Page 34 of Wyoming Cowboy Undercover

He opened the door. “Hey.”

Charlie held up two small duffel bags. “Reinforcements are here.” Stepping inside, she shoved one bag into his arms. “Grabbed the essentials for you.”

Brian crossed the threshold, bringing in the smell of food with him. He set a white food sack beside the microwave. “Double cheeseburger, fries, hummus sandwich, tomato soup and two salads.”

Perfect. “Thanks.” Rocco turned to Mercy. “This is Brian, Charlie’s significant other.”

Mercy held up a shaky handhello.

“You need to take a warm shower and change,” Charlie said, handing Mercy the other duffel. “All the toiletries you should need. Also, there are some T-shirts, a sweater, leggings and an old pair of jeans I can’t squeeze into anymore and a nightgown. You might have to roll the pants up. The only thing white in there are the T-shirts. Sorry.”

“That’s okay.” Mercy still had that deer in the headlights look. “Thank you.”

“What’s the situation here?” Charlie asked. “Are you two sharing a room?”

His cousin was brusque, opinionated and ruthless when it came to protecting the vulnerable. She was particularly sensitive to battered women. It turned out that she had made it her mission to help victims of domestic violence get away from their abusers and disappear. With Mercy being embroiled in a cult, it only made sense that Charlie would seek to protect her.

“I’m not letting her out of my sight,” Rocco said. Mercy might change her mind in the middle of the night, call the compound, sneak out before he had a chance to find out what she might know. As it stood, she was his best lead. He wasn’t going to let her slip away or allow anything to happen to her.

“Mercy, are you comfortable with this arrangement?” Charlie asked. “Because if you’re not, I can stay with you in here and Rocco can sleep in a different room.”

“If you stay, I’m staying,” Brian said. “Not with you ladies, of course.”

Mercy clutched the duffel to her stomach. “I’ll be fine with Rocco. Really. There’s no need for you to stay.” Her bright blue eyes found his, and relief seeped through him that she was comfortable being alone with him.

“I don’t fully understand what’s going on with you two,” Charlie said, glancing between them. “I thought it was one thing and then I found out it’s something else.” She turned to Mercy. “If you ever decide that you want to leave the Shining Light, I don’t want you to feel like you have to rely on a man to help you. Even if that man is my cousin. Who happens to be a good guy. Whatever you need, a place to stay, a job, anything at all, just ask and it’s yours.”

Charlie was a formidable person to have on one’s side. Mercy would be able to count on her, no matter what. He wanted her to have as much support as possible with whatever decision she made, but he intended to make it clear that he wanted to be there for her, too, as much as she’d allow.

“That’s incredibly generous of you,” Mercy said. “I’m not sure what I’m going to do yet, long-term, but thank you.”

Charlie gave her a warm smile and then she turned an icy stare on him. “I need to speak with you privately.” She marched outside, leaving the door open.

Rocco stepped out onto the walkway and shut it. “Don’t come in hot with me. I’m not in the mood.”

Rocking back on her heels and putting her hands on her hips, she swallowed the words that seemed to be burning on her tongue. She took a deep breath. “Mercy may not have been physically abused, but she’s been isolated from the outside world, under the strict rule of her father, where every facet of her life has been controlled. She’s in a vulnerable position right now.”

“I’m aware.”

“Don’t take advantage of it.”

“Who do you think I am?” She was treating him like he was a stranger and not the blood relative she’d grown up with.

“I think you’re one of the good ones, but you’re still a guy. Open your bag.”

He unzipped the duffel he was holding. On top of his clothes were condoms. What in the hell? “I’m not on a date. I’m working on a mission.”

“Call it whatever you want. I’ve seen how she looks at you. It isn’t one-sided. Tell me I’m wrong and I have nothing else to say.”

Irritation sliced through him. Partly because she was right. Partly because he was wet, cold and starving. “I can be a professional regardless of my personal feelings.” And if for some reason he slipped, he always kept an emergency condom in his wallet. He didn’t need her to meddle. “This discussion is done. Are we clear?”

“Crystal.” She reached into her pocket, pulled out her keys and tossed them to him.

“Thank you for coming so quickly.” He marched back inside and found Brian standing alone.

“She’s in the bathroom,” Brian said, keeping his voice low, and it was then that Rocco caught the sound of the shower running. “Did you learn anything concrete?”

Rocco shook his head. “But I think she might know more than she realizes. I’ll talk to her in the morning after she’s gotten some rest. If I come up with nothing, I’ll pursue a tip that the Devil’s Warriors might have an in with the weapons supplier.” He couldn’t count on it going anywhere. The lead was threadbare.

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