Page 34

Polly had to punch in her key code a second time before her lock turned. She pushed open the door, ready to exhale after a long, tense day and a fun, but emotional, evening—only to stop dead in her tracks.

Every light in the condo was on. Four familiar faces looked up from the living room and kitchen.

“Oh, for crying out loud.” She unhooked Luna from her leash and muttered, “Make yourselves at home, why don’t you.”

“Polly!” Dr. Hazel Cooper-Burke—slim and graceful, with silvery-blond hair cropped in a pixie cut—was across the room in seconds. The scent of coconut shampoo and something softly reminiscent of the beach clung to her hug. Polly let herself be squeezed tight before her sister’s arms joined in from the side.

“Sorry, sis. I used to be your roomie. I’ve still got a key card and entry codes for the place, so we let ourselves in.” Ashley’s hug was warm and enthusiastic, as always—her bright blue eyes and big-sister energy flooding the room with light even when Polly felt like hiding in the shadows. “You okay?”

Before she could answer, a low voice rumbled behind them. “We need to talk, young lady.”

Burke stood near the window, tall and broad-shouldered, his salt-and-pepper hair mussed like he’d run a hand through it too many times. His brown eyes were steady and disappointed in that particular way only fathers could manage. “Why do I have to hear from Detective Standage at work that you nearly got run down by a car and you’re getting threats, instead of hearing it from you?”

“Meet my family.” Polly turned to Daniel and gestured to the two men and two women circled around them. Daniel lingered just inside the door, Pirate pressed close to his leg, tail wagging uncertainly. Polly shot him a wary glance. “You okay with all this?” she whispered.

The corner of his mouth quivered with a small smile. “I’m fine. Good to see you’ve got backup. A whole unit, by the look of it.”

That earned the faintest laugh from her, tension bleeding off.

She grasped his hand and pulled him up beside her. “Everyone, this is Daniel Travis.” She dutifully introduced him to everyone. “My mom, Dr. Hazel Cooper-Burke, and her husband, Sergeant Jedediah Burke—he runs the KCPD K-9 Unit. My sister, Ashley, and her fiancé, Enzo Moretti. Also a K-9 cop at KCPD.”

Burke and Enzo exchanged nods with Daniel, and Ashley grinned and offered him a silly wave.

Her mom crouched down, instantly captivated by Pirate. “Who’s this handsome boy?” After letting him sniff her closed fist to learn her scent and get comfortable with her, her gentle hands moved over the dog’s shoulders and flank with a practiced touch. “I’m a veterinarian, by the way. What happened to his eye?”

“Not sure,” Daniel said. “My unit adopted him as a stray on a deployment. When I was medically retired, he came home to join me.”

Hazel smiled, rubbing Pirate’s ears. The scruffy dog leaned into her caress. His tail was wagging in earnest now. “He looks healthy—and happy. You take good care of him.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Daniel said with quiet pride. “He takes good care of me, too.”

While her mom and Daniel had been getting acquainted, Ashley pulled Polly aside and murmured just loud enough for her sister to hear, “Okay, seriously. That man is hot. Those eyes are like storm clouds—”

“One’s fake,” Polly whispered back.

Ashley blinked. “I didn’t immediately notice that.”

“Because of the scars?” Polly asked, under her breath.

Ashley smirked. “No. Because of the shoulders. And those arms. He looks like he could lift a car. Or—”

“Ash.” Polly’s cheeks heated.

Ashley grinned, unrepentant. “I’m just saying he looks like he could handle anything.”

Polly’s voice went soft. “I think he can.”

Before either sister could say more, Burke cleared his throat. Enzo—towering at six foot five, dark and watchful—stood beside him with his arms crossed over his chest, the very image of silent intimidation.

“Mind explaining what’s going on?” Burke asked.

Polly straightened. “I will. But don’t jump down Daniel’s throat, okay?” After she took a minute to hang up their coats and gather her thoughts, they all moved into the living room. She told them everything—about her missing belongings, the sabotaged tire, the car that nearly hit her, the note delivered at the clinic. Her voice trembled only once, when she admitted, “Ever since Cayden Thornhill showed up at the hospital that night, I’ve felt like someone’s been watching me.”

The air changed instantly. Enzo crossed to Ashley and put his arm around her shoulders as she leaned into him. Her expression went pale, her usual confidence faltering. “Thorny?” she whispered.

“Yeah,” Polly said. “Cayden was part of Lowell Crockett’s gang—the people who tried to hurt you?”

“How can I forget? He’s Lowell’s cousin. He’s the guy you treated in the ER for a gunshot wound.”