Chapter Fifteen

Zeke ran a frustrated hand down his face. He was as frustrated as she sounded, and if he knew her as well as he thought he did, he knew she’d make a move no matter what he said.

“Put Darrell on the phone.”

He heard her walking and then Darrell’s voice.

“Hey, what’s up?” Darrell asked.

“Has she told you her idea?”

Darrell grunted. “If I know her, it will be slightly crazy. The woman has no fear sometimes.”

“She wants us to act like we’re together,” Zeke said. “She thinks the way we’re doing it right now won’t get the bastard to make a move. But if he sees us together, he’ll want to talk to her again.”

“Or take a potshot at you,” Darrell said.

Zeke pinched the bridge of his nose. “Maybe.”

“I hate to say this, but I think she’s right.”

Zeke almost groaned. If he was honest, he thought so, too, but the thought of putting her in danger made him furious.

Darrell interrupted his thoughts. “I can call in some men to help protect the two of you.”

“It’s not me I’m worried about.”

“I know, man, but the bastard threatened your life. I’m afraid you won’t watch your own back because you’re busy trying to keep her safe.”

Zeke grunted. The older man was right about that.

“Let me make some calls. I’ll see if I can have a few in town tomorrow to watch over you two.”

“Yeah, see what you can do. I won’t try this unless I know we’ve got plenty of backup,” Zeke said. “I can call in a few of my guys.”

“I say the more, the merrier, but they can’t be seen, or the man will get suspicious,” Darrell guessed.

“They can do that.” Zeke thought of several men he trusted who would come if he needed them.

“I’ll call you back later.”

Zeke sighed. “All right. Let me talk to her.”

“Good luck.”

Zeke rolled his eyes.

“Hi,” she said.

“Hi. Darrell and I are going to call in extra men to watch our backs. We’ll see when they can come, then we’ll try your idea.”

“I know you don’t like it, Zeke, but you wouldn’t do it if you didn’t think it was a good move and you knew I’d be watched.”

“You’re damn right about that.” Zeke looked out a crack in a blind to see if any shadows moved in his backyard. “I’ve got some calls to make. I’ll have you come into my office when you get there, and I’ll tell you how we’re going to proceed.”

“All right.”

“Good night, Little Sub.”

“Good night, Bid Bad Dom.”

He snorted and hung up.

Zeke made several calls and got promises from three guys that they’d be in town in the morning. One of them was a great pilot, and as far as Zeke knew, there wasn’t anything the man couldn’t fly. They’d be coming in on a helicopter in the closest town and get a rental car. Each of them would be positioned on rooftops and one behind the building.

He felt a little better knowing he had men he trusted with his life watching his back.

Zeke showered and dropped into bed. He thought he’d drop off to sleep, but he couldn’t get over the feeling they were putting her in more danger than any of them thought. If something happened to her, he’d never forget or forgive himself.

He was up before the sun and on his third cup of coffee. He knew he was strung tight, but he’d never loved anyone the way he loved her.

His phone rang.

“Hello.”

“Hey, it’s me, Darrell. I have two men driving into town in a few hours.”

“I’ve got three headed this way, too,” Zeke said. “Two will be on rooftops, and one will be behind the building.”

“Okay, I’ll have one behind the house and another in the coffee shop across the street from the sheriff’s building. I’m also sending a picture of the man so you can get it to your men.”

“Good. Thank you. I’m heading into the office right now. I want to check out everything before Kayla gets there.”

“I’ll be on guard here, and the men will have eyes on her the whole time,” Darrell said.

“Mine will, too,” Zeke said. “Call me if anything comes up.”

“You got it.”

Zeke stuffed his phone in his pocket and strapped it on his holster. He also slipped another gun to his ankle along with a knife. Some might think it was overkill, but he wasn’t going to take a chance with his sub.