
“Absolutely not,” McCrae said, his voice hard.
“It’s not the worst idea,” Thompson mused.
I put my hand on McCrae’s arm. “I’m not saying I’ll stand in the middle of town with a target on my back. But if Diaz is coming for me anyway, we might as well be ready.”
“We’ll need to discuss this more,” Winters said, closing her folder. “For now, we’re setting up communication protocols. Agent Thompson will stay in Refuge Falls as our contact.” She turned to Damon. “Chief Armstrong, we’ll need office space for him.”
“Of course,” Damon replied.
The meeting went on with technical stuff; secure phones, cameras, emergency plans.
I kept looking at McCrae’s profile, admiring the strong line of his jaw and his broad shoulders. I thought about our talk at breakfast, about moving to Refuge Falls, about the question he hadn’t quite asked.
Here in this cold room, surrounded by talk of danger, I felt surer than ever. Whatever happened, my future was here, with this man and his family.
When the meeting finally ended, the agents left to make calls and set up equipment.
McCrae and I stepped outside into the bright morning. The mountains stood solid in the distance above the small-town Main Street. A family walked by, the parents holding hands while their kids skipped ahead.
“Are you sure about this? That I should stay here?”
McCrae nodded. “I’m sure about you. And I’m sure my town will protect you.”
Chapter 33
McCrae
