Page 133 of Proof of Guilt

“Any sign of other gunmen?” Gabriel asked his brother as they rushed in behind Ivy.

“No. But the sensors are still working because they went off when you got here.” Jameson armed the security system and then tipped his head to the ditch. “Is the guy dead?”

“Probably,” Gabriel answered, and he went to the window to keep watch while he made a call. No doubt to follow up on the thug’s family.

“Go ahead. Check on Nathan,” Jameson told him when Theo kept looking in the direction of the hall bathroom. “Once we’ve regrouped and gotten more backup out here, we’ll have to leave, though.”

No way would Theo disagree with that. He wanted backup and plenty of it, but he also wanted Ivy and his son out of there. The location had been compromised, and that meant there could be another attack. Or another attempt to kidnap Ivy. Either way, they were all at risk.

The moment Theo stepped into the bathroom, Jodi hurried out, saying that she wanted to check on Gabriel. Theo stood there a moment and watched his sister go to the man she obviously loved. He saw the fear now, on her face and in her body language. The relief, too, that Gabriel was all right.

Theo felt that same relief when he looked at Nathan. Well, what he could see of him, anyway. Ivy had him wrapped in her arms, and even though she wasn’t crying, she was blinking hard. No doubt to try to stave off the tears.

“Did you do something to the bad man?” Nathan asked him. He maneuvered himself back just enough so that he could make eye contact with Theo.

Theo nodded and hoped that would be enough of an explanation. He really didn’t want to have to tell Nathan

that he’d just killed someone.

“Does this mean we have to leave?” Nathan added.

“Yes,” Ivy and Theo answered in unison.

Nathan didn’t seem upset about that, but he did volley some glances at both Ivy and him. “Will you two get together?” he asked.

It was a repeat of the same question the boy had hit them with earlier. It was understandable for him to want to know. After all, whatever Ivy and he did would affect Nathan’s future.

“I mean, since Mr. Chad is dead and you’re my parents and all,” Nathan added. “I just figured you’d get together.”

Considering that Theo’s mind was still whirling from the attack, it was hard to switch gears in the conversation. Especially when the switch was this big. Theo looked at Ivy to see if she had an idea of how to answer that.

She didn’t.

The blank stare that she gave Theo let him know that.

“We’ll talk about that soon,” Theo settled for saying. “For now, why don’t we go ahead and start gathering up your things so we’ll be ready to leave when the other deputies get here?”

Nathan got moving right away, and Ivy and Theo followed him to the bedroom not only to stand watch but to make sure he didn’t go near the window. The blinds were down, curtains drawn, but there was no sense taking the risk.

“I can’t go to the new safe house with him,” Ivy said. Her voice was a hoarse whisper, and he saw that her hand was trembling when she touched her fingers to her mouth. “If someone is truly after me, I can’t put him in danger like that.”

Theo was already thinking along those same lines, but he doubted that Gabriel had two safe houses ready to go. That would take time.

Ivy turned to him, took hold of Theo’s sleeve and pulled him out into the hall. “Just hear me out before you say no,” she started.

And Theo groaned. Because he figured he wasn’t going to like what would follow that comment.

“I think Jodi and Jameson should take Nathan to the backup safe house. Right away,” Ivy added. “The deputies who are coming can follow them as backup. That’ll get Nathan out of here in case there are other gunmen.”

He couldn’t object to any of that, but Theo could practically see where this was going. “You’re not going to make yourself bait,” he insisted.

“Not bait.” She glanced in at Nathan, then pulled Theo even farther away from the room before she repeated those two words. “But we can’t let things continue like this. If whoever’s behind this can’t get to me, they might decide to go after Nathan.”

Just the thought of it twisted his gut. So did the fact that Theo couldn’t deny that. If this person became even more desperate, then things might escalate fast.

“You’re still not making yourself bait,” he warned her.

“Controlled bait,” Ivy corrected, and she kept on talking despite Theo’s protest. “While Nathan is safe with Jodi and Jameson—and you—Gabriel, Cameron and I can go back to Gabriel’s place. We can use the ranch hands for extra protection. Maybe even set up some sensors like the ones that are here.”

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