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Marta brought over the finished parfaits. The food was blessed, and everyone dug in. Thankfully, the older woman’s bubbly personality kept the conversation flowing. By the time everyone finished eating, Owen was covered in eggs, bits of pancake, and yogurt. The dinosaur bib around his neck had saved his shirt from being stained with food, but his pants were a lost cause.
Ellie unstrapped him from the high chair. “Why on earth did I dress you? I should’ve waited until after breakfast was over.”
Marta clapped her palms together and then reached for Owen. “Give that baby to me. I’ll clean him up.”
Oh no. Ellie didn’t want to be left alone in the kitchen with Daniel. She pulled Owen closer. “I’ve got it?—”
“Nonsense. You hardly ever get a break.” Marta swooped in and snatched Owen with the stealth of an operative. “Sit down. Have another cup of coffee.” She smothered Owen’s cheeks with kisses, and he giggled with joy. “We’ll be back in two shakes of a lamb’s tail. Won’t we? Won’t we?”
Ellie smiled and shook her head. She’d be lucky to touch Owen again today. Marta would keep him all to herself given half a chance.
Sadness followed the thought. Once the FBI got her message, they would extract her and Owen. They’d leave Silver Creek, and everyone in the town, behind. No one would know where they went or even if they were okay. Marta would be heartbroken.
The kitchen door swung shut, and the silence that followed was deafening.
Daniel sipped his coffee as if he didn’t have a care in the world, but she could feel him watching her. Stupidly, her cheeks heated. Ellie began clearing the table, letting her hair fall over her face to hide her blush. “Has there been any word from Chief O’Neal? I was hoping the men who attacked me would be arrested by now.”
“Unfortunately not. After robbing the pharmacy, the perpetrators took off in their van and haven’t been seen since. The chief interviewed everyone at the pharmacy, but no one got a good look at either man since they were wearing masks. We’ve extended the BOLO to the entire state and alerted every hospital in Texas, but so far, nothing.”
She dumped the dirty plates in the sink and flipped on the water. “You’d think Mr. Broken Nose would need medical treatment. I suppose he could have driven out of state to get it.”
Daniel hummed in agreement. He joined her at the sink, flipping off the water and invading her personal space. She retreated instinctively and found herself cornered between thecabinet and the fridge. Daniel turned to face her, his stare sharp and probing. “Where were you born, Ellie?”
His question sent a wave of panic racing through her, but she jutted up her chin in defiance. “What does that matter?”
“Answer the question.”
She folded her arms defensively. “I don’t appreciate being interrogated.”
“And I don’t appreciate being lied to,” he snapped. “According to a background check, you were born and raised in Liberty County, but according to the local hospital records, Ellie Brooks doesn’t exist.”
Her muscles tensed as anger filled her voice. “You dug into my past.”
“What other choice did you leave me?” There was no regret in his expression, just hard determination. Daniel boxed her in, his broad shoulders blocking out everything but him. “Your real name isn’t Ellie Brooks, is it? Your background check clears, but scratch the surface and there are holes bigger than the Grand Canyon. So I’ll ask you again, what are you hiding?”
The sharp bite of panic cut through her anger. “Stop. You don’t know what you’re doing.”
“I know exactly what I’m doing.” His finger jabbed toward the open doorway, anger flaring in his eyes. “I’m protecting that little boy in there. I have half a mind to call Child Protective Services and report you for fraud?—”
“No!” Ellie’s breathing became shallow. She couldn’t lose Owen. Desperation flooded over her, threatening to drown her in its wake. She pinched the bridge of her nose to keep the tears at bay. Still, they thickened her voice. “Please, Daniel.”
She drew a shaky breath, trying to rein in her spiraling emotions. This was so unlike her… to become overwhelmed by her feelings. But the stress of the last twenty-four hours, alongwith a sleepless night and Daniel’s threats, were unraveling the last of her control.
The burner phone weighed heavily in her pocket. Ellie didn’t know what to do. She was trapped between a rock and a hard place. Quite literally, by the unyielding countertop behind her and Daniel’s broad body in front of her. Telling him the truth wasn’t possible, but she couldn’t refuse to answer all of his questions either.
She lifted her gaze to meet his and licked her lips. “I know it’s hard for you to understand, but there are things I can’t tell you. Things I can’t explain. You have a job to do, I know that. But I need you to stop digging into my past and asking questions.”
His eyes tracked over her face. “Are you a criminal? A former informant?”
“Neither. I swear it.”
He scowled. “Forgive me,Ellie Brooks, but yourworddoesn’t mean much.”
She swallowed hard. “I know. But I swear on Owen’s life, I’m neither a criminal nor a former informant. I’m in a bad situation, and you know from the fact that my background check cleared, that my identity isn’t stolen.” Ellie gave him a pointed look. “I had help.”
A beat passed. He cocked his head to one side. “You’re not in witness protection. Otherwise, Federal Marshals would be beating down my door right now.”
He was right about that. Ellie wished the FBI had gone that route, but they didn’t want to use another federal agency in case the Iron Fist had informants among their ranks. The fewer people that knew about her new identity, the less likely it would be found out.