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Once we reached privacy below deck, his demeanor shifted, all the small-town affability replaced by cool confidence. “I’m Agent Nick Harris, or Captain Nick if I’m undercover. Nice to meet you.”

We exchanged handshakes. The other man’s calluses were enough to sell the fiction that he was a real boat captain. For all I knew, maybe he was. DEA agents probably had hobbies, right?

“Do you have any recent photos of your ex?” Agent Harris asked.

Anya shook her head. “I haven’t seen him since I left home, except for here on the island.”

“Can I ask, why is this creep still wandering around free? Anya tells me she dropped a care package at the local FBI office before leaving Detroit.”

“I can’t comment on an open investigation,” Agent Harris said coolly. He smiled at Anya. “But we appreciate your cooperation and the introduction.”

“I just want to be done with him.”

“You’ll be one step closer after you introduce us. Have you set up a meet yet?”

Anya shook her head. “I’ve been telling him I didn’t have anyone. The last thing I want to do is bring a friend into my mess.”

Agent Harris grinned. “Then it’s a good thing you knew to call in the professionals. I’m here at your disposal. When you set up the meet, set it for here, aboardThe Codfather.”

“It’s wired?” I asked.

Agent Harris nodded. “Audio and video.”

“What happens after I introduce you? What if he doesn’t do anything you can arrest him for?”

“Don’t get your hopes up. Building a case takes time. Best I can do is get him off your back, get his focus on me.”

“That was not the deal. I don’t want Anya at risk,” I protested.

Agent Harris shrugged. “Once he gets what he wants, he’ll probably head back home, like a good little fixer.”

“What if he doesn’t?” I asked sharply.

“Then we’ll move to Plan B.”

“Which is?”

“We wait.”

“Not good enough,” I forced the words through clenched teeth.

“You need to be realistic,” Agent Harris cautioned. “I doubt he’ll hang around. If he does, I’ll keep an eye on him.” He smiled for Anya’s sake. “We won’t let anything happen to you.”

I gritted my teeth, giving him a steely glare. He smiled at me. “She doesn’t need us. She hasyou.”

He was a canny bastard. She absolutely had me. I wouldn’t argue to the contrary. But that didn’t ease my fear that I wouldn’tbe enough. Now that her family knew where she was, nothing guaranteed this would be Owen’s last ask.

Anything short of him behind bars, of her parents locked up, left Anya exposed. And I didn’t like it.

In an impossibly short time, she’d become everything. Sweet and funny, caring and beautiful, inside and out. She deserved better than to be constantly looking over her shoulder.

“Thanks for everything, Agent Harris. I appreciate your help. I’ll text you when I have details,” Anya said smoothly, maybe picking up on my instinct to argue.

Grudgingly, I dipped my chin at the other man. “Please. Anything you can do to protect her, I’d appreciate it.”

Agent Harris kept his expression solemn, but he nodded. It was probably the best I’d get. He had a job to do. And it wasn’t to keep Anya safe. That was my job now.

I hopped to the dock first, holding out a hand to steady Anya. She frowned at my hand but grabbed it anyway.