started with the Harry Robertson case, frowning intently when he heard about Larryâs death, then knitting his brows still more tightly when he heard about the explosion. Shanna gasped in horror, realizing that her father should have been there.
âItâs all right,â Brent assured her gently. It was good to focus on his daughter. Kathy was sitting beside him, and she wouldnât hold on to the towel. It had slipped down her back. And her thigh was touching his. They were all sipping coffee, and her fingers kept brushing his.
He should have hog-tied her and left her on the Sweet Eden . Heâd be making more sense now.
âIâm all right, and everything is going to be all right,â he added, smiling at the anxiety in his daughterâs eyes. God, she was precious to him. âBut I want you and your mother gone.â
âWhy?â
He inhaled and exhaled. Damn, but she sounded like her mother!
âBecause I donât want you hurt or killed by someone trying very hard to get to me. Shanna, werenât you listening, donât you understand? I tried to disappear the second I saw what had happened to Johnny because I knew I had to get the two of you away before they came looking for me. I called a friend in Washington and I managed to get everything arranged for the two of you.â
âWashington! I donât want to go away. I want to stay near you!â
âShanna, you canâtââ
âYouâre going to go back! Youâre going to try to be some kind of baitââ
âShannaââ
âWait a minute, wait a minute,â Justin interrupted. Brent looked at him. Justin knew he had to go back, that he didnât have a choice in the world.
He also seemed to understand how concerned Brent was for his wife and daughter. Ex -wife and daughter.
âWhat you want is absolute safety for Shanna and Kathy,â he said.
âRight,â Brent agreed.
âOkay, then listen to this. And you listen real good, young lady,â he advised Shanna. âWeâve got a little place on a private island. Walled in, electric gates, a fine pack of trained shepherds, security guards, the works.â
Kathy and Brent were staring at him. Justin flushed, his cheeks going very red. âI have a publisher friend who was in real trouble. Lost his job and everything, and weâre always in the islands, so I bought the place from him. The people Iâve kept on I trust implicitly. I can take care of Shanna and Kathy. Weâll still be real near just in case you need us, and Shanna will be a lot happier with David around, and I think Kathy will be happier with us than she would be with strangers, right?â
Brent hesitated. He didnât know what to say. âJustin, I canât put you in this position.â
âHell, Brent, I was a cop for years!â
âBut your own familyââ
âIâm telling you, this place is like Fort Knox!â
âWeâd be delighted to have Kathy and Shanna. Honestly!â Reba said.
David looked at Brent. âSir, please, we wouldnât have it any other way.â He hesitated. âI canât let you take her otherwise, Mr. McQueen.â
âOh, you canât?â Brent said, his temper rising.
âDaddy!â Shanna pleaded. âI wonât go unless I go with David.â
Brent smiled. Sheâd been going to fight him the whole way. Then sheâd jumped to Davidâs defense, and now she was stuck.
âSo you will go with the Brennans.â
âYou tricked me!â she wailed. âI still donât like this, I donât like it one bit. I want to be with you.â
âShanna,â he said, sighing impatiently, âyou canât be with me!â
âYou could take the boat back and they could be waiting for you.â
âI wonât take the boat to your motherâs place. Iâll dock her somewhere else. Shanna,
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