Safe Haven (The Protectors Book 1)

by Leeanna Morgan

  Tank didn’t need to ask how John knew what the CIA was doing. At any given time, he could have staff working in twenty different countries. With the political unrest in the Middle East, Fletcher Security worked with a lot of government departments.

  “I have other news that you might be interested in.” John took a folder out of his top drawer. “Maria Hennessy, the reporter who wrote the story about David, has disappeared.”

  Tank sat forward. “What do you mean, ‘disappeared’?”

  “No one knows where she’s gone. Two weeks ago she told her editor at the Washington Post that she had a family emergency.”

  “And did she?”

  “Not that we’ve been able to establish.”

  Tank had been a friend of John’s for long enough to know there was more information on its way. “You’re leaving the best news until last, aren’t you.”

  “I don’t know if it’s the best news, but it is interesting. Guess where Maria was born?”

  “I could sit here all night guessing.”

  John smiled. “You wouldn’t be far from the truth, then.”

  “You’re kidding? She was born in Montana?”

  “Closer.”

  “Bozeman?” Tank took the folder John handed him. “Has anyone talked to her parents?”

  “Sam saw them yesterday. They don’t know where she is.”

  “Do you think she was kidnapped?”

  John leaned back in his chair. “No. If anyone kidnapped her, they’d want a ransom. No one’s contacted her family. My best guess is that she has information about David that could blow up in her face.”

  “You think she knows where the money is?”

  “What she knows has to be big enough to scare her. Two months ago she visited the Cayman Islands. Your brother was in Afghanistan for just under a year. Unless he had his drug operation planned before he left the States, it would have taken a few weeks to set everything up. Eleven months of building connections and networking with the right people would have netted him a significant amount of cash. And that doesn’t account for the drugs he could have hidden somewhere.”

  Tank closed Maria Hennessy’s file. “If David was working with a drug cartel, they’ll come after Maria and her family.”

  John nodded. “The police don’t have the resources to look after her family, so we’ve taken them to a safe house.”

  “Who’s looking for Maria?”

  “The police, the FBI, the Department of Justice—and that’s just for starters. The Army has been inundated with requests from the media for more information. You need to be careful.”

  “The story in the Washington Post didn’t say I shot David.”

  “It doesn’t matter. Just being in Kabul at the same time as your brother puts you and your family at risk. If someone’s looking for the money, they might think you know where it is.”

  Tank dropped his head to his chest. “This is worse than I thought.”

  “As of this morning, one of our team is in the hospital with your dad. Connor is looking after your mom. Until this is over, you’re working from Fletcher Security’s head office. No field work.”

  “I need to help my parents.”

  “That’s up to you. But if you leave Bozeman, you need to let me know where you’re going and when you’ll be back.”

  Tank lifted his head. “What about Hayley?”

  “I don’t know how far someone would go to find the money. I don’t even know if that’s what Maria discovered.”

  “I need to tell her what’s happening.”

  John opened his desk drawer and slid Maria’s folder inside. “Do what you think is necessary. If Hayley needs extra security, let me know. What are your plans for the next week?”

  “I’m in Bozeman until Tuesday. If dad is able to go home on Wednesday, I’ll fly to Denver and give him a hand to get settled. I’d planned on coming back to Bozeman on Thursday.”

  John pushed the space bar on his computer’s keyboard. “I’ll organize a nurse to look after your dad once he’s home.”

  “Dad won’t like it.”

  “He will if this nurse knows how to use an AK-47.”

  “I don’t know what mom’s going to think about all of this.”

  “Your mom is a resilient woman,” John said. “She’ll understand why this is necessary. And if nothing else, it will give your dad something to complain about.”

  Tank stood up. “I need to see Hayley. I’ll be at work first thing on Monday morning.”

  John gave Tank a quick hug. “Take care. If you’re worried about anything, call me. I can have someone at your house in less than ten minutes.”

  When Tank walked through the kitchen, Bella was nowhere to be seen. She must have left with Rachel to help a bride in distress.

  He’d come here today to talk to John about Hayley. They hadn’t discussed what was bothering him, but he knew what he had to do.

  This time, he was the person putting Hayley’s life in danger. There was only one thing he could do.

  He had to stay away from her and pretend she wasn’t an important part of his life. If that didn’t work, she would be under twenty-four-hour protection until someone found Maria Hennessy.

  ***

  Tank watched Hayley leave the main entrance of Birchwood, the assisted living facility where she worked. She was with another nurse, the two of them talking and laughing.

  His heart tightened, and for a second he wondered if he was having a heart attack. But the pain in his chest was more than a physical response to seeing her. Hayley meant the world to him. She touched a part of his life that he’d never shared with anyone. Whether she knew it or not, she had become as important to him as the air he breathed—and it was time to say goodbye.

  When they reached the parking lot, the nurse beside her headed in another direction. Hayley kept walking, rummaging around inside her bag before pulling out her car keys.

  He climbed out of his car and waited.

  As soon as she saw him, she froze. “Tank?” Her gaze drifted sideways and she frowned. “You brought your Porsche with you?”

  “I needed to get here somehow.”

  She looked at him as if he’d just said something irritating. “Are you sure you aren’t trying to distract me?”

  “Why would I do that?”

  “It could have something to do with not speaking to me all week. Not calling your girlfriend is a pretty big thing to forget.”

  He crossed his arm in front of his chest. “I had things on my mind.”

  “So did I,” she mumbled. “So what brings you to the parking lot outside Birchwood?”

  “You.”

  She copied his pose, crossing her arms and staring at him as if to let him know he was in trouble. Big trouble. “Would you care to expand on your answer?”

  Tank dropped his arms, hoping she’d do the same. She was upset and, although he hated to admit it, it was kind of cute.

  “I’ve missed you,” he said softly.

  Her arms unfolded and her mouth softened. “You have?”

  He nodded, hoping she could see how much she meant to him.

  The next thing Tank knew she was poking him in the chest and glaring at him. “Even in an emergency situation, boyfriends call their girlfriend at least every second day. You haven’t called me for five days.”

  His eyebrows rose. “I didn’t know there were rules I was supposed to follow.”

  She stepped back and sighed. “Why didn’t you call?”

  And just like that, the hot air building inside of her seemed to disappear.

  “I didn’t call because I didn’t know what to say.”

  “Hello would have been a good start.”

  He didn’t know whether to smile, but he figured it was safer not to. “I’m sorry.”

  She pulled the straps of her bag higher on her shoulder. “I want to make something clear. I’m not a pushover. I have certain expectations about being your girlfriend. I also want you to know t
hat I care about you, Tank. I was worried silly that you were having a hard time or that your dad wasn’t getting better. If this is going to work, we need to communicate.”

  Tank looked into her eyes and saw kindness and honesty shining through her disappointment. Right at that moment, he would have given her the world if she’d wanted it.

  He reached out and touched the side of her face. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

  Hayley blinked. “Oh, no you don’t, Tank Warner. You can’t waltz back into Bozeman and then tell me our relationship is over. I love you.”

  He stepped back, straight into the side of his car.

  Hayley grabbed his arm. “Be careful. You’ll dent the side of your Porsche.”

  Tank lost track of what he was about to say. “How do you switch from the L word to worrying about my Porsche so quickly?”

  “Maybe it’s because I use the L word more than you do. What’s going on?”

  “We can’t see each other for a while.”

  Her bottom lip trembled. “Is this a polite way of telling me I had it all wrong—that you don’t like me?”

  “No, it’s completely the opposite, but we can’t spend time with each other. The reporter who wrote the story about David has gone missing. Her family is in a safe house and my parents are being looked after by bodyguards.”

  Hayley’s mouth dropped open. “What happened to the reporter?”

  “We don’t know. John thinks she’s found my brother’s missing money. It’s the only reason we came up with that explains why she disappeared.”

  “And that’s enough to send bodyguards to her family and yours?”

  “David could have millions of dollars hidden somewhere. If we spend time together, you could be targeted by the people looking for the money. I won’t put your life in danger.”

  “Have you ever thought that it’s not your decision to make?”

  “If we’re in this relationship together, then at least half of it is my decision. And if I’m the person who has to live with the consequences, then I get at least eighty percent say in what happens.”

  “Not seeing each other wouldn’t make any difference,” she said stubbornly. “We’ve been dating for a few weeks, even if you haven’t called. You brought mom and me all the way from Fort Wayne to Bozeman, for goodness’ sake. Anyone with half a brain could put two and two together and come up with four.”

  “I don’t care what their math skills are like. We don’t have a choice. All it takes is for one person to think I know where the money is and you’re in trouble. They’ll use you and your mom as leverage to get the information out of me. I can’t see you again, and that’s all there is to it.”

  “That’s so unreasonable I don’t know what to say.”

  Tank’s pulse thumped through his body. “You could say you understand why I’m doing this.”

  “I don’t understand. You’re imagining things that might never happen.”

  “If I waited until I definitely knew what was happening you could be dead.”

  Hayley’s eyes filled with tears.

  “Damn it, Hayley. Don’t you know how much you mean to me? I’m not willing to risk your life if there’s even a small chance you’ll be hurt. When this is over, we can see each other again.”

  “It could be months before your brother’s money is found. What do I do in the meantime? Put a lantern in my front window to remind you where home is?”

  “You’re being overly dramatic.”

  “I am not. You’re the one who’s being dramatic.”

  Tank took a deep breath. “I was going to suggest that we stage a big breakup scene to make people think our relationship is over. But I don’t need to bother now.”

  He pushed away the panic that was racing through his body. What he said next would destroy a part of him, but he didn’t have a choice. “This is it, Hayley. Our relationship is over.”

  “It’s what?”

  “Over.”

  “Forever?”

  “Yes.”

  This time, tears spilled down her face.

  He felt as though he was standing in the eye of a tornado. If he stayed much longer he’d be swept away in the storm, cut to pieces by the pain of their combined loss.

  He had to protect her. She didn’t know how cruel some people could be. Anyone standing in the way of hidden drugs and massive amounts of money wouldn’t be safe.

  He opened his car door. “I’m sorry, Hayley.”

  “You can’t leave.”

  “I’ll text you with John Fletcher’s cell phone number. If you’re worried about anyone following you, call him. He’ll know what to do.”

  She stepped away from his car as he started the engine. “I don’t even know your real name,” she yelled.

  Tank reversed out of the parking lot, too upset to do anything other than drive. He needed to go home, change into his running gear, and head into the mountains.

  He just hoped that one day, Hayley would be able to forgive him.

  ***

  Hayley pulled another tissue out of the box. “He told me it was over. After all this time he doesn’t want to see me again.”

  “He has a good reason for not seeing you.” Sophie rubbed Hayley’s arm. “He wants to make sure you don’t get hurt.”

  “I can look after myself.”

  “Tank’s worried because he’s met the type of people David was involved with.”

  “But he’s so stubborn. He wouldn’t listen to anything I said.”

  Sophie sat back in her chair. “I hate to break this news to you in your hour of need, but you can be stubborn, too.”

  Hayley wiped her face and blew her nose. “What am I going to do without him?”

  “The same thing you did before you met him. You’re going to enjoy each day and do everything you can to be happy. Tank knows exactly what he’s given up, and he wouldn’t have made the decision lightly.”

  “He told me he cares about me.”

  Sophie smiled. “That must be his secret code for head-over-heels in love with you. He lights up like a Christmas tree whenever you’re around.”

  “He said he never wants to see me again.”

  “He wore a Barney costume for you. No one I know would have done that. Even Ryan would have run a mile.”

  “That doesn’t mean he loves me.”

  “What it means is that he’s willing to stretch his comfort zone to make you happy. I saw the way he spoke to the children at Pastor Steven’s Halloween party. He cares deeply about people, Hayley. Give him a chance to sort out the mess with the reporter and his brother.”

  “What if he really doesn’t want to see me again? I don’t want to be one of those clingy females who won’t go away.”

  “You’ll never be one of those clingy females. I won’t let you.”

  Hayley sat a little taller in her chair. “You’re right. I need to pull myself out of this doom and gloom and think positive.” Her eyes filled with tears again. “But it’s not easy.”

  “It never is. Tank has a different way of expressing himself. He’s worried about his mom and dad, and he’s worried about you. That’s a lot of responsibility sitting on his shoulders.”

  Hayley dropped her head into her hands. “I made an idiot of myself. It’s no wonder he walked away from me. He must think I’m a heartless, crazy woman not to have understood what he was telling me.”

  “He wouldn’t think that.”

  “Okay…” Hayley looked at the walls. “I need something to take my mind off Tank. Do you want me to paint the kitchen?”

  “You’ve never painted anything in your life.”

  “There’s always a first time for everything. It can’t be that hard.”

  Sophie walked to the other side of the room and picked up her bag. “It’s harder than it looks. I’ve got a better idea.”

  “You have?”

  “Tess from Angel Wings Café is coordinating all the food for my wedding. I’ve got an appointment w
ith her in thirty minutes. We’re sampling wedding cake flavors and you’re coming with me.”

  “I like cake.”

  “I know you do. It’s not a substitute for how you’re feeling, but a little sugar can help to heal a broken heart.”

  Hayley smiled. “I don’t know who told you that, but I’m not complaining.”

  Sophie walked into the entranceway. “It was mom. After dad died I used to sit with her at night, eating ice cream. I gained ten pounds in a couple of months.”

  “I didn’t know.”

  “Mom didn’t want you to worry—she didn’t even want me to join her.”

  Hayley passed Sophie her jacket. “I guess being stubborn isn’t limited to Tank. We all say and do things to protect the people we love.”

  “I think you’re on the way to seeing things more clearly,” Sophie said as she slid her arms into her jacket. “Just remember that next time you see Tank.”

  “I will. Have I told you I’m glad that you’re my sister?”

  “I’m happy that you’re my sister, too.” Sophie gave Hayley a quick hug. “Now let’s get going. The best cake samples in Montana are waiting for our inspection.”

  Hayley set the house alarm that Tank insisted they buy, then locked the door behind her. She would listen to her sister and do everything she could to make herself happy.

  Tank knew as well as she did how precious life was, and with or without him in her life, she would make each day count.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Hayley glanced over her shoulder. She felt uneasy, as if someone was watching her.

  In the three weeks since she’d last seen Tank, there’d been no newspaper stories about his brother, nothing to make her think she was in danger.

  She walked into Emily Green’s boutique and closed the door.

  “I thought you were working an extra shift at Birchwood this morning,” Emily said from behind a mannequin.

  “They didn’t need me. One of the nurses who’d been sick all week came into work.”

  Emily lifted a gold dress onto a mannequin. “That’s good. It will give you more time to work on your assignments. Give me a hand with this dress, then I’ll show you what arrived ten minutes ago.”