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“No, I told him I was headed there and to let you know. He insisted on coming to keep me safe until he could reach you.”
“It took him a while to call me,” Matt groused.
“He really couldn’t. I…kind of cried all over him. He said it was an adrenaline crash. He calmed me and made me eat a snack, then kept me talking until I fell asleep. That’s when he called you.”
Matt still didn’t like Ethan. Admittedly, his teammate had done the right thing, but he didn’t want anyone else taking care of her. And he didn’t want to question why he felt so possessive. “I’m sorry this week has been overwhelming.”
“Not your fault.” She shrugged like she couldn’t think of a single thing that would take away her fear and despair. “I just thought by now I’d be talking to attorneys about my split from Todd, not running for my life.”
Her entire existence had suddenly become harrowing and emotional. And he hadn’t done anything to make it easier.
Sighing, he reached for her hand again. His heart twisted when she stared at it, then at him, debating whether to let him in. Finally, she slid her fingers onto his palm. He closed his hand around them and squeezed. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Madison studied their joined hands. “Why did you threaten to quit your job?”
“After what happened with Nash, and the way Ethan was coming onto you—”
“Nothing would have happened between us.”
“You don’t know that.” Ethan sweet-talked loads of women into bed. One as vulnerable as Madison would be easy prey for a player like him.
“Yes, I do. I’m not interested. I don’t want anyone but you.”
Same for him, but before he could tell her, he spotted an army green Jeep in the parking lot of an abandoned convenience store, now on the verge of being overtaken by Louisiana’s ever-encroaching swamp. A badass dude leaned up against the vehicle, thick arms crossed over his chest, wearing head-to-toe black, a ball cap pulled low, and an unreadable expression.
Jack Cole.
“We’ll finish this conversation later,” Matt vowed as he climbed from his truck, squaring the cowboy hat on his head. “Hey.”
“Glad you finally made it.” Jack glanced at his watch. “You’re three minutes late.”
He was, and Matt wasn’t going to bother with excuses. “Sorry.”
The slamming of car doors had him turning to find Madison hopping out of his vehicle, her backpack slung over her shoulder. The Edgington brothers exited theirs and followed until they all stood around Jack.
Hunter took one look at Madison, then scowled Matt’s way. “Everything okay?”
“Fine,” he snapped.
Logan didn’t look convinced, but let it go. “Give me your keys. Phone, too. You won’t need either in the swamp, and it will look more convincing if spying eyes locate the device at your house.”
With a sigh, Matt complied.
Logan pocketed both, then looked at Jack. “Anything else?”
The crafty Cajun shook his head. “No. We’ll stay in touch.”
“Roger that.”
Jack grinned. “Despite being navy boys, you two are almost smart.”
“Fuck you,” Logan quipped.
Hunter cracked a smile. “Asshole. You three should head out. I don’t have to tell you to stay vigilant and watch for trouble.”
Matt shook his head. “It’s coming.”
It was just a matter of when and where.
