Burned Hearts (Burned 3)

“I don’t like this,” I suddenly said to Dane, panic seizing me. “I know we’ve talked about it and the FBI wants you sequestered so no one can get to you, but what if they do? This has all turned so sinister that—”

“Ari,” he said as he clasped my hand and stared into my eyes. “It’ll be okay. You stay here with Amano, Kyle, and Rosa. Let the two other agents do their thing. Keep calm; decorate the nursery; come up with baby names. Do whatever you have to to get through the day. Do you hear me?”

I gazed up at him. “This is all happening so fast.”

“That’s the way of it when the dam breaks. All of the indictments have been made, since Bent is dead. It’s time to move forward. And if we’re really lucky, this will all be wrapped up quickly. It’ll be all right.”

I tried to breathe.

Daugherty said, “I assure you, Mrs. Bax, your husband will be well protected. We need him alive—nothing’s going to keep us from finishing this case.”

I could understand that in my head. My heart, however, did not reconcile the fact that Dane would be tucked away somewhere, likely going crazy over me as much as I did over him. That made it worse. I didn’t want him stressing about what might be happening here. More than that, I wanted him safe.

I said, “I have Kyle. Take Amano.”

“No, Ari. I’m not taking any chances. They both stay with you. And you do exactly as they say. Even Kyle.”

My eyes bulged. Hadn’t seen that one coming.

“He’ll take care of you,” Dane said with confidence, “look after you. He won’t let anything happen to you.”

“This is serious, Ari,” Kyle chimed in. “The Feds need Dane. Even though they’ll have him covered, you know he’s too Die Hard to end up in anyone’s crosshairs, now that he knows he can’t trust his network. He can take care of himself.”

I couldn’t dispute that. It didn’t settle me, though. More tears flooded my eyes. “You don’t have to go right this very second.”

“Actually, we do,” Strauss said. He’d briefly been on his phone, issuing instructions to someone on the other end. Now he returned his attention to us and added, “Expect Agents Price and Johnson shortly. They’ll coordinate with Amano. No one else comes through your gates.”

“My dad!” I hastily blurted. “I haven’t seen him—”

“FaceTime or Skype,” Dane said. “We don’t want him or Jackson anywhere near here. They’ve been of no interest to anyone—particularly Horton. Let’s keep it that way.”

“So we’re sequestered, too,” I lamented.

“Witness protection comes with perks,” Kyle told me, trying to lighten the mood. “We haven’t streamed the current season of The Walking Dead on Netflix.”

I tried to grin. Failed miserably. “I’ll stay put,” I vowed to Dane.

He released my hand. Cupped the side of my face. “I need you to be safe. I need you to keep our baby safe. That’s what I’m asking of you.”

I choked down the emotion swelling in my throat. “Swear you’ll come back. Because I know you’re determined to keep your promises from now on.” More tears pooled. Pain lanced through me.

“You know I will,” he said with conviction in his tone, in his beautiful emerald eyes.

No, I didn’t know that. But I couldn’t torment him with my fears. Every tiny facet of our lives was but a thin strand of webbing that could easily be ripped away. I had to live with that reality. Because as I’d told him, I chose this.

“Ari, I love you.”

I fought the body-wracking sobs threatening me, making me shake. I couldn’t even hug him without hurting him.

“This is so fucked up,” I said.

“Yes. But not for long. It’s almost over. Just stay strong for me.” He kissed me fiercely, to hell with our audience. Then he pulled away and added, “Stay strong for the baby. Figure out a name for him.”

“We should go,” Daugherty said in a quiet, respectful—even remorseful—tone.

My eyelids squeezed shut for a moment. I tried to compose myself, to no avail.

Kyle moved in, nudging me with his elbow. “He’ll be back before Kid’s even born and wondering what the hell you did all day when there’s no nursery set up. Let’s get cracking. Unless you’re planning on propping up your feet and popping bonbons all day long.”