Page 91 of Lawbreaker

His big, beautiful hand reached across the table and caught hers in a warm clasp. “So are you, beautiful.”

It was a moment out of time. She looked into his eyes and got lost. So did he. In the middle of the exchange of glances, a deep voice interrupted them.

“Cappuccino and sandwiches for lunch?”

They looked up. Dane Hunter, the US marshal who’d helped save Tony from a murder charge, grinned at them.

“Sit down and have some yourself,” Tony invited.

“Not on my salary,” he chuckled, pulling up a chair.

“My treat,” Tony said.

Hunter glared at him. “I don’t take bribes.”

“I can see the headlines now,” Tony mused. “US marshal bribed by former mob boss with panini and cappuccino...”

“You know what I mean,” the other man chuckled.

“Yes, I do, sadly,” Tony replied. “The media would have a field day.”

“Back in my father’s day, the media had real journalists who told the truth. Now truth is whatever doesn’t hurt somebody’s feelings.”

“You’re getting poetic,” Tony accused.

He sighed. “I guess so.”

“Is your dad still working security for Ritter Oil?”

He nodded. “He can’t outrun the bad guys anymore, but he hires men who can,” he chuckled. “Colby Lane’s still there, too.”

“Old man Ritter’s a card.”

He nodded. “His son isn’t bad, either. There are rumors that he’ll take over the company when his dad retires. He’ll do a good job.”

“Any feedback about James?” Tony asked, lowering his voice.

He nodded. “That sympathy card might not have been your best idea.”

Tony grinned. “Come on. It was funny. Admit it.”

“I guess it was,” Hunter chuckled. “But it stoked the fires. He’s got Peters out beating the bushes for ways to put the hurt on Tanner Everett.”

Odalie’s faint gasp was audible.

“Don’t worry,” Hunter told her gently. “He’s got more security than the president right now. James would have to be insane to go after him. But you and your sister-in-law are easier targets.”

“Covered,” Tony said. “I put on extra people.”

Hunter’s dark eyes narrowed. “Background checks?”

He scowled. “Of course background checks. Ben hired an agency to... Okay, what the hell do you mean?” He’d put his coffee down with a thud and his eyes were intent and unblinking.

“One of the men your man was going to hire won’t pass a background check. Peters gifted him a clean background, did a little computer work and sent him to Ben.”

Tony was cursing in Italian under his breath.

“It’s okay. Ben doesn’t seem to trust anybody because he hired another agency to vet the agency he hired first.” He chuckled and shook his head. “Damn, he’s good. I wish he worked for me.”