Page 52 of Unmasked

“Never.”

Happiness unfurled in her chest at the certainty in his voice. She tipped her head up. “Were you working a case?”

He nodded. “Yours.”

At her lifted brow, he continued. “Mason and I questioned your photographer tonight.”

Oh, my God.

“Don't look at me like that,” Knox admonished softly. “I'm trained for this kind of stuff, remember? I've been through much worse.”

And she hadn't been there for any of it. What if he’d been hurt or killed and she hadn’t known? She never would have gotten this second chance with him. Tears pricked her eyes, and she dipped her head.

Knox’s fingers slid into her hair and curled tight as he redirected her gaze to his. “I didn't mean it that way. Whatever happened in the past is done; we have the future to look forward to now, and that’s all that matters.”

Though she didn’t really want to, she had to ask. “What happened tonight?”

He was quiet for a second, seeming to debate how much to tell her. “Mason found the man who’s been leaving the photos on your car. He says someone paid him to do it, but he’s not sure who.”

A shiver rippled down her spine. Why were they doing this? She voiced her question, and Knox kissed the top of her head. “I don’t know, sweetheart, but I’m going to find out.”

There was a hint of a threat in his voice, and a little thrill ran through her. She trusted Knox to protect her, to keep her safe, and she loved him all the more for it. She still wasn’t entirely sure what would happen between them, but she wanted to put this all behind them so they could find out.

CHAPTER

THIRTY-THREE

A small group had assembled in the bullpen. “Here’s the plan: According to the photographer, their next meet is supposed to happen today at four o'clock. He’ll make the drop at the gazebo in Blackwater Key, so they’ll stake out the area and catch the mark when he comes to pick it up.”

“Sounds good.” Aiden gave a little nod. “Do they need comms?”

“No.” He shook his head. “They don't plan to apprehend him today. They’ll get eyes on him, tail him, and come up with a game plan. Sound good to you?”

He threw a look at Mason, who nodded. They had their cells for communication, so he wasn't going to worry about using equipment the other guys might need.

He glanced Aiden’s way. “Did you find anything on the ex?”

After their meeting with Tate the other night, he had asked Aiden to check into Fletcher Montgomery, but it seemed he was bound to be disappointed.

“Clean, from what I can tell,” Aiden said. “Didn’t get the guy himself, but the receptionist said he’d recently returned from a trip overseas. The assistant who normally works for Montgomery is out of the office, but the temp I spoke with said she’d have her call once she was back.”

He tipped his head toward Mason. “All right. Let's get ready to head out so we can be in place well before he arrives.”

He tossed another look at Aiden. “I'll let you know if I need anything.”

Mason and he left the bullpen and headed toward his office. As soon as he was inside, he pulled out his cell phone to text Everleigh. Even though he’d left her just a few hours ago, he missed her like crazy. For the past few days, things between them had been almost perfect. Every once in a while, he felt a tiny niggle of doubt, but that was overshadowed by the sheer happiness of having her back in his life.

Everleigh was beginning to change too. No longer the reserved, hesitant woman who had walked into his office a couple of weeks ago, she was much more like the woman he had fallen in love with years ago. His fingers flew across the screen as he texted her to check in, and he felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise. He lifted his head to find Mason staring at him, those unsettling gold eyes locked on his.

His shoulders tightened, and he immediately went on defense. “What?”

“Not a thing.” Mason gave a slow shake of his head. “Good to see you happy again, that's all.”

The compliment made him uncomfortable, and he swallowed hard. “Thanks.”

In truth, he owed Mason a lot. Without him constantly pushing Everleigh into his path, he wasn't sure he would have ever given her the benefit of the doubt and let her back into his life.

“I mean it.” His voice was thick with emotion, and he cleared his throat to get rid of it. “I owe you.”