Page 41 of Steele

“Yeah, I see where you’re going with this.” His voice was subdued. “I had the same thought about the ATF agents setting you up. But if for some reason one of them wanted to set you up as being a willing participant in the gunrunning, instigating the shooting outside the building doesn’t play into their hand. All that does is reinforce that Grotto’s guys are trying to eliminate you as a threat.”

“They could have hired someone.” She couldn’t get the image of Bryon Perkins’s smug face out of her mind. “And eliminating me does play into their hands. The theory being that Grotto is snipping off loose ends.”

“I don’t know what to think,” Steele admitted. “It seems unbelievable that Perkins or Banner is involved.”

“Perkins thinks I’m responsible. It’s not a stretch to think he’s the one who set the trap.”

“There’s no proof he’s involved,” Steele said.

No proof she was either. Except for the gun that had been planted in her apartment. She turned away to look out her passenger window. The baby kicked, making her smile despite her grim situation.

Her baby was all that mattered. If he or she—she wished now she’d agreed to find out the baby’s gender—survived this to live a long and happy life, then the pain and agony was well worth that outcome.

Even if that meant she wasn’t around to share her baby’s life.

A wave of sorrow hit hard, but she did her best to ignore it. Yes, she would suffer terribly if she couldn’t be with her child. But she refused to be selfish.

From this point forward, she would remain focused on her baby’s welfare. That would be all that mattered.

“Have you ever been to Rosie’s Diner for breakfast or lunch?” Steele’s question broke into her troubled thoughts.

“No.” She didn’t waste her money eating out. She planned her meals and brought a bag lunch to work each day.

“Rosie specializes in bakery.”

She shrugged. “That’s nice, but I’m not hungry.”

“Harper, I’m on your side. I won’t leave you until we get to the bottom of this.”

Or until she was arrested, she thought but didn’t say. “I know. I appreciate that.”

Ten minutes later, Steele pulled into a small parking lot. The diner wasn’t anything fancy, but based on the crowded lot, Rosie had a strong and loyal customer base.

“We may want to get lunch to go,” Steele said as he shut down the engine.

“Whatever.” She knew she sounded crabby and ungrateful. Because she was. Sitting there while Steve Banner and Bryon Perkins all but accused her of being a gunrunner or, worse, a murderer, had been unnerving.

“Wait for me.” Steele pushed his driver’s side door open.

She almost didn’t but reminded herself that her baby’s safety was important. When he came around to open the door for her, she turned and slid out.

“Harper, I’m sorry for what you’ve been through.” His low voice made her long to rest against him. To be held in his arms.

“I know.” She didn’t try to smile. “Let’s go inside.”

He looked as if he wanted to say something more but simply nodded. He shut the car door, then walked with her inside. The scent of bacon mixed with cinnamon and nutmeg teased her senses. Despite her earlier comment about not being hungry, her stomach rumbled.

Steele stood there for a moment. A group of four people stood to leave one of the booths.

“Steele? Hey, how are you?” A blond-haired man grinned at them. “Take our booth. Rosie won’t mind.”

“Hi, Colin. I’m good, thanks. This is Harper Crane.” Steele rested his hand on her back. “Harper, this is Colin Finnegan, his brother Aiden, his other brother Quinn, and Quinn’s wife, Sami.”

“Ah, nice to meet you.” That was a lot of Finnegans. She hoped they didn’t notice she was wearing Devon’s maternity clothes.

“Nice to meet you too,” Sami said with a warm smile.

“I hope you left some of Rosie’s bakery for us,” Steele teased. “I know Colin eats like a horse.”

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