“Just a precaution until Collier and the team perform their investigation.”
“A precaution?”
He glanced at the street again.
She followed his gaze, then stepped in front of him to force his attention back to her. “You actually think they’ll come here looking for you?”
“Or you. Or both of us.” He shrugged. “I can’t imagine them being brazen enough to come here. But I’m being extra cautious.”
She blinked, surprised. “You think they’re after me too?”
“The shootout wasn’t enough to convince you?”
“It was your cabin. They were clearly targeting you.”
“Sierra, the bullets strafed the ground right where you’d been standing before I yanked you into the trees.”
“I was in the way, interfering with them getting you. If they’d realized who I was, they wouldn’t have shot at me.”
“Because they’re afraid of your father?”
“Most people are.”
“Because he’s a simplebusinessman?” His voice practically dripped with sarcasm.
She glared at him.
He blew out a breath, his frustration obvious. “Look, I’m just trying to make a point here. If you’re right and your brother was murdered, and these men were involved—which seems likely—they’ve already proven they’re not worried about your father’s wrath. What’s one more Covington to them now?”
She blinked, his words chilling her as they sank in. His conclusions seemed ridiculously obvious and logical. But she’d lived so long under the umbrella of her father’s protection that it hadn’t dawned on her that she too could be in mortal danger. She’d foolishly believed all this time that if someone found out she was investigating her brother’s death, the worst that would happen was that they’d leave town before she could finish her investigation. But now she knew the truth.
She was in just as much danger as Beau.
His voice droned on as he continued his explanation.
“—so whatever they’re after, whatever reason they had for…going after your brother, at a minimum they’ll want to keep you from telling anyone about your suspicions about Esteban’s death. You said you overheard in town about me reopening your brother’s case. They could have just as easily heard about you being in town, or at least some Spanish lady who’s been hanging around. That could have led them to suspect you were the Spanish lady. They may have been watching you all this time, figuring out what to do about your interference. Until we know for sure who these men are, the safest thing to assume is that they want to silence you just as badly as they want to silence me.”
She nodded in reluctant agreement, fear making her clasp her hands to keep them from trembling.
Beau gave her an empathetic look as if realizing that his words had finally gotten through to her. He lightly squeezed her shoulder. “It’s going to be okay. I wasn’t trying to scare you. I just wanted to make sure you understood the situation. We need to get out of here. Now.”
“And go where?” she asked. “My rental house?”
He glanced at Collier, before answering. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. We’ll discuss our destination after we leave.”
She arched a brow. “You suddenly don’t trust your own officer?”
“Not telling Collier where we’re going is my way of protecting him. What he doesn’t know can’t put him in danger.”
“Back door?” Collier asked.
“Back door.” Beau took one of Sierra’s hands in his and tugged her across the squad room.
She was so surprised that she didn’t pull away or argue. Not that she minded him holding her hand. The man wasn’t exactly hard on the eyes. And she hadn’t had to fake her attraction to him when she’d shamelessly flirted earlier today. But lettingsomeone pull her around and force her to do something wasn’t what she’d normally allow.
As he pulled open the back door, she half-expected a gunman to meet them there. Thankfully, the doorway was empty. No gunshots rang out from the woods across the back alley.
He scanned their surroundings. Then he pulled her out with him so Collier could close the door.
