Page 31 of Hidden Harbor (Evergreen Rescue #1)

A nya’s ex smirked as we approached him in the park above the marina. He stood about five-ten, but he had the burly shoulders of a bulldog. On the surface, he looked like any other tourist. It was the subtle sneer when he noticed our joined hands that gave him away.

“Princess, you couldn’t quite face me alone, huh?”

I wanted to wipe the cocky grin off his face and take some skin with it, but Anya’s restraining hand on my wrist reminded me why we were here.

Owen would cook his own goose. So long as he kept his hands to himself, he walked away.

Something about the taunting gleam in his eyes made me think that was unlikely.

“Let’s get this over with,” Anya said, each syllable clipped. She stalked ahead, leading the way down the dock toward The Codfather .

“Hey, Captain Nick. Now still a good time?” Anya called as we reached the fishing boat bobbing gently against the pylons.

Agent Harris emerged from below. His salt-and-pepper curls were covered by a fisherman’s cap pulled low.

He spit into a cup, the rank odor of chewing tobacco floating on the breeze.

“Sure. Come aboard.” He extended a hand for Anya, helping her across. I stepped easily onto the deck, Owen following me.

“Owen,” he introduced himself as he and Agent Harris shook hands.

“Captain Nick.”

“You’re a fisherman?” Owen asked.

The grizzled captain shrugged. “I do this and that. Whatever I need to make the payments on The Codfather .”

Owen cast an assessing gaze across the deck, taking in the worn furnishings and aging electronics. “You catch much lately? I’ve heard this is cod and halibut country.”

Nick lifted a shoulder. “That and salmon. I run occasional charters near Victoria. We catch our limit.”

“Nice,” Owen said.

“But I’m open to other kinds of charters too,” Nick said.

Owen’s face stretched in a grin, all razor-sharp teeth. “Just what I like to hear.” He pulled a bottle from his jacket pocket. “Can we talk below over a glass of bourbon?”

Owen flicked a dismissive hand to Anya and me. “You can go. The grownups have business to discuss.” His predatory smile returned, his teeth flashing white in the gloom. “I’ll be in touch.”

“That’s not the deal.” I enunciated each syllable carefully so he couldn’t misunderstand me. “You’re not to contact her ever again.” I stared him down, pleased when he looked away.

“Owen, we were through long before I left Detroit. I’ve granted you this final favor, for old times’ sake, but those times are over. I’ve moved on. You should too.”

I was proud of Anya for sticking up for herself.

“And if you need any extra incentive to leave the island, I’m happy to give it to you,” I said mildly, forcing a pleasant expression through gritted teeth. The muscle ticking in my jaw beat with my pulse.

Owen held my gaze. I imbued my expression with every ounce of pain I wanted to cause him. Every threat I couldn’t share aloud. His eyes flickered. Owen gave Anya a dismissive smile.

“Whatever. Princess, call your dad. He misses you.” He turned on his heel, following Captain Nick below.

“Come on,” I urged, tugging Anya back toward the dock. I stepped over, catching her as she threw herself toward me as if she couldn’t escape The Codfather fast enough.

I hugged her close, rocking her in my arms. She trembled, the fine tremor making me wish I could have done more to discourage Owen.

“Let’s go home.”

We walked across the dock. With every step away from the boat, the tightness in Anya’s shoulders eased, until she was all but melted against me at the crosswalk.

“Would you rather stop at Harbor Brews for a drink first?” I asked.

“Yes, please.”

Violet and the gang were clustered around a table near the door when we arrived.

“You still up for this?” I whispered.

She nodded, and I placed our drink orders with Isa at the counter while she joined our friends.

Anya patted the couch next to her as I approached with a pint glass in each hand. She accepted her glass with a grateful smile. Already, I could see the lines of tension easing from her face. Sitting with her plastered against my side helped me relax.

The threat was over. For now.

Leaving things in Agent Harris’s control left me feeling antsy, but there was nothing more for us to do. And keeping Anya as far away as possible from Owen was the smart move.

“Everything go okay tonight?” Vi asked.

Anya nodded.

“That’s gotta be a relief,” Rae said.

Lucy raised her glass. “To taking out the trash.”

“Hear, hear,” Zach said, tapping his glass to hers.

“To the best friends a girl could ask for,” Anya said softly, raising her glass. I clinked gently with her and she added, “and the best boyfriend.”

As good as it felt to hear her say it, it wasn’t enough. But there was time for more. Time for us now that we could place Owen in the rearview mirror.

“To connections,” Lee said, nodding to Clay.

“And to the women we want to marry,” Clay added, winking at Lucy.

“No.” Her denial was swift, but I noticed she still sipped at her drink.

“I’ll drink to that,” I said, holding Anya’s gaze. She let a tiny smile peek through, nipping a bit from her cider.

Zach made a face. Lee drank without comment. Vi looked sad for a moment, her gaze on Anya, but she drank, a grin slowly overtaking her features.

“Have you had any more search and rescue calls?” Lucy asked, maybe trying to avoid more proposals from the overeager park ranger.

“Nah, it’s been quiet,” Zach said.

“Usually, we start to get more calls as the busy season heats up,” I added.

Lucy looked thoughtful. “WNFH hasn’t had any news on Jordan. Has the medical examiner issued a ruling on his death?”

“Preliminary report is for an accidental death, but the final toxicology report is still a few weeks out,” Rae said. “I was able to swing by and check on Jia today.”

“How are she and the kids doing?” Anya asked.

“They’re coping, but it’s hard. Jia’s done everything she could to change or move her deployment, but her command isn’t budging. I’ll be moving into the house to watch the kids in another few weeks.”

I smiled at my brother. “Did I hear right that you’re playing uncle to Rae’s auntie?”

He shrugged, like hanging out with someone else’s kids for the summer was no big deal.

Interesting. I glanced between him and Rae.

Last I heard, she was still dating Simon, a friend of theirs from high school.

Their situationship seemed odd to me, more long-distance waiting game than romance, but I couldn’t really judge.

If it were Anya, I’d be prepared to wait.

I looked at Rae with new eyes. Long, dark hair with a tendency to curl, a petite but athletic figure and a steadiness that implied maturity beyond her thirty years.

She and Zach had been close for years. But she’d always been taken.

Simon had bounced between stations in Florida and Connecticut as he moved up the chain of command.

Rae had seemed content with their relationship, and I’d seen no reason to pry.

But now that she and Zach were playing house? I had questions.

We were full of beer and good cheer by the time we left Harbor Brews. Only to stop short when we spotted Owen propped against the wall, watching the exit.

“We’re done with you,” I growled, advancing on the other man.

“Too bad I’m not finished with you .” His gaze slipped to Anya, making me want to step in front of her, shield her from his lazy perusal. He had no rights there anymore.

“No. We’re done,” Anya reiterated, her voice strong and sure.

Pride filled me. For all his posturing, Owen couldn’t scare her anymore. Not now that she had us.

“Are you sure about that, Princess? I still have some very interesting pictures. Bet the sheriff would love to see them.” He ended his sentence on a playful lilt, the underlying menace curdling below the surface.

I stepped forward, crowding him. His eyes flickered. He thrust back his shoulders, using his full brawn to seem bigger. But a small man will always be small where it counts. And a man who’d use a woman he professed to love had to be the smallest man who ever lived.

Owen waggled his phone at Anya, his smile ugly.

I plucked the phone from his fingers with a growl. “Fuck that.”

Owen reached for it, but I was faster. I slapped a palm to his chest, shoving. He tripped and fell on his ass. Anya gasped behind me. Thank god for gangly Fenwick arms. They’d beefed up over the years, and all the work in the salt houses helped. It’d take more than an asshole like Owen to best me.

He struggled to his feet, foul language flowing, red-faced with anger. His hand shot out, reaching again for the phone. “That’s mine.”

“Maybe, but she’s not. She’s mine to protect now. You need to accept that.”

Owen’s lip curled. “You have no idea what you’re getting yourself involved in, island boy.” His eyes flickered, choreographing the right hook before he moved, making the punch easy to block. Easy to counter with a jab of my own. Owen stumbled back again, falling to the concrete.

I shook out my right hand. Anya stepped to my side, soothing her fingers over my bruised knuckles.

“I said we were done, Owen. You should have listened,” Anya said, her voice hard.

“You think just because you found a homegrown fuck boy, you’re protected?”

I hated the sneer in Owen’s voice. The confidence.

“Yeah, Owen. I’ve found my people. My place. I’m not Anne-Marie Genter anymore. You and my parents need to accept that. I’m out for good.”

The rest of our party emerged from Harbor Brews, Lee and Clay rushing to flank me. Each grabbed one of Owen’s arms, effectively immobilizing him.

The other man spit out a fresh stream of invective, cursing out me, Anya and our ancestors. “Let me go. You can’t do this,” he blustered, spittle flying from the corner of his mouth as he became more agitated.

“Less talking, more deleting,” I growled, holding the camera up to his face so it unlocked. “Where are these pictures you keep bragging about?”

“They’re not even on there,” Owen said sullenly, resisting Lee and Clay’s hold.

“No. He’d keep them close. Hand it here.” Anya extended her palm, and I gave her the phone. She scrolled the folders with a frown.

“When we were dating, you used to love your clever hiding spots and nicknames. Remember?” She flicked a dismissive gaze to her ex.

“Let’s see. We did a lot of sailing together.

Does that make my blackmail folder Yacht Club ?

” She touched the folder, her expression triumphant.

A few taps and she grinned, slipping his phone into his jacket breast pocket.

Careful not to touch him. “Not very creative of you, Owen.”

The ferry whistle blew, announcing the boat’s arrival in the harbor. Owen jerked his shoulders. Lee and Clay eased their grips, releasing him.

“Perfect timing,” I crowed, giving him a saccharine-sweet smile. “That’s your boat, Owen.”

“The rest of my shit is still at my hotel,” he blustered.

“Too bad. I hope you travel light. Call Lost and Found tomorrow. You’re getting on that ferry.”

“Make me.”

I shook my head slowly, tutting quietly. “Oh, Owen. You were home-free. So long as you didn’t fuck with Anya. But what did he do?” I asked, looking to Lee and Clay.

“Fuck with Anya,” they responded like an obedient little choir.

“Exactly.” I smoothed the lapels on Owen’s jacket. “So, your time here is forfeit.”

“You can’t make me leave,” Owen insisted.

“That’s where you’re wrong. I’ve known most of the ferry workers my whole life.

Call it the benefit of being a homegrown fuck boy.

They will tie you to a chair if I ask. But even if I have to knock you unconscious and stuff you in Anya’s trunk to get you on board, you’re leaving.

My only question is, do you want to go under your own power, or get a little rug burn from the carpet fibers in the trunk as a bonus souvenir? Your choice,” I added magnanimously.