Margaux was here unaccompanied.
Or was she unrestrained? If she had killed Liz all those years ago and came back to eliminate any other threat, she remained dangerous even after taking out Owen. Her paranoia about loose ends would consume her. Had she escaped whatever safeguards her family built around her to enclose her for everyone’s good?
“Is that it?” Chad asked.
Daniel nodded. He set the shovel down on the ground and squatted close to the wall of the shed. Once again, for the second time in twenty minutes, he strained to discern any signs of life. He didn’t move too close to the structure for fear he’d wobble the whole building and give himself away.
Voices filtered out through the gaps and cracks in the warped boards of the DIY outbuilding. He couldn’t make out words, just the furtive, desperate tone. If something happened to Emma because he stalled, how would he forgive himself? “Okay, what’s the plan?”
Chad and Philip exchanged a look.
Daniel frowned. He didn’t like the glance that they’d shared. Unspoken communication didn’t endear them to him. He’d overheard them mention a phone pinging. Had Margaux asked for help? Had she reached out to them?
“Go in there, and get my wife,” Chad said. He moved his hands in a shooing gesture.
Daniel raised a brow and looked to the bodyguard for his reaction. If Philip accepted such condescending treatment, that was his business. But Daniel never dealt well with people who imagined themselves superior.
Nothing showed on Philip’s face.
Noises from inside the building quieted.
Regardless of Daniel’s feelings about the politician’s behavior towards him, he had to act now.
“After you,” Chad murmured to Philip.
The black clad man moved swiftly, faster than Daniel. In a split second, Daniel’s arms were pinned behind his back and his body slammed into the side of the building. His cheek burned from where it scrapped against the rough siding. He sucked in a breath. All his training had deserted him the minute he started to worry about Emma. But he wouldn’t take back his humanity. He cared about her. He wouldn’t pretend otherwise.
The door swung open, slapping the wall.
“Who’s there?” Margaux shouted.
Chad chuckled and strode out of the shadows, his arms held open wide. “Your dashing husband. Here to save the day.”
Margaux shuddered, recoiling from her husband’s embrace. “I didn’t ask you to come here.”
“What a poor greeting.” Chad tsked and shook his head. “Never fear. I’m here now. The tracker I planted on you finally alerted me to your location. I’ll take care of everything.”
Margaux snorted and rolled her eyes.
Daniel wanted to get inside to Emma. He didn’t care what that looked like as long as he could get confirmation she lived and breathed. He didn’t like their odds against so many foes. But he could play the spouses, needling them to fight each other.
A muscle twitched in Margaux’s cheek.
Chad snapped his fingers. “See? I brought you a present. And he’s smart.”
Philip gripped Daniel’s wrists tightly. The bodyguard moved with precision, capturing Daniel before he had even a split second to consider pulling his weapon.
“You should listen to him,” Daniel said. “He’s your husband.”
Behind him, Philip grunted and squeezed. Misogyny and chauvinism would only earn points with Chad. Daniel noted.
“You were tracking me?” Margaux’s voice was pitched high. “For how long? How?”
“No need to thank me,” Chad said, his tone condescending. “My team was alerted to your whereabouts after some threat nonsense. The Feds called.”
“Really?” Margaux narrowed her eyes at Daniel. “Out of your depth with a silly letter, Sheriff?”
“Darling, I am annoyed. I thought you were on holiday. I guess our staff didn’t do such a good job of updating each other.”
