Page 67 of Wyoming Cowboy Undercover

“My father locked him up.” But that didn’t mean she’d be safe.

“It’s for one night. She’ll be well protected.” Shawn got back inside the SUV. “Rocco, you’re welcome to get her tomorrow. Empyrean believed you’d be inclined to stay behind.”

He had no choice but to. Her uncle still hadn’t told him what the planned target was for the attack. Cormac had decided to wait until they were on the road.

The thought occurred to her that the only reason her father would extend the invitation to Rocco was because he didn’t expect him to be able to act on it. Her father didn’t think he’d survive.

“Mercy, get out of the car.” Rocco grabbed the door handle as Shawn engaged the locks with aclick.

“I have to go,” she said.

“Sure this is what you want, nugget?”

She glanced at her uncle. “I’m positive.”

“What’s happening?” Rocco reached inside, taking her hand. “What did your father do? Get out and let’s speak privately.”

His frantic eyes bore into her, their gazes fused.

“She’s not leaving the vehicle,” Shawn said.

She slipped the crumpled note into his palm, closing his fingers around it. “This is for the best. There’s no way around it.”

A sick, helpless feeling welled in the pit of her stomach. She was stuck. Staying meant Rocco would be exposed and surely killed. But by leaving, he’d have no one to watch his back.

Had her father foreseen something? Were his visions even real? Or was it all one big con—the puppet master pulling more strings?

A true headache began to pulse in her temples.

“Say goodbye,” Shawn said.

Cormac patted Rocco on the back. “I’ll give you a minute.”

“Whatever the problem is, we can solve it together,” Rocco said. “Just get out of the car. You don’t have to do this.”

“Yes, I do. Believe me.” She wouldn’t let anything happen to him. Not because of her. “You have to let me go.Please.”

Shawn revved the engine.

Rocco leaned in through the window for a slow, thorough kiss that left her tingling all over, and her heart about to split in two. “I’ll come for you,” he said.

“I know you will.” And that was what worried her because her father would assume the same and take steps to prevent it.

He kissed her forehead, his lips lingering and the warmth of his exhalation caressing her skin.

In that moment, with her uncle not watching and Shawn averting his gaze, she took the cell phone from her sweater, reached over, and slipped it into the front pocket of his jeans. “Be safe. Stay alive.”

“I love you, Mercy.”

Shawn hit the gas, speeding off, tearing them apart before she could respond. Not that she was sure what to say. He rolled up her window and raced through the gate.

She turned around and looked through the rear windshield. Rocco stood there, looking achingly gorgeous. Formidable.

A heavy, burning weight settled in her chest.

He wasn’t even out of sight yet, and she missed him already. Being in his arms, with her head on his shoulder, her face pressed to the crook of his neck felt right.

Meant to be.

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