Chapter Thirty
Hassan was dead. According to Danny’s CMPD liaison, he’d barely made it to the detention center before he complained of chest pains and shortness of breath.
He was gone within the hour.
Sleep came easier than Danny expected after the phone call. When the sun’s rays first started slipping through the blinds in Bella’s bedroom, he got up, careful not to wake her.
Slipping quietly from her bedroom, he threw on a pair of shorts and one of his Hawaiian shirts, made a pot of coffee and sat outside with Trip. He propped his feet on the outdoor patio table, basking in the milder temperatures of early morning.
Tonight? Flowers, then dinner. Somewhere fancy.
And when they got home, he’d screw up his courage, tell Bella he loved her and wanted to stay.
He’d have to go back to DC to get things from his apartment and empty the fridge, but if Caleb could live in northern Arizona and still work for Dìleas, there was no reason he couldn’t work from Charlotte.
Maybe Bella could come to DC with him. They’d take a few days and play tourist.
Have some adventures.
He glanced at Trip. “We need to find you a doggy-sitter, my man.”
God Save the King blared from his phone.
Ryder.
“I heard there was drama at the gala last night.” Ryder wasn’t one to waste time with meaningless chit-chat.
He snorted. “That’s one way of putting it.”
“How’s Isabella?”
Danny glanced over his shoulder at the door leading to the house. “Relieved. She’s still asleep.” He scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “Omar Hassan’s dead.”
Silence. Then, “How?”
“Heart attack after he got to detention. My CMPD liaison called late last night.”
“Bit young for a heart attack.”
“Yeah.” Danny stared out at the yard, his fingers tightening their grip on the phone.
“He was in police custody, so an autopsy’s been scheduled.
But, hey, his old man also dropped dead of a heart attack.
Maybe the stress did him in.” He replayed every moment of his confrontation with Hassan the night before.
The guy had been sweaty. Agitated. But he’d been breathing just fine when they handcuffed him and led him away.
“So the biggest threat we’ve identified appears to have been eliminated. I’ll let Senator Strickland know. If he still wants protection for Isabella, Caleb could cover it.”
Danny shot upright so fast the chair legs scraped the patio stone. “Hassan is dead, but we don’t have proof yet that he was responsible for the note on Bella’s car. Or my brakes being sabotaged.”
Or that someone had entered Bella’s townhome and let Trip get out.
Hassan could have easily managed all of it. But Danny wanted proof before he let up on Bella’s security.
“I’m sorry, mate. Lucas Caldwell needs our assistance. It’s time sensitive. I need you and Tavari on a plane to Phoenix this afternoon.”
“Send Caleb.”
Ryder’s voice held a note of regret. “I can’t. Caleb has to be in the background for this one. It involves his wife’s abduction.”
Danny’s temper snapped tight. “What the hell does an Assistant Director of the FBI need from us? We’re private security.”
If Ryder objected to his tone, he let it slide.
“Remember the mole from the FBI’s Phoenix field office working for Espina Negra?
Lucas is still trying to out him. But he thinks the corruption goes deeper than one person.
He can’t move through official channels until he knows who, exactly, has been compromised. ”
“So what’s the urgency?”
“He’s laying a trap in person tomorrow. It will be up to you and Tavari to follow the suspected mole. See where he goes. Who he meets up with.”
Danny hit mute and bellowed his frustration. “Fuck!”
Trip scrambled out of the way, cowering.
Shit. “Sorry, buddy. Come here.” He gave the dog a butt rub and took his phone off mute.
“How long?” The question dragged out of him on a sigh.
“Three days? A week?” Ryder’s tone softened. “Once that’s done, you’ll get your leave—you have my word.”
The air left Danny’s lungs, leaving emptiness in its wake. “What time’s my flight?”
How the hell was he supposed to explain this to Bella?
“Two-thirty. You and Tavari.” Ryder gave him some more instructions before ending the call. “And Danny, I’m sorry.”
Danny lowered the phone slowly until his hand hung limp by his side.
“Morning.” Bella’s voice, still soft and warm with sleep.
His shoulders stiffened. He’d been so lost in his thoughts, he hadn’t heard her open the screen door.
He turned to face her.
The smile tilting her lips disappeared. “What’s wrong?”
She was barefoot, wearing his white dress shirt from last night. It might as well have been a dress on her, and all his brain could focus on was whether she was naked beneath it.
His throat tightened. Not that he’d have the chance to find out.
“I have to leave.” The words barely made it out.
Bella stilled.
“Now?” A shocked whisper when he’d almost rather have her shout. “Why?”
“An assignment. I can’t turn it down.”
Silence.
The warmth drained out of her expression. Then her face shuttered, and she slipped away from him without taking a step. “When.”
He shoved his hands into the pockets of his shorts to keep from reaching for her. “This afternoon. My plane leaves at two-thirty.”
She disappeared into the house.
He followed. “It’s only for a week. I’ll be back.”
“I understand.”
“Bella.” He tugged on her arm so she’d face him. “I will come back. I’m going to put in for a month’s leave.” God knows he had the time saved up.
Bella’s chin lifted, her eyes darkening. “And then what?”
He could only stare. This was not how this conversation was supposed to go. It was supposed to be wine and candlelight. A declaration of love.
Instead, Ryder’s call had turned their first real morning together into another goodbye.
And somehow, they were already arguing about a future they hadn’t even had the chance to imagine.
“I don’t know what you want me to say, Bella. If I could stay, I would. Maybe you can stay with your parents until I get back.”
The words had no sooner left his mouth when she went rigid, her lips forming an O before they flattened. “I don’t need a babysitter.” Her words were sharp enough to cut. “I’ll be fine on my own—just like I was before you showed up.”
“That’s not what I meant.” Jesus. He shoved his fingers through his hair.
Every time he opened his mouth, he stuck his foot in it.
Setting his mug on the counter, he pulled her into his arms. She came, but not all the way. Her back was too straight. Arms held rigidly at her sides.
“I have to go. I will come back.”
I love you hovered on his lips, but it felt like manipulation to trot out the words now, when she was upset.
He’d tell her when he came back.
They’d have that fancy candlelit dinner.
Finally, she relented, her arms circling his hips. “Trip and I will miss you.”
Isabella’s gaze followed Danny as he went upstairs to pack.
If she could cling to last night, she would. Even the news of Omar Hassan’s death hadn’t ruined the happiness she’d experienced wrapped in Danny’s arms.
Everything had felt exciting and new. Endless possibilities. For the first time, she could imagine a life that wasn’t built around protecting herself.
She should have known it wouldn’t last.
A sigh worked its way through her body, expelling disgust in its wake.
She’d handled that conversation poorly.
He had to go, even though she’d barely had time to get used to him being here.
It was his job to take off at a moment’s notice. Go where his employer sent him. Protect other people.
Snatching Danny’s mug, she rinsed it in the sink, then stowed it in the dishwasher.
It wasn’t the job that would take him away from her.
It would be the chaos he thrived on.
All she’d ever wanted was stability.
Pouring herself a mug of coffee, she retreated into the living room, ears tuned into the faint sounds that were the background music of the sad soundtrack she was building in her head.
A closet door opening.
A suitcase zipper closing.
She’d see him off with a smile, even if it was for show.
Wait for him to come back before they discussed their future.
The house already felt empty. Sterile.
There’d be plenty of time to feel sorry for herself after Danny was gone.
Upstairs, she refused to look into the open guest bedroom door. She didn’t want to see him pack up all his belongings.
She’d only just gotten him back. How could he already be leaving?
As she gathered her clothes for the laundry, her gaze fell on the long white sleeves she’d rolled up to her wrists.
Danny’s shirt.
She should give it back.
Lifting an arm, she inhaled his scent. Sun. Sea breeze. Sand. And something so potently masculine she knew she’d be sleeping in this shirt until he returned.
Moisture blurred her vision. She blinked until it receded.
“Hey.”
The softly spoken word spun her around.
Danny stood at the threshold of her bedroom door. His duffel was over one shoulder, his laptop bag over the other. The Mustang’s key fob dangled in his hand.
“It’s time for me to go.”
He’d traded his shorts for faded jeans, but he still wore that ridiculous short-sleeved shirt covered in taco-eating dinosaurs and palm trees. Sunglasses perched on his head, pushing his hair behind his ears.
For a few precious moments, she simply looked at him, committing every detail to memory.
His eyes darkened. “Don’t let your guard down while I’m gone, honey. Remember what I taught you.”
She drew back, her eyes going wide. “You think I’m still in danger?”
His jaw shifted. “If I thought you were, I wouldn’t leave, no matter what my boss said.” He let out a sigh that sounded too much like defeat. “Be careful, that’s all.”
With one last lingering look, he headed downstairs.
She followed. Silent.
Trip bounced between them, as if sensing something wasn’t right.
At the front door, Danny set down his luggage. “Come here.” His voice roughened.
She stepped closer. Gave him the smile she’d promised herself she’d give and ruthlessly kept tears at bay. “Have a good trip. Text me when you land.”
His lips met hers and were gone too soon. “I will.” He brushed a finger over her cheek. “I’ll see you soon.” A pat for the dog. “Trip, buddy, take care of your mama.”
She gripped the edge of the doorframe and watched him go.
Only then did she let the tears fall.
Needing something to take her mind off Danny, she took Trip for a walk.
She tried to appreciate the blue sky, the gentle breeze that ruffled the leaves and tempered the humidity.
Near the neighborhood clubhouse, the raucous laughter of children rang out from the fenced-in pool. It was a beautiful day.
But her gaze kept returning to the sky, searching out the silver glint of sun reflecting off planes, trying to guess which one held Danny.
He hadn’t even given her his flight information.
She made it to dinnertime before placing a video call to Talia.
Talia’s face appeared. “Hi.”
Isabella frowned. Her friend’s eyes were swollen, her nostrils reddened.
She sat up from her slumped position on the couch. “Are you sick?”
“Maybe a little. All the excitement from last night was too much for me, I guess.” Talia’s voice strengthened. “How are you?”
Last night already felt like a distant memory.
Isabella took a careful sip of the wine she’d poured for herself before placing it on the coffee table. “Okay,” she hedged.
“Okay? You should be flying high, girl. The gala was a success, despite the drama, the bad guy is—”
“Dead,” Isabella cut in. “He’s dead. Heart attack.”
“Wow. That’s just…crazy.”
“Yeah.”
Neither spoke for precious seconds.
“And Danny’s gone.”
Talia’s head snapped up, her eyes widening. “Already? That didn’t take long.”
“He’s coming back.” Isabella bit out the words.
“I believe you.” Talia’s head tilted as she considered Isabella through the phone screen. “When?”
“About a week. He got another assignment.” Isabella affected a careless shrug.
“Well, that’s gonna happen, Izzy. It’s the nature of his job.” Talia gave her a sympathetic look. “You’ll make plans, and then his phone will ring and he’ll be gone for who knows how long?”
“I know.” Isabella pressed her lips together. She wouldn’t complain.
“Are you going to be able to handle him coming and going like that? You’ve always hated chaos.” Talia’s mouth twitched. “Or as the rest of us call it—spontaneity.”
The dig was subtle, but it hit home.
Heat crept up her neck. “I’ll learn to make it work because I love him.”
Talia didn’t answer right away.
“What?”
“Nothing,” Talia arched a brow. “So… you’re all in then?”
“I am.” She heard the hesitation in her answer and hated it.
“And he is too?”
He hadn’t said. Not specifically.
Her face must have given her away.
Talia shook her head. “Let me guess. There wasn’t time to discuss it.” Her tone stayed light, but her eyes cooled.
Isabella gave a tight smile and forced a note of enthusiasm into her voice. “Let’s try out that new wine bar this week—Wednesday?”
“Absolutely,” Talia agreed. “I should be over this…thing I have going on by then.”
“Great. We’ll have fun.”
Talia’s smile unfurled slowly, like a cat taking a stretch. “Oh, I know we will.”