Chapter 8
EIGHT
Shane drove back to Watchdog with his hands steady on the wheel and his mind spinning like a slot machine.
That bastard.
The thoughts kept cycling through. He felt a wave of something that felt too much like jealousy and not enough like the detached protectiveness he wanted it to be.
Oh hell—there was no way he could be detached when it came to April.
Or Kevin. That little boy had found his way into Shane’s heart years ago.
But his jealousy surged—some other man had touched April, held her, made promises to her.
Made her believe in love again after Shane had destroyed that for her the first time.
Then he'd tried to use her. He’d given her a son he wanted no part of. He'd hurt her deeply.
Shane's knuckles went white on the steering wheel. Vincent Romano. The name had burned itself into his brain, right next to a mental list of everything he wanted to do to the son of a bitch if he ever showed his face in Colorado.
Focus, Elk. She's safe. He's been on parole for a year and hasn't made a move.
Shane parked in front of the kennels and killed the engine. The building was quiet when he and Pete walked in. Jodie had already gone home for the day, but Kyle's office light was on. Shane headed straight for it.
"Boss?" Shane knocked on the doorframe.
“Come on in,” Kyle said as he looked up from his computer.
Camo, Kyle’s half-gold, half-black Lab stood and wagged his tail.
Flint was already there, sitting across from Kyle with his laptop.
He worked in Watchdog’s IT department officially.
Unofficially, he could hack into almost anything.
He’d been trained by a woman named Elissa who ran Watchdog HQ in Los Angeles and was a legend.
Shane nodded at Flint who gave him a chin lift before going back to his laptop. Shane settled into the other chair across from Kyle's desk, organizing his thoughts. This was about April's safety, not about Shane's tangled-up feelings. Pete laid himself down beside Camo. The two were old friends.
"So who is this Vincent Romano you want us to check out?” Kyle asked. “What's his connection to us?"
"He’s April's ex-fiancé. Kevin’s father."
Flint’s typing stopped. He looked up with raised eyebrows that matched Kyle’s.
“No shit?” Kyle asked.
“He's the reason Kevin played hooky and came here earlier.
" Shane rubbed the back of his neck. "He’d overheard April talking about going on the run if someone found her.
Romano was arrested for casino fraud almost ten years ago.
Fake chips, past-posting. April had been living under a fake identity in Vegas—she was using the name April Meyer.
She left the day he was arrested. Same day she found out she was pregnant.
She testified against him, and when the drive-by happened, the family thought he might have found her. "
Flint was typing again, faster now. "So as far as he knows, his ex is April Meyer, not April Taylor?"
"Right. The question is whether he's been looking for April Meyer and coming up empty, or if he's figured out who she really is, then what are the chances he might come looking for her."
After several minutes, Flint's screen filled with data.
"Here we go. Vincent Romano, age forty-two. Sentenced for fraud, oh, and wiring money across state lines. That got him a few extra years. Released from Nevada State Prison a year ago for good behavior, on parole for three years. He’s been checking in regularly with his parole officer in Vegas.
Last known employment..." Flint squinted. "Dishwasher at a restaurant just off the Strip. Lives in a better apartment than I’d expect.” More typing, then, “No travel outside Nevada that I can see. "
Shane felt some of the tension leave his shoulders. "So he's staying put."
"For now, looks like. But if this guy was smart enough to run a long-term casino fraud operation, he's smart enough to eventually connect April Meyer to April Taylor. Especially if he's motivated."
Kyle leaned forward. "Talking to April, what do you think the threat level here, Shane? Do we need to move April and Kevin to a safe house?"
Shane shook his head. "No immediate danger. April's been worried about it, got spooked by the drive-by at Riversong, but she's not in crisis mode. This is more about giving her peace of mind. And Kevin..." Shane couldn't help smiling. "Kid offered me fifty bucks to be his mom's bodyguard."
Kyle chuckled. "Smart kid." He turned his attention to Flint.
"Keep monitoring Romano's parole status. We’ll go on high alert if he misses a check-in, changes his address, or makes any moves toward Colorado.
And run deeper background—who he was working with, who might have reason to help him find April. "
"Done." Flint's fingers flew across the keyboard. "I'm setting up automated monitoring. I’ll get alerts if anything changes."
“Thanks, Brother,” Shane said.
Flint closed his laptop. “No need. If this were somebody after Harper, I’d feel the same.” He stood up. “Speaking of, she’s waiting for me in town. We’re having dinner with one of her old colleagues from the lab. I think Harp’s wanting to find her someone.”
Kyle chuckled. “If it’s who I think it is, she’s got her work cut out for her.”
Flint grinned. “You said it, not me. Sweet lady though, just quiet and more than a little nerdy.” As Flint reached for the doorknob, Shane stood to leave as well.
“Hold up, Shane,” Kyle said.
After Flint left, Kyle fixed Shane with a stare. "This is personal for you."
Shane met his boss's eyes with a steady gaze. "Yeah. But I'm not going to let that cloud my judgment."
"Good. Because if this Romano asshole decides to cause trouble, we'll handle it professionally. No vigilantes this time. You’re representing my company."
Shane bristled but tried not to show it. "Understood."
“That said, April and Kevin—the whole Taylor clan—is family. So we’ll do whatever it takes in the end.”
His tension eased. “Understood, Brother.”
Kyle nodded, then his expression shifted to amusement. "So, you're April's bodyguard now?"
"Kevin thinks so. April and I are...humoring him."
"Uh-huh." Kyle's grin was knowing. "And how exactly are you planning to humor him?"
“I was going to discuss it with you tomorrow morning, let you get home to Arden.”
“She’s got a late patient up to the ranch.” Kyle’s wife, Arden, ran a therapeutic program out of their ranch for kids with PTSD, autism, or ADHD, using therapy animals. “I’ve got time right now.”
Shane sat back down. “I talked it over with April and I was thinking—with your permission—I could bring Kevin up here tomorrow. Teach him 'bodyguard skills' and show him how we train the dogs.”
Kyle’s smile widened as he warmed to his favorite subject—the canine training program at the heart of Watchdog Security. "Affirmative. Bring them here. Kevin can see how Watchdog operates, help Alex with the puppies. Kid will eat it up."
“Thanks.” Shane took out his phone and brought up April’s number. He texted:
Tell Kevin it’s all set up. Can you two come to Watchdog around 9 tomorrow?
April's response came almost immediately.
He's already getting his 'gear' ready. See you then. Thank you, and thank Kyle for me!
"She says thank you and they'll be here at nine," Shane told Kyle.
"Perfect. And Shane?" Kyle's expression went serious again. "If Romano starts moving, you know we’ve got April’s back."
"I know, Brother."
Shane left Kyle's office feeling better than he had since Kevin walked into the lobby. Professional distance was exactly what this situation needed.
Now he just had to convince himself that the warmth spreading through his chest at the thought of seeing April again in the morning was purely professional, too.
At quarter to nine, Shane was in the training yard with Alex and the puppies when he heard the distinctive sound of April's laugh coming from inside. His pulse kicked up a notch, which was ridiculous. This was about Kevin's training. Nothing more.
Kevin burst through the door like he'd been shot from a cannon, April following at a more reasonable pace. The kid was dressed in what looked like his interpretation of tactical gear—tan cargo pants, a black t-shirt, and a baseball cap turned backwards.
"Shane! I'm ready for training!" Kevin announced, then spotted the puppies and nearly vibrated out of his shoes. "Are those the puppies you were telling me about last night?"
"Easy there, soldier," Shane said with a grin. "Rule number one of being around working dogs—calm energy."
Kevin immediately tried to compose himself, standing straighter and lowering his voice. "Yes, sir. Can I help train them now?"
Shane watched April grin at her son, looking both surprised and proud. He caught April's eye and felt that same electric awareness they had in high school. She was wearing jeans and a green tee that brought out her eyes, her hair pulled back in a ponytail that made her look younger. Beautiful. His.
Not yours, jackass. Focus.
"You better believe you’re gonna help. These pups need to socialize with different people, and we could use an extra pair of hands."
Alex looked up from where he was setting up individual elevated platforms for the puppies. "Absolutely. But first rule of dog training—the dogs have to respect you before they'll follow you.”
Kevin’s eyes widened. “I don’t have to yell at them if they do something wrong, do I?”
“No way,” Shane said. “Training puppies is all about getting them to love learning. We do that with praise and treats, like this.” He squeezed the clicker in his hand and Elton gave him his full attention. “Good boy.” Shane immediately gave him a treat. “See? That’s how you gain trust."
Kevin nodded solemnly. "Like a leader."
"Exactly like a leader."