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He didn’t like the idea of having to wait all night to see her. Now that he was here, he wanted to protect her, and he wanted answers. They didn’t come fast enough. Cole ended the call and released a heavy sigh. Hawk looked at him across the island, waiting on details.

“I’m meeting her for breakfast at her place,” he said. “I hope I’ll have more information from Allison by then on all fronts, especially before talking to the detective working her mother’s case.”

Though Hawk’s expression remained stern, his mouth curved a little, and he chopped another carrot. “That’s a step in the right direction.”

Since when did his brother give relationship advice? Or was it more Remi’s influence on Hawk? Considering they were engaged, that made sense, but Cole needed to focus on keeping Jo safe, not wooing her.

“I’m not concerned about a romantic relationship right now when Jo’s in danger.

” And he’d gotten into this to begin with to help her because, yeah, his care for her went deep.

He wanted something “romantic” with her, but he just didn’t know how to get there.

Not until all this was behind them. And maybe even then he wouldn’t know how.

And he needed the chance to explain why he left ... and never contacted her again.

“What can I do to help?” Hawk asked.

“If something comes up, I’ll let you know.

” He and Hawk were tight. They’d been through more than the average siblings.

Cole didn’t know why, but he just wanted to do this on his own.

Growing up, he struggled to feel like he would ever measure up to Hawk and his accomplishments, especially because their father had seemed to prefer Hawk.

Then Cole had carried those same insecurities into adulthood.

Hawk had been Army, and Cole had followed him.

Maybe he’d still been competitive, even in adulthood, which was ridiculous.

Then Cole had gone dark for months. He’d had no choice, but he’d left Hawk wondering, fearing, and searching. For that, Cole was sorry.

Hawk moved around the counter and crossed the room, pulling Cole’s thoughts back to the moment. His expression told Cole that Hawk might be reading his mind. That he understood Cole’s stubborn, independent need to prove himself. Instead of saying as much, he simply squeezed Cole’s shoulder.

“I’m here for you,” Hawk said. “You know that. I’ve got your back too. We’re brothers.”

“I do. Thanks.” Cole snatched up his keys and headed for the door.

“Dude, where are you going?”

“To check out the area around Jo’s house. Make sure there aren’t any anomalies. I would have suggested that she stay somewhere else, again, but I suspected that she wouldn’t listen.”

“Does she know?”

Cole sent Hawk an incredulous look. “No. I mean ... I went last night. Did you not even know?”

Hawk shook his head. “You think she’s been compromised?”

“Most definitely. I’m not sure who was driving the Sequoia that tried to run her off the road.

On the other side of the country, whoever tried to harm her in Michigan has probably seen the images of her on the ferry.

They could already be here. Reporters could be digging and searching, and they could put out information about where she lives.

Or that information could somehow have been leaked from the police report from the ferry incident. ” I hope not. “Call me paranoid.”

“I call you cautious.”

“And I prefer to be overly wary.”

“Have you considered that the murder on the ferry is related to her father’s sudden disappearance somehow? He mentioned he hadn’t wanted to lead trouble to her. Trouble has found her. Could it be connected?”

“Right now, everything is on the table.”

“You want to stake her place out tonight, protective duty? I’m all in,” Hawk said.

“Oh yeah?” Cole put on his coat. “I thought you had a hot date with your future wife?”

“I do. But I can cut it short if you need me. Remi would understand. She wants Jo safe too.”

“I hate to see you ruin all that hard work you’re doing cutting vegetables for a salad. Besides, I need to be gone so you can have time with Remi. If I had known you had plans, I could have made plans to crash somewhere else.”

“You’re making sure Jo’s safe, and that’ll take you time. But you’re welcome to stay for dinner before you go. I’m sure Remi would love for you to join us.”

“Why, so she can grill me too?”

Hawk moved his head like he was hemming and hawing, dancing around what they both knew to be true. Finally, he said, “I’ll tell her not to grill you.”

“But Jo is her friend, and Remi thinks I hurt her.” The thought that he’d inadvertently hurt Jo jabbed at his heart, and he winced.

“She doesn’t think you hurt her. You did hurt her, Cole.”

“Wasn’t my intention.” He couldn’t catch a break. He couldn’t take more of this, so yeah, he was out of here. “I’ll let you know if I need any help tonight.”

He stepped out the door and got into his Yukon and steered over to Jo’s, driving slowly by the house in front until he’d passed it completely, then navigated through the neighborhood.

Jo’s tiny house was up against Olympic National Forest—the rainforest—which could be a deterrent and, then again, depending on who wanted to harm Jo, could be a perfect cover.

But those woods were as dense as he’d ever seen, and he wasn’t driving his vehicle into that. He steered through town and then found the forest road he’d used last night that followed the Pulsap River. Turned down a side road and parked in the woods.

With a round in the chamber of his Glock 19 semiautomatic handgun that he gripped, as well as the handgun at his ankle, he hiked through the woods behind Jo’s Spruce Hollow, making sure no one was already here.

Then he would make sure that no one decided to come after her.

A full moon shining behind the clouds illuminated the night.

He trudged forward, pushing through the lush greenery, slogging his way over and around thigh-high sword ferns and every imaginable kind of foliage, along with plenty he couldn’t begin to identify.

He made his way around a significant swath of the forest near her home but saw nothing suspicious, and he hoped it would stay that way. But the quiet seemed too quiet.

A sixth sense told him that he should be worried. Very worried.

He trudged deeper. To get here from the north, a person would have to traverse a ridge or cross the unsafe logging bridge over the Pulsap River that Jo had shown him before he left.

Before he left...

He shook off the depressing thoughts.

To come from the east, they’d hike in from the road like he’d done.

The west was the ocean and the south was Forestview, so the north or the east he had to watch.

He’d prefer to talk her into letting him just sit on her porch.

He had plenty of experience in VIP protective duty, and sometimes it was just standing at the door.

Instead, he was out in the elements, and sure, working on operations in special forces, he’d gotten his fill.

Still, right now, the cold, wind, and rain were not his favorite part of this venture.

As he approached, close enough that he saw the back of the cute, tiny house that depicted a domestic and creative side of her not easily seen, he admitted she would think he was spying or stalking, neither of which was true.

He didn’t like this part of the venture either.

No curtains or blinds covered the windows. Anyone could see inside. He looked away before he could see her. What was she thinking? A sniper could take her out. But that was his Army brain working. The rest of the world just didn’t think in those terms. But Jo should start.

Cole turned to walk back to the Yukon, remaining vigilant and aware of his surroundings. He stopped and stood still while a five-point elk passed by as if not even noticing Cole or registering that he was a threat.

Through the trees, he could see his Yukon sitting far enough off the path. It melded into the forest, and a figure leaned against it. Tensing, Cole squeezed his handgun.

A raincoat hood covered the face and the arms were crossed, but Cole recognized the slant of shoulders.

I’m in trouble.