Safe Harbor

Chapter Eighteen

The next morning, Clarisse slept late. Her arms felt a little achy, and she had a few bruises on her ass, but otherwise, she felt good.

Mac was already awake and cooking breakfast. He grinned when she walked into the kitchen. She didn’t miss the fact that he wore a T-shirt and shorts.

“There’s our sleepyhead. Pancakes?” He pulled her in for a long, strong hug.

He acted like he’d already had three pots of coffee.

“You’re certainly chipper.”

“Feeling good.”

“How is that possible?”

He gave her a peck on the end of her nose. “Slept like a rock, had a nice morning wake-up, and life’s good.”

His infectious smile made her smile. “Despite last night?”

“Because of it. And because a certain someone figured prominently in my sexy dreams last night.” He waggled his eyebrows at her before turning to the stove again.

Sully didn’t make an appearance. “He went back to sleep,” Mac explained with a sly grin. “I wore him out this morning.” He sat at the counter with her and wolfed his food.

She stared, incredulous. “How can you even walk this morning?”

“Just the way my body is. Yeah, I’ve got some pain, but that’s cool. Except it’s making me damn horny.” He laughed.

She quit trying to figure it out.

The next afternoon, nearly six weeks after Clarisse had first met them, Sully announced arrangements for Mac to take her to Columbus the next day to meet with the investigating officers and get her things…and Bart. Mac took her to the mall to pick her up a few new items, including a nice dress that he insisted looked great on her.

Clarisse found she couldn’t eat, her nerves one hugely painful knot that threatened to rapidly return to sender any food she tried to swallow.

Sully sent Mac instead of going himself because Sully had a conference to prepare for and would be leaving for New York in two days. He drove them to Tampa International. Because of TSA rules, Sully couldn’t continue with them past the main terminal. He hugged Mac and whispered something in his ear before releasing him. Mac smiled, nodded, and brushed one last kiss across Sully’s lips. She noticed the ID bracelet on Mac’s wrist. His other day collar, worn in conjunction with the silver chain collar around his neck.

Clarisse watched the men’s interaction, startled by the melancholy pang that flashed through her own soul.

Sully smiled at her before his expression grew serious. “Be safe.”

He took her hands in his. “Listen to him, okay? Do what he says. Let him protect you. He’ll take care of you.”

She nodded, blinking back tears. She would miss Sully a lot more than she’d anticipated.

Then he surprised her—he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly. “I’m going to miss you,” he whispered in her ear.

“I’ll miss you, too.”

“I’ve given him orders to behave himself, just so you know.

Nothing personal. I don’t want any confusion for either of you. When we’re all home next week, we’ll talk.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head before he released her.

If only she could let go of that last little stupid, stubborn fear and jealousy and totally trust him the way she trusted Mac.

Mac grabbed their carry-ons and led the way through the first checkpoint to the airside terminal monorail. He caught her eye and winked. “It’ll be okay, honey.”

She wished she could be so sure. Mac was a big guy, obviously able to take care of himself. Bryan was huge, beefy.

And owned a gun.

Thirty minutes later, they made it through security and sat at the gate while awaiting their flight. By the time their flight took off, she felt more than ready for a drink to steady her nerves even though she knew it wasn’t a good idea. Besides, she didn’t have any cash on her and suspected Mac wouldn’t buy her alcohol even if she asked for it.

He brushed his fingers along the back of her hand on the armrest.

“I know you’re scared,” he softly said. “But this will be okay. You probably won’t even see him.”

She nodded and stared out the window.

They switched planes in Atlanta before continuing to Columbus.

The closer they got, the more nervous she felt. If it weren’t for Bart, she’d seriously consider leaving it all, even pictures of her parents. It was just stuff, not worth risking her life, or Mac’s, over.

Of course Bryan would go free if she didn’t go back to talk to the police and prosecutors again.

Mac laced his fingers through hers as the plane circled for its final approach. He didn’t speak, sensing her ever-growing tension.

She’d let the men make the plans, willing to go along with whatever they decided. Mac wanted to grab her stuff first thing the next morning so they could leave town immediately after talking to the cops if necessary. They rented a car, then drove to the U-Haul lot where Sully had already reserved a truck for Mac. Clarisse felt jumpy, on edge as they drove to the motel Sully had picked out. Mac got them checked in. She relaxed only after securely locking and deadbolting the door behind them.

While Mac called Sully, she collapsed on her bed and closed her eyes. She jumped, startled, when Mac touched her shoulder what felt like seconds later.

“You hungry?”

She started to say no, but then the smell of pizza hit her and her stomach growled. “Holy crap, where’d that come from?”

He held two pizza boxes and sat on the end of her bed. “You’ve been out for two hours.”

“No way!”

“Way. It’s after seven.” He handed her some napkins. “I’m sorry.

I couldn’t wait any longer. I’m starving. I hope you don’t mind I ordered.”

She sat up and scrubbed her face with her hands. “I can’t believe I passed out like that. I even slept through the delivery guy?”

He opened the boxes. “Yep.”

He’d ordered everything she liked. “Thanks, Mac.”

“We told you we’re taking care of you. Sully and I mean it.” He took a bite.

She knew they meant it. Part of her felt guilty that they were willing to take care of her indefinitely, without her taking things any further in their relationship. Asking nothing of her in return except for her trust, honesty, and fidelity.

Why could she trust Sully to whip her ass, to not to kick her out on her ass, but she couldn’t trust him to own it?

As exhausted as she’d been, at midnight she still tossed and turned in bed. Mac had fallen asleep in his bed and she couldn’t help but lie on her side and watch him. Flickering light from the TV caused shadows to dance across him. He slept on his side, facing her.

She thought about the play party, the things they did to her, the things she helped Sully do to Mac. The blow job.

She could have him. Both of them. Clarisse closed her eyes as Sully’s words rippled through her memory. She’d have to learn to fully trust him if she wanted to really become part of them.

She remembered the nasty jealousy. That pushed her beyond her limits.

When she opened her eyes again a few minutes later, Mac was staring at her. “Hey,” he whispered.

She blushed, glad for the dark room. “Hey.”

“Can’t sleep?”

“No. I’m too nervous.”

He scooted farther away from her and patted the mattress next to him. He wore a pair of boxers and a T-shirt. “Come here.”

“You’ll get in trouble.”

“Not much. He gave me a little leeway. It’s okay.”

Her need and nerves shoved her guilt to the side. She threw back the covers, changed beds, and cuddled next to him. His familiar scent comforted and soothed her as she snuggled against him.

When he wrapped his arm around her, she felt safe and secure.

“Go to sleep, sweetheart. This’ll be okay. We’ll be leaving for home the day after tomorrow at the latest. Once we’re on the road, you’ll feel better.”

She had to admit calling the men’s house her home felt right.

It could be her home forever.

They could be her men.

She wasn’t sure she’d sleep, but when she opened her eyes again she lay alone in bed and grey light crept around the edges of the motel curtains. She heard Mac in the bathroom, talking. Probably on the phone to Sully. A few minutes later the shower started. She swung her legs over the edge of the bed. She’d wait to take one until after they finished moving her stuff, but she had to call Raquel to confirm their plans. She’d called her after settling in at Mac and Sully’s, to let her know she’d arrived safely and what had happened.

“Girl, I’m so glad to hear from you! Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Has he bothered you?”

“He called once, and I think maybe a drive-by or two, but nothing in the past several weeks. You ready to get the peewee pup?”

“Yeah. We’ll call you in an hour where to meet.”

“That’s perfect, because I’ve got to get him from Tonya’s anyway. He tried to eat John. Tonya’s single.”

Clarisse closed her eyes and tried not to cry. “I’m sorry I’ve dragged you and John into this.”

“Listen to me, this was a long time coming. I wish you’d stood up to him the first time. He’d be in jail, and you’d be free already.”

Clarisse heard the shower shut off. “I know. I’ll talk to you later.”

She was hanging up when Mac emerged, a towel wrapped around his waist.

He smiled. “Good morning, Sleeping Beauty. I’ll be ready in a few minutes.” He tossed her his phone. “Call Master and say good morning to him, okay?” He returned to the bathroom and shut the door. The marks across his back from the previous weekend were already healing nicely.

Apparently waiting for her call, Sully answered almost immediately.

“Did you sleep well?”

She blushed, started to say yes, then opted for the full truth. “Not at first. Mac offered to let me cuddle with him.” She waited for a disapproving tone, but once again, he surprised her.

“Good.”

“You’re not upset?”

He laughed. “Is your question, are you going to punish Mac?”

“Yes.”

“Of course I am, but not for what you think. Thank you, by the way.”

“For what?”

“For telling me the truth. As Mac will be the first to tell you, telling me the truth, especially if you know there will be punishment, will always earn you a reward.”

The way he almost purred the last word stirred a ball of molten heat between her legs. His voice sounded like it had at the play party.

She closed her eyes and tried to focus. “Thank you for letting him come with me.”

His tone grew serious and firm. “If you honestly think I would have let you return alone, you have a ways to go in terms of learning to trust me, don’t you?”

She didn’t want to answer, but felt his gaze even through the phone. “Yes,” she softly admitted.

His soft chuckle stirred her. “Good girl. At least you admit it. Be safe, I’ll talk to you later. Love you.” Then he hung up before she could reply.

She stared at the phone.

Mac drove the U-Haul truck while Clarisse quietly sat in the passenger seat and stared out the window. Familiar sights passed by, and all she could do was concentrate on what she didn’t see. She obsessively glanced in the side mirror at traffic behind them.

“It’s okay, sweetie. We’re not being followed.” Surprised, she looked at him. “I’m not a mind reader, but it doesn’t take one to see how upset you are.”

She nodded.

They called Raquel again when they reached the storage unit. It wouldn’t take long for both of them to empty the unit. Only two pieces of furniture, the rest of it boxes, along with garbage bags full of her clothes. She hadn’t bothered trying to keep them neat, opting for fast and easy.

Mac took the padlock key from her and opened the door, studied the load. “You weren’t kidding that there’s not a lot.”

“I didn’t have time to screw around. I knew I had to be out before he came after me. There’s a few things I wish I could have taken, but it’s not worth my life.”

“Smart girl.” They worked fast. Less than thirty minutes later, he clipped the padlock to the truck’s back door before he pocketed the key. “Where are we meeting your friend?”

She gave him directions. He circled the block twice while Clarisse nervously looked for any sign of Bryan. She didn’t think Raquel was there at first until her phone rang.

“Is that you in the U-Haul?”

“Where are you?”

“I took Tonya’s car. I wandered around for a while before I got here. He couldn’t have followed me. I left the baby with her and my car at her house. She keeps this in the garage, so I wore a different shirt and a hat.” The driver side window rolled down on a blue Honda Pilot parked in the shade in a spot far from the discount store. A hand emerged, waving at them.

Clarisse squealed. She grabbed Mac’s arm and pointed. “There!”

Mac pulled the truck in next to the Honda. Clarisse jumped out and Raquel gave her a huge hug. He stood a few feet away, constantly scanning the area, as the women embraced.

“This is Mac?” Raquel asked with a grin.

“Yeah. My hero. One of them.”

Clarisse noticed Mac actually blushed. He stuck out his hand and they shook. “Nice to meet you.”

“Ready to get the peewee pup back?”

“Am I!” Clarisse followed her around to the back of the SUV.

Still on edge, Mac kept close watch for anything suspicious. Sully had drilled into his brain what to look for, patterns of behavior indicating that they were being observed. It was with some surprise when he noticed the tiny ball of fur Clarisse cuddled. Clarisse was crying.

“Where’s the dog?” he asked, confused, sure that must be one of its chew toys.

Raquel laughed as she lifted a wire crate out of the back of the Honda and handed it to him. “That is the dog.” It couldn’t weigh more than three pounds.

“No, seriously. That’s not a dog. That’s a dog’s hors d’oeuvre.”

Clarisse laughed even as she sniffled. The ball of fuzz eagerly licked her face. “Bart’s a miniature Yorkie. I told you he was small.”

“I thought you meant cocker spaniel small. That’s not small, that’s a cotton ball.”

He loaded the crate and a box of dog supplies way too large considering the size of the dog into the back of the truck.

“I hate to rush you guys,” he said, “but we need to move.”

Clarisse hugged Raquel again. “I’ll give you more info when I can. Use that phone number. It’s a disposable phone. I’ll let you know if I change it.”

Raquel gave her a handful of mail. “Your bank stuff’s in there too.

It all came to the PO box.”

Once inside the truck and on their way again, Mac looked at Clarisse. She wore a bright, happy smile, perhaps the first genuine smile he’d seen from her since they’d met. The little dog seemed totally entranced by her, his mini tail wagging. He looked like a real life teddy bear.

No way would Sully ever object to her keeping him. He’d been worried about that, knowing Sully wasn’t much of a dog person because of allergies, but Bart was barely a dog.

Bart settled in her lap and stared at Mac at a stop light. Mac reached over but Clarisse shook her head. “He bites. He hates guys.”

Mac hesitated. “Bites?”

“I think Bryan did something to him when he was a puppy, even though he never admitted it. He despises all men. I have to take him to a female vet.”

“He’s not growling.”

“He won’t. He just bites.”

Then, as if to make a liar out of her, Bart jumped from her lap and bounded out of her arms and across the seat. Mac prepared to be bitten, which would hurt a hell of a lot less than pretty much everything Sully did to him considering the size of the dog. But the ball of fuzz instead crawled into his lap.

A horn honking got his attention. The light had turned green.

Clarisse looked stunned. “He…he’s never done that before!”

Mac tried to drive without mashing the little critter. “Okay, can we figure this out in a few minutes? Take him, please, before he gets hurt.”

She leaned over and grabbed Bart, who immediately wiggled and whined and tried to get back to Mac.

“I don’t believe it!”

Mac smiled. “Don’t they say dogs are good judges of character?”

Back at the hotel, Mac unloaded the things she’d need for Bart while she unlocked the room. She had to take her shower and nervously set Bart on the floor.

He made a beeline for Mac. He sat at Mac’s feet and looked at him, his tail wagging.

He scooped the dog up and scratched him on the head. Bart promptly rewarded him with a lick on the hand. “Okay, see? He’s not going to turn into psycho piranha dog. Go grab your shower. It’s after nine.”

Twenty minutes later, she emerged from the bathroom to find Mac stretched out on his bed and watching TV, with Bart curled up on his chest.

“I still don’t believe it.”

“Save the disbelief, sweetie. We need to get going. Come take him so I can grab my shower.”

She walked over and picked the dog up. “Why didn’t you wait to take one?”

He started to speak, hesitated, then looked at her. “How many details you want? I had a little business I had to take care of, so to speak.”

She blushed. “Sorry. Is that part of the punishment Sully mentioned?”

He grinned. “For you, worth every stroke. He gave me a choice.

Everything has a price, you know.”

“Couldn’t you have done it anyway and not told him?” She wouldn’t have minded helping him.

Mac slowly shook his head. “Never. I won’t do that. Ever. He trusts me, I trust him.” He reached out and stroked her cheek. “That’s something you’ll have to decide if you can live with.”

“Even when you know you’ll get punished?”

“Ah, but don’t forget, he rewarded me in a way too, by allowing me the choice. If I’d jerked off without permission, I’d feel guilty. I won’t do that. I’ll take the momentary sting of the cane over feeling guilty until I confess. It’s not worth Sully not trusting me.”

Maid service had already cleaned their room. When Mac emerged from the bathroom, Clarisse had Bart’s crate sitting on her bed, the dog inside, and Food Network on the TV.

“What’s that for?” he asked, pointing at the TV.

“He likes it. It’s his favorite channel. He thinks Bobby Flay’s the shit. He won’t bark while we’re gone.”

Mac shook his head in disbelief but got them moving out the door.

Mac had put on a suit, and damned if he didn’t look gooood in the obviously expensive and custom-tailored outfit. He could easily pass for an attorney. Sully hadn’t spared any expenses there. Forget a tall drink of water, he looked like a lush tropical oasis in the middle of a bone-dry desert. He drove them in the rental car, following her directions, to the police station in Maxwell.

She started to get out when he caught her wrist and waited for her to meet his gaze. “No, you wait for me to open the door.”

Clarisse felt another of those molten waves sweep through her.

She nodded, unable to speak.

Another playful smile from Mac. “Good girl.” Then he kissed her hand before releasing it and getting out. He walked around, opened her door, and held out his hand. When she took it and stepped out, he leaned in to speak low in her ear. “You let me take the lead. If they ask to speak to you alone, you don’t let them kick me out. Don’t lie and tell them I’m your attorney, just stick to your guns. Okay?”

Speech escaped her. She nodded.

“Good girl,” he repeated. He locked the car. With his hand gently resting on the small of her back, he walked her into the lobby.

Momentary nausea swept through her. Fear. Nerves. She wanted to bolt outside and beg Mac to take her out of there before Bryan spotted them. He apparently sensed it and pressed his hand against her back, just enough to remind her he wasn’t letting her go.

When Mac explained to the desk clerk why they were there, she directed them to take a seat in the waiting area while she called the detective. Ten minutes later, they were seated in Detective Calvert’s office. Clarisse immediately sensed from the look on the man’s face that there was a problem.

Apparently, so did Mac. “What’s going on?” Mac asked, getting the bullshit out of the way.

Calvert shook his head. “Miss Moore, we’re having trouble locating your case file—”

“Goddammit! I knew it!” Clarisse screamed. She started to stand, but Mac snagged her wrist and gently pulled her back into her chair.

“Stay here,” Mac calmly ordered, then looked at the detective without releasing her wrist. “What do you mean, trouble locating the file? Doesn’t all of that end up in the computer?”

The detective got on the phone and made several calls, the last of which sounded very angry. He slammed the phone down and looked at them apologetically. “We’re working on it. IT is going through the server backups to retrieve the files, but it’s going to take them until at least tomorrow—”

“Tomorrow?” Clarisse practically shrieked. She wanted out of there ten minutes ago. She tried to pull her hand from Mac’s firm grip, but he wouldn’t budge. “We need to leave! I don’t want to be around and have that asshole get a second shot at me!”

“Clarisse.” Mac’s quietly stern, firm voice immediately focused her attention. It was identical to the tone Sully used with her at the club. He caught her eye. “Wait.” Without releasing her hand, he pulled his cell out with his other and dialed Sully. After a quick moment of updating him, he nodded. “Right. We’ll see you.”

Clarisse trembled in Mac’s grip as he put his phone away. “He’s flying out and will be here in the morning.”

“Sully?”

He smiled. “Well, sure as hell not the Tooth Fairy, sugar.” He looked at the detective. “What time do you want us here in the morning?”

Ten minutes later, after more apologies from the detective, they were back in the car and speeding away from the station. She slumped in the passenger seat and sobbed while Mac constantly checked the rear view mirror. He spent thirty minutes bobbing and weaving around eastern Columbus before finally heading to their motel. Now well past noon, he was starving, but she’d been too nervous to eat breakfast. Once he’d safely locked them in their room, he ordered subs from a nearby shop that delivered.

Clarisse curled into a tight ball on the bed, a glassy stare on her face and Bart tucked against her chest. “He’s going to kill me,” she whispered. “He’s going to find me and kill me. That money meant more to him than anything. He’s going to kill me. He’s fucking crazy.”

Mac stroked her leg. “He’s not going to kill you. We will not let that happen. You can’t let him have a pass on this. We have to follow through with filing charges.”

She nearly screamed at the knock on the door a few minutes later.

“It’s okay. It’s the food.” He checked to make sure it was, in fact, the food before he opened the door and paid for their lunch.

Sully called from Tampa International with his flight info before boarding. His plane would arrive in Columbus at two a.m. local time.

Clarisse barely spoke, only picked at her lunch.

He was going to offer to walk Bart for her, knowing the little fuzzwad had to be ready to go, when he noticed a small metal pan, like a brownie pan, in his crate. Filled with cedar chips. “What’s that?” he asked, pointing.

“His litter pan.”

“His what?”

Finally, a ghost of a smile. She stroked the little dog. “He’s litter trained. Like a cat. I had to do it because Bryan told me when I got him that if he had accidents in the house he would kill him.” She protectively cuddled him closer. “I thought if you could do it for cats, why not dogs? I dump the cedar chips in the flowerbed after I scoop the poop out and flush that.”

“Son of a bitch. Now I’ve seen everything.” He’d changed into shorts and stretched out on his bed. Bart squirmed out of her arms and ran to the edge of the bed. Too little to jump down, he stood there and barked.

Mac rolled over, reached out, grabbed the dog, and brought him over to his bed. There, Bart curled up on Mac’s chest and stared at Clarisse.

She laughed, then a frown crossed her face.

“Why the storm clouds, sweetie?”

“Is Sully really going to be okay with me having him?”

Mac smiled. “Yeah. One way or another, I’ll make sure of it.”

Even if I have to volunteer to take the strokes for him myself.

They watched TV, talked, and she napped. He ordered Chinese food for dinner, and then she fell asleep again. He set the alarm to wake him at midnight. Clarisse slept right through it. He hated to wake her, but at twelve-thirty, he gently shook her shoulder. “Hey, sweetie, we need to go to the airport and get Master.”

She tried to roll over. “Can’t I stay here?” she mumbled.

He sat next to her. “Honey, no way in hell will I leave you alone here. Even if I did, Master would beat the crap out of me in public at the fucking airport for doing that.”

Clarisse studied him. “Is it hard to live like that? Knowing he can punish you?”

He smiled and shrugged. “It’s not much different than when I was in the Army, only it’s a lot more fun, I get laid pretty frequently, and I get to live with the man I love who loves me. He only punishes me when I break the rules.”

“But he beats you!”

“I know it’s hard for you to wrap your head around, but I get off on that. If he let me slide on things it would piss me off. Obedience is only one facet of our relationship. You know that. You’ve seen it.” He stroked her chin. “We’ll talk more about this later.”

He started to stand but she caught his arm. “If I…if I decide I do want to do this with you guys…does it always have to be like this?”

Mac kept an eye on the clock. They had a little time for this. He sat again. “Sweetie, you’ve seen how we are. It’s give-and-take, not one-sided. He knows what my needs are, and what we do fulfills them. When we go out, we’re vanilla. Almost.” He smiled. “Why do you think he won’t fuck you, baby? He doesn’t want to give you his heart unless he knows he’s got your trust, love, and a commitment from you. Not after what he went though with Cybil.”

“His heart?”

“Didn’t you understand what we were telling you? We love you.

Both of us. We’re in love with you. What did you think he meant?”

“He’s in love with me, too?”

He slowly nodded. “You didn’t realize that?”

Clarisse’s thoughts reeled. She didn’t realize it, too caught up in the fact that Mac had confessed his feelings to her. She’d totally missed the true meaning in Sully’s quiet confession.

“I thought me meant he…loved me. Not that he was in love with me.”

He smiled. “He loves you as much as I do.” He stood. “Wear sweats, honey. No need to dress up.” She realized he wore jeans and a button-up shirt, the ID bracelet on his wrist. He never took that off.

“Can I bring Bart?”

“Might as well.”

Twenty minutes later, they headed for the airport. Mac made her wait for him to open her door again, and she cuddled Bart under her jacket as they walked into the terminal. Protectively, possessively, Mac kept his hand on the small of her back as he had at the police station. He consulted the arrival boards and found the gate number and where they could wait outside the security checkpoint. Ten minutes after Sully’s flight arrived, they spotted him. He used his cane and had his laptop case slung over his shoulder.

Clarisse’s heart thumped. He loved her. Mac’s clarification had changed her world.

Still, that niggling doubt remained. Trust him? He hadn’t asked her for her love, only her trust. In some ways, that was an even bigger request.

Sully spotted them. They stepped off to the side as Mac greeted him. Sully cupped his hand around the back of Mac’s neck as Mac’s forehead rested against Sully’s shoulder. Sully whispered something and Mac nodded. Then Sully pulled him in for a tight hug.

Her heart thumped even harder. Something about the gesture, both tender and authoritative at the same time, drew her in. She wished he’d greeted her like that.

When the men stepped apart, Sully handed his laptop to Mac and turned to her. He looked tired, but he smiled. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”

Her throat felt dry. She nodded. She had Bart cuddled under her jacket, and he picked that moment to poke his head out.

Sully’s eyes widened. “What is that?”

Mac laughed. “That’s Bart.”

“That’s your dog?”

She nodded again, very nervous.

“Oh,” Mac added, “guess what? He’s litter trained.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Damnedest thing you ever saw.”

Sully stared at the little dog. Clarisse felt his tail wagging under her jacket. She unzipped it a little so she could pull him out and show him to Sully. She couldn’t be lucky twice, could she?

“Be careful. He usually bites men,” she warned.

Sully arched an eyebrow at her. “Usually?”

Mac laughed again. “I’m apparently the first guy he’s never bitten. He loves me.”

Sully held up his hand, palm open, in front of the dog. Bart sniffed him as his tail increased in speed. When Sully reached for him, he willingly went and licked his chin.

Clarisse shook her head. “I don’t believe it.”

Sully lifted the dog to eye level. “You like to protect your lady, don’t you, buddy? You only trust her with guys she trusts.”

He said it playfully. Bart’s stubby little tail wiggled so fast it was barely visible. But his words slammed into her. Trust. Honestly?

Since she’d gotten Bart, she didn’t trust any men.

Except these two.

Yes, she did trust Sully.

Sully scratched the dog on the head and returned him to her. As they walked toward baggage claim, Sully kept his arm around Clarisse’s waist while Mac filled Sully in. She couldn’t resist leaning into his warm embrace while they walked.

When Mac finished, Sully said, “Well, if they aren’t the most sophisticated of agencies, it’s possibly a glitch, though I doubt it.

Case files can get mislaid, accidentally stuck inside other files. To also lose the digital version at the same time is bullshit. Especially considering Bryan’s job duties.” He turned to Clarisse. “We’ll get this taken care of. Didn’t you say Raquel took pictures of you, too?”

“Yeah. I stored them online.”

“Digital pictures aren’t as good as film, defense can claim Photoshopping went on. I brought the pictures and copies of the negatives of the ones I took when you arrived. Those were a few days old, but they will be consistent enough with what Raquel took to lend credence. And she can testify. Jason will swear an affidavit and come testify if we need him. We might have to hire an attorney in Columbus to pursue this if we can’t get it resolved through the state attorney’s office.”

She gasped. “I can’t afford that!” When both men looked at her, she realized what their looks meant. “I can’t let you do that, spend that kind of money on me.”

“There’s no ‘let’ involved here, Clarisse,” Sully said. He pointed at his bag as it emerged onto the luggage carrousel. Mac grabbed it, then shouldered the laptop case and led the way to the parking garage.

Sully helped her into the backseat. Mac opened and held the passenger door for Sully before he slid behind the wheel. Bart sat on her lap, his tail still wiggling, vainly trying to see over the seats to look at the men. Two new friends for him.

“I’m sorry you’re going to miss your conference,” Clarisse said.

“Thank you for coming.”

“I’m not missing it,” he said. “I sent another bag to New York already. It’ll be waiting for me at the hotel. That’ll give me at least two days here if I need it. You guys will drive home, and I’ll stay in touch with the detectives. If it’s not resolved by then, I’ll fly back here next week from New York and work on it with an attorney.”

She tried to absorb that. He’d said it in a calm, matter-of-fact tone, as if planning arrangements for a small dinner party.

“But…I can’t ask you to do that!”

Sully turned to look at her over the seat. “Bryan is not going to skate on this if I have anything to say about it.” The dark, dangerous tone of his voice didn’t scare her. It made her want to lean forward and kiss him. He settled back in his seat, breaking the spell. “As I told you, all I ask is you do what we say when it comes to this. I don’t want you spending the rest of your life looking over your shoulder.”

At the hotel she thought she might not be able to get back to sleep, but she found herself drifting. Sully lay next to Mac, on his side, his arm draped possessively over Mac the way Mac’s had been draped over her. She’d never seen them exactly like this before.

What would it feel like to be the one cuddled with Sully? Or better, between the men? Like the night of her nightmare, to sleep feeling safe and protected?

The next morning, Clarisse’s nerves had stretched to the breaking point before they even left the room. She set Bart’s crate on the bed.

After they’d all had showers and dressed, Mac hung the Do Not Disturb card on the doorknob before they walked across the street to a restaurant.

When she insisted she wasn’t hungry, Sully ordered for her anyway. Sully talked with Mac about what had happened and how he planned to approach things. When their order arrived, hers a small meal of scrambled eggs and toast, Sully looked across the table at her.

“Eat,” he softly, firmly commanded. “I don’t expect you to finish it, but pick at it, at least. You’ll get sick if you don’t.”

She thought she wouldn’t be able to get through more than two or three bites, but by the time the men had finished eating, she was surprised to realize she’d finished most of hers, too.

Sully paid for their meal and they rode to the station in silence. He scanned the parking lot as they pulled in and directed Mac where to park.

“Do you see his personal car anywhere?” Sully asked Clarisse.

“No, but that doesn’t mean anything.”

“True.”

Mac walked around and opened Sully’s door, then hers. The men flanked her as they walked into the station. Mac wore his suit. Sully was also well-dressed in slacks, a dress shirt, and tie. Between the two of them, she felt fat and frumpish even in the nice dress Mac had purchased for her.

The detective immediately ushered them back to his office where Sully took over. Clarisse quietly sat between the two men, nervously twisting her hands together in her lap. Mac reached over and took one of her hands, gently stroked the back of her knuckles with his thumb.

She gave up trying to listen to the detective. It was all she could do not to cry. Bryan would try to kill her, hurt her men, and her life was basically over. That’s what it boiled down to.

The detective’s phone rang. He excused himself and answered, then asked the caller to hold on.

“It’s IT. They’ve got the data retrieved. They’re restoring it and printing a hard copy for me.”

Sully nodded. “Excellent.”

Clarisse burst into tears.

Sully grabbed her hand. “Detective, do you have a private room?”

“There’s an empty conference room, take a left out the door, fourth door on the right.”

Sully looked at Mac. “Take her and calm her down. Stay with her.”

Mac immediately stood, pulled Clarisse with him, and led her out of the office.

Bryan stood at the end of the hall, talking with his cousin, Ed.

When he saw the guy walk out of Calvert’s office, holding Clarisse’s hand, it was all he could do to not beat the shit out of her and him both. The guy was big, but he knew he could take him. When the guy glanced his way, Bryan got a good look at the son of a bitch’s face.

He wouldn’t forget him.

She never looked his way, didn’t see him.

Ed noticed the direction of his gaze and forced him back into the break room. “Don’t do it,” he warned. “Don’t go there. You’re in enough fucking trouble if they figure out what happened to the damn files,” he whispered.

“That bitch owes me ten-k.”

“Yeah, well she didn’t break the law by taking it. Joint account.

You, however, will end up in fucking prison if they find out you tampered with evidence, which they probably will. I am not going to jail for you, asshole. If I were you, I’d strongly suggest getting your affairs in order, because those two guys she’s got with her look like no-nonsense kind of guys.”

“Who the fuck are they? She can’t afford an attorney.”

“I don’t know, and I don’t care. The blond one came in with her yesterday. The other guy I saw, the one still in Calvert’s office, he wasn’t here.” He got in Bryan’s face, no easy feat considering Bryan stood three inches taller.

“I always warned you your fucking temper would get you into trouble, asshole. Your first mistake was hitting her, you stupid fuck.

Your second was to leave her like nothing happened and then lie about it. Don’t give me any bullshit about she was fine when you left.

You and I both know you hit her. You should have apologized and groveled, fuckhead, and maybe she wouldn’t have pressed charges.

Go home. Get the hell out of here.”

Bryan shoved him out of his way and stormed out the back door.

He got in his car, pulled out, and parked across the street from the public lot.

And waited.

Ed fought a battle of conscience—and a surge of adrenaline—as he watched Bryan leave. He couldn’t believe he stood up to the fuckwad.

No, what had happened in the system couldn’t be traced directly back to him. He used an open terminal on someone else’s desk to log in to the system. Thank God for their old and archaic computer system. It was due to be upgraded in three months. Otherwise, there’s no way he could have pulled it off. Bryan giving him a back-end access code didn’t hurt either. He’d stuck the physical file in a stack of other files heading to archives. It probably wouldn’t be found anytime soon. But he didn’t want to see Clarisse get hurt. Again.

After more deliberation, he stuck his head in Calvert’s office.

“Hey, Bryan Jackson was just here.” He looked at the dark-haired man talking with Calvert. Ex-cop immediately flashed through his mind.

The man frowned. “Is he gone?”

“Yeah.”

“Mr. Nicoletto,” Calvert said, “we’ll make sure she safely gets out of the station, but we obviously can’t give you an armed escort back to Florida.”

“Don’t say anything to her about him being here,” the man said.

“She’s upset enough as it is.”

Ed left them and walked out to his patrol car. He’d been thinking about moving to Texas, his brother said the department he worked for there was hiring. He could be close to his brother, away from Bryan.

Maybe it was time to take him up on the offer.

Sully opened the conference room door and tilted his head to Mac, indicating he wanted him to step out for a moment. Clarisse still sniffled, a handful of used tissues piled on the table next to her.

Sully closed the door behind Mac and whispered into his ear what happened. “Keep her here until I come back for you. Don’t let her out of your sight.”

He grimly nodded. “Let the fucker try something.”

Sully returned to Detective Calvert’s office. The reconstructed file was brought in and they discussed the case. A half-hour later, they were able to leave. Sully’s mind raced. He needed to get her out of the station safely and without Bryan following them back to the hotel.

Bryan was on administrative leave, so he shouldn’t have access to any resources to track them.

Theoretically. Depending on how loyal his buddies were.

Calvert walked with him. “I don’t know Bryan Jackson well, but I’ve heard he’s got a vicious temper. IA’s looking into him too, now.”

“He tries to mess with us, he’ll find he’s got a fight on his hands.

How do we get out the back door?” The detective gave him instructions. He left the detective in the hallway and got Clarisse and Mac. The detective had shown him a picture of Bryan, so he knew what he looked like, but had Bryan seen him with Clarisse?

He got the keys from Mac. “Wait with her by the back door. I’ll bring the car around. Be ready to jump into the backseat with her and get down,” he whispered.

Clarisse was too out of it to pay attention, her fear in control, flight instincts ready to trigger at any second.

Sully paused at the front entrance before walking out the door. He scanned the parking lot, noticed no other cars nearby with people in them. Walking quickly, he got in the rental and pulled out of the parking lot. He drove a few blocks away from the station, noticed no one following him, then doubled-back from a different direction and pulled into the official lot. Mac and Clarisse hurried out and jumped into the backseat. Mac pushed her down while Sully quickly headed in the opposite direction of the hotel.

They were two miles from the station when he told them to sit up.

Clarisse looked near tears again. “He was there, wasn’t he? He saw us?”

Sully glanced in the rearview mirror. “I don’t think he saw us.”

“But he was there?” she asked again, near hysterics, her voice tight.

Mac pulled her close. “Honey, listen. He’s not getting you. Don’t worry.”

“You guys are leaving,” Sully said. “As soon as we get back to the hotel. I want you to take the long way home.”

Two hours later, Bryan realized they’d managed to leave without him seeing. He swore and hit his steering wheel.

Fuck it.

He returned to the station and entered through the back door.

Calvert frowned when he saw him.

“What are you doing here, Jackson? You’re on leave.”

“I have a right to know what’s going on.”

“You get your ass out of here before I find something to throw you in jail for. You want to know what’s going on? Have your attorney find out.” He glared. “I don’t know what happened to the original file, but thankfully we retrieved the data. I’m sure you and your cousins had something to do with that. Believe me, once this case is handled, we will be looking into that. I personally don’t give a shit who your father is.”

Bryan fought the urge to slug the guy. He’d been a cop for ten years. This guy had only been with the department for two years after moving from Pittsburgh. A goody-two-shoes who did everything by the rules.

He turned and left. Now he had to find out where she was. He called his attorney.