Assumed Identity(60)

And now he had to leave her.

That would be what the cagey, self-preserving survivor in him would do. The DEA knew he was in Kansas City? Then he had to go. If he was on the DEA’s radar, he must be wanted for something.

Emma squealed at his feet, excited by the red and blue animals swinging over her head. Jake knelt down beside her to still the hanging toys. She batted at his big finger and he turned it into her palm, letting her latch on and pull it to her mouth for a sweet, slobbery lick. She buzzed her lips against his skin and they both smiled.

Right. Like he could leave this one alone and unprotected with a clear conscience.

A sense of inevitable doom sank like a rock in Jake’s gut. The violence from his past was closing in, and now these two women might get caught in the retribution for whatever horrible things he’d done.

“Agent Nash says he’s flying in later today from Houston. He wants to meet with you.”

Montgomery had to be giving him a heads-up for a reason. Maybe he was fishing for information, too. “Did he say why?”

“Nash said it had to do with an investigation he couldn’t discuss with me.” Jake stood at the detective’s telling pause. “Why would the DEA be interested in you, Mr. Lonergan?”

“I honestly don’t know.”

Jake pulled out the badge and traced his thumb over the letters that could have been carved in Cyrillic, for as much as they meant to him. He considered the passports in his bag that said he’d been in and out of the country several times—to countries with known drug trafficking. A tough guy—a killer—like him would be just the kind of enforcer any one of those cartels hired. His chest hurt. Two weeks ago, news like this would have sent him packing to a new town where he could hide until whoever was tracking him lost their lead and gave up.

But two weeks ago, he had no ties to anyone. Two weeks ago, he hadn’t given his word that he’d keep the Carter girls safe.

Two weeks ago, he hadn’t been in love.

Ah, hell.

“Lonergan?”

“I’m here.”

“Does Robin Carter know what kind of man you are?”

After yesterday and last night, he didn’t suppose there were any more secrets between them. “Yeah.”

“Do I need to advise you to walk away?”

“Wouldn’t do you any good.” If the DEA could track him down, that meant others could, too. It also meant that whoever was terrorizing Robin might become harder to identify if there were more than one threat circling around them. “Montgomery?”

“Yes?”

“I promised Robin I’d provide protection for her until these threats stop and you catch the man who attacked her.”

“I’m listening.”

“If something should happen to me, would you be willing to supply back-up? I need to know they’ll be safe.”

The detective held things pretty close to the vest, so it was hard to get a good read on whether he was an ally or an enemy. But Jake was betting that Montgomery would put solving his case ahead of whatever suspicions he might have about Jake. “You can call me. I have a feeling Ms. Carter is important to our task force investigation.”

“Thanks.”

“What should I tell Agent Nash when he shows up?”

“Tell him I’m busy.”

Jake disconnected the call and set the phone on the coffee table. He pulled out his go-bag and armed himself. Knife. Gun. Spare magazine in his pocket.

“Jake? Did I hear the phone?” Robin appeared at the end of the hallway, wrapped up in a fuzzy white robe and towel drying her hair. “Has something happened?”

“Are you sure you have to work that wedding today?”

She draped the towel over her shoulder and went straight to Emma to pick her up. She hugged the baby protectively against her chest. “It’s my job. The Vanderhams are good customers. You didn’t answer my question. Did the person who’s been harassing me find my home number?”

Thus far, the sicko calling Robin and sending her those threats had acted anonymously. Even the night she’d been assaulted, and when she’d been locked inside that refrigerator, the coward had waited until she was alone to attack. Surely, he wouldn’t change his MO now and try something with all the people who would be around her at a wedding.

“No.” He threaded the knife sheath onto his belt while she waited for an explanation. He’d promised to answer her questions, but wasn’t sure if telling her the DEA was now looking for him would inspire the kind of trust he needed from her if the threat escalated and he needed to take action to keep her and Emma safe. He opted for a half truth. “Detective Montgomery called while you were in the shower.”