Cassidy squeezed his hand. “I’m so happy for you, Ty. I know how important this is to you.”
“There’s nothing I want more than to have you beside me when this all comes to completion.”
She looked away, her heart twisting into knots. She pictured that day. When would it be? A year from now? Longer? Either way, according to her timeline, she would be gone. As much as she tried to convince herself this arrangement could last forever, she knew what her reality was. Her life was back—not in Texas—but in Seattle.
“We’ve talked about this.” Her throat ached as she said the words. “Day by day, right?”
It was a stipulation of their relationship. They were going to enjoy each moment together without any pressure about the future. So far, that had worked to perfection.
Ty reached for her hand. “I know. I do, Cassidy. I’m not pushing you. I just . . . I just want to let you know how much you mean to me. The idea of you not being in my future? It makes my world feel lopsided.”
“I feel the same way.” And she did. Unequivocally.
And that was what made this all the harder.
Ty leaned in for another kiss, but Cassidy’s phone buzzed, interrupting the moment. She glanced at the screen and let out a sigh.
“That’s right. I have a meeting.”
“With who?” Ty asked.
“Serena.” Serena worked for Cassidy part-time, helping with the ice cream route. But, in order to make ends meet, the college student also worked at her aunt’s produce stand and as a beat reporter for the island newspaper.
He made a face. “Why doesn’t she just come here? What’s so important?”
“The moment I understand Serena is the moment dolphins come ashore and do the hula.” Cassidy loved Serena, but the girl was a case study in personality disorders. Every time Cassidy saw her, she was dressed in a different style in a daily effort to “find herself.”
Ty chuckled. “I can’t argue with that. If you have to go, you have to go.”
“She said it was important when she called last night. Otherwise, I’d stay here with you.” Cassidy gave him another quick kiss. “But I’ll see you later, okay?”
“Sure thing.”
She stood and headed back toward her place. But first, she glanced over her shoulder, drinking in the sight of Ty on the beach one more time. “The fish was delicious.”
“Thanks. The company wasn’t bad either.”
She smiled. No, the company had been perfect.
Cassidy walked along the boardwalk with a cup of iced coffee in hand. She’d arrived a few minutes early, so she’d indulged at her favorite coffee shop. It wasn’t Seattle-worthy java, but it wasn’t bad.
She was supposed to meet Serena here, on one of the benches facing the ocean and normally utilized by vacationers who wanted to soak in the million-dollar view. Conversations were always easier over a cup of coffee. That was her excuse right now, anyway.
She lingered near the spot a moment, her heart swelling with contentment.
The past month had been amazing. No mysteries. No fear of blowing her cover. Only good times living the simple life.
Living a life where she constantly looked over her shoulder had become the norm. It wasn’t one she liked. But slowly, Cassidy’s new persona was burying the person she used to be and making her forget her brisk, busy life as a big-city detective.
Back then, everything had revolved around work and getting ahead, which made for twenty-hour shifts and no social life. She hadn’t realized what she was missing until she came to Lantern Beach. Even her assumed name was beginning to feel as comfortable as her favorite sweater.
“Cassidy!” someone called.
She looked up in time to see Serena Lavania headed her way, a file in hand and a bright smile on her face. Today the college student was dressed in some kind of ode to eighties punk rock, with an off-the-shoulder short-sleeve sweatshirt, a bright pink streak in her hair, and thirtyish bangles on her wrists.
The girl otherwise looked normal, with her slight build, bright eyes, and long, dark hair. She was visiting from Michigan for the summer, and she always made life more interesting, to say the least.
“What’s going on?” Cassidy took the last sip of her coffee and tossed the cup into a nearby trash bin. Then she stripped off her sweatshirt—careful not to displace the “Salt Life” baseball cap on her head. She had no time to fix her hair this morning, and the humidity would have ruined any work she did anyway. She tied the shirt around her waist, ready to face the heat.
“Thanks for meeting with me,” Serena said. “Sorry for the urgency, but I’m on deadline. I’m doing an article on the ten most important news stories of the summer. Your name came up in three of them.”
Cassidy’s throat tightened. “Is that right?”
Serena opened her manila folder. There wasn’t much news around here, so Cassidy had been mentioned multiple times. “Yeah, but it’s the craziest thing. Did you know that every time your picture is in the paper, no one can see your face?”
Cassidy glanced at the newspaper clippings Serena held out. The one on top was from when Cassidy had been given an award for her part in taking down a drug ring. Conveniently, when the picture had been taken, the wind had blown her hair in her face.
In other photos her hat was pulled down low, or she had sunglasses on, or someone’s shoulder blocked her, or she’d just happened to look away.
No, Cassidy couldn’t risk her face showing up in a publication. DH-7 might be a street gang, but they had money and resources. They could hire someone to use software that would scan faces on the World Wide Web until they found a match and located her.
“You really can’t see my face, can you? Isn’t that funny?” Cassidy was thankful she wore sunglasses now so Serena couldn’t see her unease.
“Anyway, it looks like you’re the big winner when it comes to this summer’s top stories,” Serena said. “Which brings me to why I wanted to meet with you.”
“I’m not following.”
Serena pulled a camera from her bag. “I was hoping to get a picture of you. A better one. And I have to say—you’ve solved a murder, busted a drug ring, and helped three human-trafficking victims—you’re like a rock star.”
“Hardly. You really shouldn’t run that article now. You should wait until there’s an end-of-the-year edition.” By the end of the year, the trial should be over, and publicity wouldn’t matter. Right now, it did. It really did.
“Don’t be ridiculous. This will make for great news. All the stories about you make the other ones look lame. For real. I mean, there’s a fishing competition. Boring. The best floats in the Fourth of July parade. Yawn. The tourist whose foot got stuck while parasailing. Not as boring, but still.”
“But that’s a lot more fun than anything I’m involved with.”
Serena didn’t seem to hear her. “Maybe we should just do the top three stories of the summer, and then we can avoid all the boring stuff. Besides, I’ll be gone by the end of the year. I love bylines. Well, I love my byline.”
Cassidy needed to convince Serena that this was a bad idea.
She opened her mouth, about to offer unsolicited advice.
But she stopped cold.
A figure weaving in and out of the crowds in the distance caught her eye.
Was that . . .
No, it couldn’t be.
She squinted, trying to soak in the details.
But maybe it was.
Cassidy quickly turned her back and ducked behind the wooden post of a pergola. Her heart thumped out of control.
That man looked exactly like Orion. One of Raul’s leaders. And a man who wanted to kill Cassidy, all in the name of justice for DH-7.
Had they found her?
Chapter Two
“Are you okay?” Serena tilted her head at Cassidy and squinted with scrutiny. “You look pale. Do you really hate publicity that much?”
“Maybe I’m coming down with something,”
Cassidy muttered, the article the least of her worries right now. She glanced back again.
The man was still coming her way. He’d pass by her in the next three minutes, by her calculations.
Cassidy had to get out of here.
“Serena, don’t run that article,” she muttered. “And I hate having my picture taken.”
“Okay . . . fine. It was just an idea.” Serena’s bottom lip jutted out in a pout.
“I just remembered something. I hate to cut this short, but I need to go.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Serena blinked in confusion and concern.
Cassidy nodded and waved a hand in the air, hoping to alleviate the girl’s concerns. Then she hurried down the sidewalk, away from Orion.
At the first open shop, Cassidy ducked inside and out of sight.
Her lungs squeezed, tight with anxiety. How had Orion found her? Was it really him?
She couldn’t be sure. It could be someone who looked like him.
Yet, at first glance, Cassidy had felt certain. She had to trust her gut. There were times to play it safe, and times to take risks. Right now, surrounded by innocent bystanders, she chose to play it safe.
Cassidy feigned looking at some T-shirts as she peered out the window at the busy boardwalk outside. She waited, counting down the seconds until the man walked past.
Would Orion continue on? Or had he already seen Cassidy? Was he hunting her down now, preparing himself to confront her at the first chance?
She had no idea.
She knew the way he worked. Swiftly. Without conscience. With a devious plan.
Her heart pounded harder. Cassidy’s gun was in her purse. She could use it if she had to.
“Can I help you?” a cracking pubescent voice came from behind her.
She glanced over her shoulder, and her stomach tightened. An annoying salesperson she’d encountered before leered at her. He was the most persistent teenager she’d ever met, and the last thing Cassidy wanted right now was to talk to him.
“I’m fine,” Cassidy mumbled, returning her attention to the front window.
Orion—or whoever that man was—should be coming past any second.
“We’ve got some great specials,” the boy continued.
“I’m okay.” More tourists passed outside. But no Orion. Not yet.
“Maybe you’d like an aquatic frog?”
She needed to get rid of him. Now.
“There’s a shoplifter on the other side of the store,” she muttered. “He’s stuffing things into his sweatshirt as we speak. You should go check him out before the manager blames you for not paying better attention.”
Cassidy had glanced at the thief when she walked inside and noted him scoping out the place. Stopping him wasn’t a battle she could fight right now. But if it got this salesclerk off her back, then great.
“What . . . really . . .” Without saying another word, the clerk disappeared.
Thank goodness.
And just in time. Orion strode past the window.
Cassidy squinted again.
Was that Orion? Or was she paranoid?
The man looked like him. Kind of.
Cassidy’s heart raced. Her lungs tightened.
Her entire body was poised to either fight or take flight.
But then he passed. Kept walking. Didn’t look back.
She’d only ever seen Orion dressed like a gangbanger with baggy jeans, too much jewelry, and that defiant look he constantly wore. The man who’d just passed had the same dark hair and broad build. But he was dressed in gray shorts and a black top. Both looked pressed and clean. He wore sandals, and his short hair was combed stylishly.
The man physically shared Orion’s characteristics, but everything else didn’t match. His vibe was different.
What did that mean?
Cassidy wasn’t sure. But she wasn’t going to stay here and figure it out either. No, because if Orion found her, it wasn’t just Cassidy who’d be in danger. So would everyone she loved.
And that wasn’t okay.
Panic threatened to seize every part of Cassidy. She pulled up to her cottage, rushed up the stairs, and flew into her house.
Did Orion know where she lived? Was he headed here now? What would he do when he found her?
She threw some clothes into a bag, jamming them in with a punch.
How had the man managed to locate her? Was it the grant? Had it somehow triggered something?
It didn’t matter. Not right now.
What mattered—the only thing that mattered—was that she got out of here.
Cassidy had known there was a chance this time would come. She’d thought through the possibilities. Played them out in her head.
She’d just hoped none of them ever came to fruition.
Oh, dear Lord. Help me. Help the people I love. Keep them safe.
She moved from the bedroom into the kitchen. She grabbed a backpack and threw her guns inside, along with a few water bottles and all the cash she could find. She’d take her sedan for now, but she’d need to find a new car soon. Just to be safe.
That was all she had time to pack. She’d worry about the rest later. She could buy more clothes. More food. More toiletries. Maybe she’d dye her hair red. Cut it short. Go somewhere cold this time.
Her heart ached at the thought of it.
She didn’t want to go anywhere else. Her heart was here in Lantern Beach.
Focus, Cassidy. This is bigger than you. Bigger than this town. Your happiness takes a backseat to your job.
That statement had never bothered her—until now.
All her focus had been on the bigger picture. The FBI needed her testimony to put these guys away for good. That was why it was so important she stay alive. That she put her life on hold in order to do the right thing.
The right thing.
She knew what that required of her. And she’d known it would be difficult. The right thing is sometimes the hardest thing. Do it anyway.
Cassidy cast one last glance at her little home, and memories filled her. Memories of her friends eating here. Of people in need hiding out. Of quiet dinners with Ty, enjoying each other’s company.
She could hardly swallow the idea of leaving.
Before Cassidy could talk herself out of it, she rushed out the door. It was best if she got out of here before anyone saw her. Before she could second-guess herself any more. Before she could talk herself out of doing what was necessary.
She scurried down the exterior stairway and threw her bags into the back seat of her sedan. She started to open the driver’s side door when she glanced at Ty’s place and paused.
The pang in her heart echoed through her entire body until she bent with pain.
Stay focused.
But more than anything she wanted to stay here.
You’ll get everyone you love killed if you stay.
With that thought, she climbed into her sedan. Heartbreak was better than death. It might not seem like it initially, but people could recover from emotions. Death was permanent—here on this earth, at least.
Just as she was about to shut the door, someone called her name.
Cassidy froze and looked up.
Ty lumbered down the stairs from his place.
“Where are you rushing off to now? You already met with Serena?” He sauntered to her car, his flip-flops smacking against the cement.
Cassidy realized he might see her bags in the back and quickly climbed out, trying to block him from the sight of them and any questions that would arise as a result.
Her heart ached, the pain nearly unbearable. This could be the last time they spoke. Cassidy could hardly stomach the thought. Ty had come to mean the world to her.
“I forgot something and had to come back for it,” she said, her voice cracking. “No biggie.”
“You seem different.” He squinted and studied her face. “Frazzled or something.”
“Do I? I just hate when I forget things.�
�� Cassidy looked up into his eyes and felt her resolve weakening.
She loved that face. Loved his warm, brown eyes and messy hair and defined jaw. Loved how his cheeks got scruffy and how sometimes he liked to wear cowboy boots on the beach. Loved the way he worked with his hands, leaving calluses that told stories of perseverance and hard work. How he loved his dog. How loyal he was to his friends.
Cassidy had never met anyone like Ty Chambers. And she never would again. But she had to do what she had to do.
Your happiness is secondary to the mission.
The thought caused a wave of bitterness to rise in her.
Spontaneously, Cassidy reached for Ty and drew him close. She pressed her lips against his in a kiss she never wanted to stop. She never wanted to let go. Never wanted the moment to end.
But it did. Of course.
“What was that for?” Ty’s voice sounded low and intimate as he studied her face, his hands still draped at her waist.
“Can’t I kiss you just because?”
“It almost felt like,” his gaze jerked behind her and his eyes narrowed, “a goodbye kiss. Are those your bags in the back of the car? Are you leaving, Cassidy?”
Cassidy’s blood pressure surged until her ears roared with an almost static sound. “Why would you ask that?”
As soon as the words left her mouth, regret filled her. Ty wasn’t stupid, and she didn’t want to treat him like he was. He deserved better, especially after everything he’d done for her.
“What’s going on, Cassidy?” His gaze hardened. “Talk to me.”
She licked her lips. The less he knew, the better. For his own sake. “It’s complicated.”
“I understand complicated. I went to war.” His expression turned stony.
Tears sprang to Cassidy’s eyes as all her emotions came to the surface. That was the last thing she needed. Her emotions . . . they’d only make her weak. That was what her dad had always told her.
“I can’t.” Her voice cracked. “I just can’t.”
The hardness in his eyes turned cold. “You still don’t trust me.”
“It’s not like that.”
Dangerous Waters (Lantern Beach Book 4) Page 2
