He didn’t know what to make of the threatagainst him. He knew Dylan was a sick fuck. Dylan had made enoughmistakes, but he still had an advantage, bigtime. Dylan knew theirroutines, where they lived.
They didn’t know shit about him or his thugs.Over the past decade, he’d stayed off the radar. They were havingway too much trouble tracking him. Couldn’t fucking find him.Didn’t have a clue what else he may be planning. Surely, he’d havea back-up plan.
Chase was more than a little freaked outright now, which was not a normal feeling for him. He felt brokenyear after year his father pulled away and chose liquor. Notknowing where if he’d have a home when he got out of school, orwhere his next meal was coming from. Despite all that, his hearthad broken when Henry had died. That didn’t hold a candle to thefear he felt now.
29
After a long, hot shower, Maddy towel-dried herhair. She stared at herself in the mirror, daring herself to show asign of weakness. Dammit, he was not going to win. He thought hewon last time, but she became so much stronger than she used tobe.
Because of him, she’d fought harder for everylittle thing she wanted. His craziness and the attack weren’t agood thing, but she fought and ended up all the better for it. Hereyes squinted together, lips forming a determined grin.
Maddy threw on some eye make-up, hair productto reduce the mass of frizz, and her favorite distressed jeans andstrappy tank. Shallow, she knew. But the extra touches boosted herconfidence. She grabbed her laptop and headed to the living room.She may not be able to work on this officially, but she could dosome research on her own.
While she was in the shower, Chase had madeher an omelet and fresh cup of coffee. He sat at the kitchenisland, his own plate already empty. “Feel better?”
She sat next to him at the island and duginto her breakfast, suddenly ravenous. “Much better.” She grinnedat him.
He smiled but looked more concerned than hewas before. “You’re awfully perky considering how your morning hasgone so far.”
“I’m done with the pity party. For now,anyway. We’re going to take this asshole down.”
“Ok, I’m on board. I thought you weren’tsupposed to work on this?”
“Not in any official capacity. Right now, I’ma civilian at home with internet access and a telephone.” Shescooped a huge bite of omelet and practically shoved it into hermouth.
“I’m in. What’s your plan?”
She swallowed the huge bite and washed itdown with a gulp of coffee. So hot, she nearly burned her throat.“I spent a year and a half with that asshole. I know a lot abouthim, his interests. I’m going to see where that leads. You, myfriend, get to start with the law firm and the cruise shipcompany.”
Chase smiled back. “On it. I’ll grab mylaptop from the truck. I’d planned on getting some work done, butsomething tells me the boss wouldn’t mind if I took a personalday.”
“He’d better, or his daughter will call tobeg.” She bumped his knee with her own playfully. It felt good tohave a plan.
***
Hours later, both with eyes red from hoursresearching on their laptops, Maddy slammed shut the device. Shetook a deep breath. “Ok. Need a break. Hungry?”
Chase looked to her, groggy and confused.“Yeah, starving. I think we missed lunch.” He rolled the tensionfrom his shoulders and stretched his neck. He looked around thehouse, gathering his bearings. “When did it get dark?”
Maddy stood and stretched her body like asleepy cat. “No idea. Frozen pizza or delivery?”
“Delivery, for sure. Pepperoni sound ok?”Chase picked up his phone to put in the order. He walked to thefront door and looked out the side window. He saw the patrol carwaiting outside and held off on the call. He stepped outside andtrotted over to their car. The window was down before he gotclose.
Ian sat inside. “Hey Ian. You on guard duty?I thought you were stuck with Maddy as her partner?”
Ian smiled. “I sure am, but she’s off today,and I’m getting overtime for parking outside her house all night.I’m saving up for a truck prettier than yours.”
“Nice, let me know if you want any tips; Iresearched the shit out of that thing. Best on the market,” theynodded, enjoying the manly truck moment. “I’m glad you’re here,really. I know it’s your job, but I’m grateful. I want this assholebehind bars… or preferably castrated and eviscerated–in thatorder–so Maddy can have some peace.” Chase was enjoying hisparticularly violent fantasy. Ian laughed, nodding in agreement.“I’m ordering pizza, you want any?”
Ian nearly drooled, clearly starving. Doritoand Slim Jim wrappers made a nice pile on the seat next to him.“I’m sure I should say no. But I’ve never been on a stakeoutbefore–this may not technically be a stakeout but that’s what I’mcalling it. Or maybe stalking the stalker, that sounds good. I’mnot sure I’m supposed to accept pizza from the people I’m guarding,but as she’s my partner, I think we can make an exception. Whereare you ordering from?”
No wonder Maddy didn’t mind partnering upwith Ian. Just a good guy. “Scarpelli’s.”
“Ah, my favorite. Mind ordering me theCarnivore and add jalapenos?”
Chase laughed. “Sure thing. ‘Night.”
Chase dashed back inside. He ordered thepizza, with special instructions to deliver Ian’s pizza right tohis patrol car.
