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“I have a few contacts in the city,” Dawg murmured. “And a few spread out through the police department. I’ll make some calls and see what I can find out.”
* * *
“I’m sorry, Dawg.” Guilt was lashing at Piper’s senses now.
Dawg was doing everything he could not to explode, to hide his anger.
Those bright celadon eyes seemed darker than normal, his expression almost haggard, and she realized the past week had been just as hard on him, perhaps, as it had been on her.
“For what?” he asked then.
“I shouldn’t have reacted as I did when you saw my face. I was terrified you’d try to lock me away somewhere, though. You don’t know how scary you get when you’re in protection mode.”
“That’s still a possibility.” He grunted as he leaned back in the chair and crossed his arms over his broad chest.
The black T-shirt he wore stretched across his powerful biceps created an impression of vast strength. “The nightmares have been brutal, Piper.”
And they had been, she knew. The Mackay wives, Christa, Kelly, and Chaya, had arrived the day before and, along with her sisters and mother, berated Piper for refusing to tell any of them what happened.
Christa had told her that Dawg had been awakening from nightmares ever since, certain that Piper was in grave danger, and he had no idea how to protect her.
“I love you, Dawg.” What more could she say? “You, Rowdy, and Natches saved us. But you’ve also smothered us this last year. Smothered us to the point that there’s no privacy at all. And I just couldn’t handle it any longer.”
He leaned forward, his arms dropping from his chest and resting against his knees as he clasped his hands between them.
“Piper, if I ever end up having to bury one of you because I faltered or because I didn’t know one of you was in danger, I don’t know if I would survive the guilt. You’re a Mackay. Your sisters are Mackays. Trouble and danger will always follow the four of you because of the covert jobs you hold. Unless . . .” He gave Jed a long, hard look. “Unless there’s someone strong enough, someone dangerous enough, to deflect it.”
Oh, Jed was strong enough. And he was dangerous enough. . . .
“Perhaps you should teach us properly how to protect ourselves, Dawg. I’m certain you and Jed would like to sleep sometime. And I do like going to the ladies’ room without some hulking male standing outside the stall.”
She shot him a tight, hard smile as irritation flashed in his expression, and Jed’s arms tightened around her.
Dawg could only shake his head. “God, and here I thought you were the least stubborn sister.”
“Just the quietest one,” she amended the thought. “Trust me, Dawg: No matter the impression Eve gave you, neither Lyrica, Zoey, nor myself are willing to live like fugitives or witness protection candidates. You’re going to have to come up with a solution other than some strong, forceful caveman to keep us from attracting trouble.”
“No kidding.” He grunted, rising to his feet. “I’m going to get out of here and make a few phone calls, catch up with Natches and Rowdy, and see what we can figure out.” His gaze sliced to Jed’s. “Make sure she’s either not in this room, or that her locks are secured against anyone determined to get in.”
She felt Jed shift behind her and glanced back.
He was staring at her worktable again, only this time, as he released her, his fingers went to the dark green glass jewels scattered amid the red and clear cut crystals.
“Those will be so pretty on the dress I’m designing.” She sighed.
He rolled several in amid another batch whose color didn’t seem as deep or rich.
“Where did you get them?” He picked a few up before moving across the room and handing them to Dawg.
Piper watched them curiously.
“A craft shop in New York, in the Garment District.” She shrugged, catching Dawg’s eye. “You’ve taken me there before.”
Dawg rose slowly to his feet, his gaze on the pieces of colored glass.
Closing his hand quickly around the stones he held, he flipped the cell phone open again and made a call.
“I need you down here in Piper’s room, ASAP. And if you have a jeweler’s loupe or a strong magnifying glass, bring it with you,” he ordered—Tim, Piper assumed.
