Christmas Justice (Carder Texas Connections #7)(64)
Under the circumstances, Sadie was doing well. Damn that his own anger rose thinking about the past. He already felt a connection to Sadie. His protective instincts flew into high gear the moment someone breached the bakery. He shouldn’t care this much about a witness. “It’ll keep you alive if you let it.”
A beat of silence sat between them.
He risked a glance in her direction. A ball of fury formed in his throat at the tears streaming down her pink cheeks. From what he’d observed in the few weeks he’d been in Creek Bend, she worked hard. She was always on time. By all accounts she did a great job. He already knew about her resilience and courage. She seemed decent and kind. She deserved so much more.
He might have to take away her home again, but he would keep her safe.
Rather than debate the quality of the WitSec program at the U.S. Marshals Service, he dropped his defenses. The experience of growing up with four women under the same roof had taught him a thing or two about the point at which he’d lost a battle. He didn’t need any of his experience to see this one was long gone. He raised his hands in the universal sign of surrender then dropped them right back on the steering wheel. “I didn’t say any of that to upset you.”
She folded her arms. “It’s fine. I guess you’re right. The program probably helps a lot of people. Just not me. I get to be the exception. I might be the unluckiest person on the planet. Even a program meant to help people makes my life miserable.”
“For what it’s worth, I’m truly sorry.”
She looked at him long and hard. Her green-eyed stare pierced him. “Your boss, Mr. Smith, said whatever I stepped into opened a Pandora’s box because they started fighting to take over Grimes’s territory.”
“Sounds like something my boss would say.” He clenched his back teeth. “It did. Violent crime shot through the roof after we put Grimes away.”
“Doesn’t seem like I helped by having him locked away.”
“Testifying was still the right thing to do. You saved a lot of innocent lives.”
“Did I? Not mine. And what about Claire? Now I’ve ruined the business of the one person who I could count on as a friend.”
“She’ll receive money. I guarantee it. Citizens are safer with these guys off the streets.”
“But they aren’t, are they?” she snapped. “I wasn’t even the one Grimes wanted. They kidnapped me by mistake. The woman they were after moved away and disappeared. She was smart. Not me. I believed your boss. I testified. Look at me now. Shouldn’t you check in with him or something?” She palmed the cell, scrolling through the names in the contact list with her thumb.
It didn’t take long.
There were only two. Nick Campbell. William Smith.
They were the only two people in her world for now. Nick couldn’t imagine being that alone.
“Nah. There’s only one reason I want you to call that number. Anything happens to me, don’t hesitate. Make contact. Smith will tell you where to go and what to do.”
Her grip tightened on the cell phone. “But you’re with me. Anything happens to you and we’ll both be dead.”
“Nothing’s going to happen to either of us. I promise. I only gave you the number to ease your concerns.”
“If one U.S. Marshal’s already dead, our odds don’t seem all that great.” Her words came out raspy and small.
The back windshield shattered. The truck swerved as he slammed the brakes.
A truck rammed his left bumper, sending his vehicle into a dangerous spin. He grasped the steering wheel, turning into the skid.