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His body tensed at that information. It was probably nothing. He was probably just nervous knowing the people here didn't like him.

Maybe she shouldn't have told him she was alone and would be for the foreseeable future. That didn’t sound safe. Darn it! She needed him to leave so her Daddy wouldn’t know he’d been there alone with her. Her bottom couldn’t take another spanking today.

"And your Daddy? Is he here?"

Going with her instincts, she said. “Oh yes, he is. He's working with the, um, the horses out in the barn. And so is Trace. Yep.Trace and my Daddy are right there. I mean, it’s not like I’m alone or anything. I'm sure he'll walk up any minute."

Shut up! You’re babbling again.

She wasn’t selling the idea. Then again, maybe she was because Detective James glanced around as if her Daddy would appear any second. He turned back to her and smiled. But she didn’t like this smile. This smile was like a shark.

He pulled open his blazer and dug through the inside pocket. "Well, I guess if he's here, we should go ahead and leave without a fuss."

Her heart pounded harder. "What do you mean leave? I'm not supposed to leave the house today."

"Oh really? And why is that?" Her heart sank. She really didn't want to answer any of his questions, not without her Daddy here.She was starting to think her Daddy may have been right about the detective all along. “If you’re looking for your notebook, you won’t need it. I really don't feel like talking today."

She froze when he pulled out a gun and pointed it straight at her chest. What was he doing? Why was he pointing his gun at her?

She laughed, but it came more as hysteria. “You don’t need a gun to protect yourself. Or me. Or anyone else, really. You're safe here. People are always safe on the ranch."

"People aren't always safe anywhere," he snarled. She’d never heard him speak like that before. "You of all people should know that by now."

She couldn’t take her eyes off the gun pointed at her. It took her straight back to that night in the car when Eddie stood at her window and tried to kill her. " What… what are you doing?"

"You really are stupid, aren’t you. I thought it was an act, but you are really just that dumb.” He wiggled the gun in her face. “Your hick cowboy Daddy can't keep anyone safe. Especially not you. Now get on your feet and walk to the car. We're going to takea little ride. And you are not going to do anything to alert the people watching the cameras scattered all over this godforsaken place that you're not going of your own free will."

What was happening? She felt like the Earth had shifted under her feet. "But I don't understand. I thought you were trying to help me."

He rolled his eyes. Her Daddy was right. It was very unattractive. “You stupid, stupid bitch. It’s time you learned. No one ever helps anyone unless there's something in it for themselves.

“You weren’t getting anything.”

“I’ve been on Eddie’s payroll for years. Why do you think I worked it, so you only talked to me? Why did I let you keep your camera instead of collecting it as evidence? The last thing I needed was for evidence to turn up for a case that was never filed.”

“But… I thought you were my friend.”

“I don’t have any friends. I do my job and cover up Eddie’s stupid mistakes. I make his problems go away, and it’s time for you to disappear.”

CHAPTER 23

He knew what she was going to say as soon as her name flashed on his screen. It hit him like a punch in the gut. Thank god Trace had agreed to ride Jasper home so he could use his brother's truck.

Bracing, he took the call. “Chance? Oh, God, Chance!” Kenzie’s voice bordered on hysterical.

“Settle down and talk to me, Tiger. What’s happened?” But he knew.

“It, it’s Joy, Chance. We weren’t gone that long. An hour and a half, maybe. But when we got home, the front door was wide open.”

“Where’s Joy, Kenzie? Is she alright?” The steering wheel creaked, so he loosened his grip.

“I don’t know, Chance. I..I don’t know. Nothing is missing. Her purse is here. but she isn’t. And… and, oh, God, Chance, Puggles is lying on the floor just inside the door.”

“Fuck!” Rage devoured him. That fucking fucker had his Little girl. “Tiger, hang up and call the sheriff. Tell Sam exactly what you told me. He’ll head that way. I’m almost there. Call Sam.”

Disconnecting, he punched in Boone’s number. “Yellow,” Boone answered the call as if the world hadn’t just gone black.

“He took her, brother. That fucking detective took Joy.”