He felt like the lowest asshole to have ever walked the planet, and that feeling just compounded when Annie turned those big, blue eyes on him.
“I’ll keep you safe.” He’d call Houghton, borrow a few of his cousin’s trained security staff. Surround Annie and the boys to the absolute best of his ability and funds. Even if he had to spend every penny he had. This woman would be safe. “I…I’ll take you to the Barratt Ranch. Houghton’s doubled the security there.”
“For how long? I have a life, Turner. And so do my children. They have preschool and tiny-tots soccer and—”
“Until I stop the assholes trying to screw with me. Elliot’s making progress. I swear. It’ll be over soon.” He raised his uninjured arm and cupped her cheek lightly. Brushed her lips with his finger. “Trust me. I’m never going to let anything happen to you or the boys. No matter what I have to do.”
Someone knocked sharply on the door. Allen answered quickly.
Turner swore when he saw a dark-haired man standing next to the chief of the Finley Creek post. Jake MacNamara had already made it clear he didn’t want Annie anywhere near Turner right now.
Jake stepped fully into Allen’s apartment. “What the hell is going on here, mayor? Girls?”
The man turned toward Annie. “Annie, honey, what happened to you?”
“I’m fine, Jake. It’s not my blood.” She pulled in a deep breath and looked at Allen. “Do you have a shirt I can borrow? I…can’t wear this one home.”
Jake wrapped his hand around his niece’s elbow. “Iz, care to explain?”
“I’m just the delivery girl, Uncle Jake.” Turner saw Allen’s attention sharpen. He hadn’t met Jake, then. “I swear. You need to talk to the mayor if you want all the answers. Apparently, he has a secret he hasn’t shared with Annie.”
“What happened?” Elliot asked, quietly.
“I took Annie to the river tonight to show her some property; someone shot me while we were there. And, no, I didn’t go to the ER. I don’t want the information getting out. Not if I can help it. I figured Allen would help me out.”
“No. That’s definitely not what we need right now,” Jake said. “Did you get a good look at the shooter?”
“No. Dark SUV, window rolled down. Barely had time to get us out of the way.”
“Who knew you were going to be there?” Jake asked.
“No one. I didn’t tell a damned soul in my office. I’ve been deliberately keeping my plans to myself, like we agreed on.”
“Someone’s followed you, then,” Elliot said. “I really think we need to set the trap like we’ve discussed before.”
“Need to find the place first,” Jake added. The look he shot at Turner told him one thing. He was royally pissed. Turner felt the same, and probably for the same reason. He slipped his good arm around her waist as she kept fussing over the wound in his arm. “We can get started on that tonight. I have my people ready to roll. But one thing—Annie needs to be as far away from this as possible.”
On that, Turner fully agreed. “So how are we going to make this happen?”
“We can start the first stage tonight,” Elliot said. “Catch them off guard.”
“Wait a minute…” Izzie said, from where she was using Allen’s paper towels to help Annie get the blood off her hands and forearms. “You three stooges are up to something. And have been for a while, haven’t you?”
“Yes,” Turner said.
“But it’s none of your business, nosy-butt,” Jake said. “You just go home, feed the cat, and keep your mouth shut.”
“So how does this involve Annie?” Izzie asked, glaring at her uncle. “And what’s the plan to keep her safe while you three play cowboys? Or have you thought that far ahead?”
“Cops and robbers are more accurate,” Jake shot back. “Now, sit down and be quiet. We have some thinking to do.”
Allen snorted, drawing his attention his way. He held up a hand. “First, I doubt she’s ever obeyed anyone. And I’m just the poor fool who opened the door to them tonight. Don’t mind me here.”
Jake looked at his niece. “Not a word leaves this room.”
Izzie saluted. “Yes, sir.”
“Keep it up and you’re doing the laundry for the next year.”
“I always do the laundry. You’re freaked out by my bras and undies, remember?”
“I should have grounded you more often when you were a teenager.”
She shot him a snotty look. Turner bit back a laugh. Thank God Izzie was still around to be snotty.
“I’d just sneak out again. Like I did every time you ever tried.”
Jake looked at Annie. “This true? Why didn’t you ever tell me?”
“Who do you think provided the rope?” Izzie asked. “Annie’s not as innocent as everyone thinks.”
“Can we stay on task here? Who’s trying to kill Turner, Jake? And why?” Annie asked, finally.
Turner wrapped his uninjured arm around Annie and pulled her closer. He whispered near her ear. “It’ll be ok. I promise.”
Annie shocked the hell out of him when she rested her head against his shoulder and just let him hold her for the longest time. No one said a word.