Page 8 of Pirates in Calusa Cove (Everglades Overwatch #2)

CHAPTER 6

Gasp. Gurgle.

Trinity opened her mouth to scream, but instead, she got a throat full of salty water.

Mallary? Where’s Mallary?

Oh God. She remembered. She’d never made it under the boat. She was gone. Just like Jared. Lost to the sea. Or murdered by pirates. Pirates who wanted the jewels of the Flying Victoria .

Trinity wrapped her arms around…around…something. It was big. Hard. Cold. And it bobbed gently up and down.

Water rushed by as if it were in a hurry to get somewhere. All she wanted to do was go home, curl up in bed, and sleep. Her body ached, and part of her soul had died today.

She sucked in a shallow breath. Her chest burned. Her shoulder throbbed. Her head was in a daze of confusion as she tried to piece together the events that jumbled her mind. She blinked, straining to see something. Anything.

But all she saw was utter darkness.

She did her best to adjust the tie around her shoulder, but it slipped off, and she was so weak. So tired. And cold. She shivered. Glancing over her shoulder, she checked for fins. However, it was too dark to notice anything, even with the moon dancing in the black sky.

Her eyelids grew heavy. She rested her head on the hard object. “I’m sorry, Daddy,” she whispered. “Oh, Keaton. You were right about me.” She let herself drift off…and the nightmare started all over again.

“No!” Trinity jerked. She winced, grabbing her shoulder as a gut-wrenching pain tore through her limbs. It started out as if someone had thrust a knife into her body, and then it danced across her skin. “Oh God.”

“Hey. It’s okay. You’re okay,” Keaton’s voice cut through the fog. He took her hand, ran his fingers over her knuckles, and leaned in, pressing his lips on her forehead. “You’re safe now.” He dotted her cheek and temple with more tender kisses.

“Mallary? The jewels?” Trinity grabbed Keaton’s wrist. “Did you find them? My boat? What happened to my boat?” Panic clutched her chest like an elephant had taken a seat on it.

“Babe, slow down. You literally just woke up after being lost at sea for close to nine hours. You’ve had surgery on your shoulder. You need to rest. Your dad went to eat, and if he comes back and I’m sitting here talking about all this crap, he won’t be happy.”

“Please, Keaton. What I need are answers.” She stared into his brown eyes, pleading. Begging. Everything that had happened replayed like a bad dream over and over again. She couldn’t stop it. It didn’t matter that she was awake because all she could see was a gun… pointing at her. Her pushing Mallary into the water… Bullets racing through the darkness…

He sat on the side of the bed, holding her hand and staring at her fingers. He lifted his gaze. “I guess I would, too, if I were you.” He nodded. “The search for Mallary at sea was called off.”

Trinity yanked her hand away, covered her mouth, and gasped. “No,” she managed in a mangled cry.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t say that well. The Coast Guard found your boat stripped of anything of value. It appears it was the work of pirates. Dawson called that FBI agent, Chloe, and reported Mallary as missing. She’s going to work that angle.”

“What about the je?—”

Keaton pressed his lips against her mouth. He kissed her cheek. Then he whispered, “Don’t bring that up. Not in front of anyone. Certainly not here. We decided not to tell anyone that we have them. Not until after Dawson has had the chance to speak with you. Someone tried to kill you, and until we know more, no one needs to know what you found.” He kissed her softly one more time.

She stared at him for a long moment.

“I need you to trust me on this. Okay?” he said. “You can’t talk to anyone but us about it. At least for now.”

“Okay,” she said softly.

The machine's beeping grew louder and faster, as did her pulse. The nightmare snapped into view, but it wasn’t a nightmare. It had been her reality. It had been what she had survived .

“I floated and swam for hours in the dark,” she managed. “A few boats hummed right on by. They didn’t see or hear me.” Tears trickled down her cheeks. No one ever liked crying, and she was no different.

The sweet man snagged a tissue and swiped under her eyes, all while gazing into them with a mixture of sadness, kindness, caring, and a hint of rage. It was that last emotion that Trinity knew she’d have to tether. At least this time, she believed she hadn’t caused it. Or she hoped she hadn’t been the one to put it there.

“I thought I was going to die out there. I tried not to close my eyes because I knew what would happen, but I managed to grab hold of something, and now I’m here. How did that happen?”

“When I didn’t hear from you, and Baily said you never radioed before she closed, we all came looking. We spent the night and morning out there. Fletcher and I were coming down the channel from the north and spotted you on a channel marker.” Gingerly, he ran his hand over her arm, which was in a sling. “I don’t want to think about what would’ve happened if even another half hour had passed. You were completely unconscious, barely hanging on, and you’d lost a lot of blood.”

She pushed out a hard breath through her nose and closed her eyes. “Two men boarded my boat. They were masked. One shot me when I tried to disarm him with my empty tank. I managed to grab another tank with a little bit of oxygen before I dove back in.”

“You did what?” Keaton ran his thumb across her cheek.

She blinked. “It wasn’t my brightest moment, but I had to do something. He was going to kill us both. Instead, I saved myself, and Mallary is probably dead.” She turned her head. “It’s all my fault.” Tears flowed down her face. Hot. Hard. And fast.

He gently wiped them away. “Sweetheart, I don’t see how that’s possible.”

“Maybe she wouldn’t have been taken. Or lost at sea if I hadn’t tried that stupid stunt.”

“Oh, babe.” He cupped her chin. “I wasn’t there, so I can’t assess whether it was the right thing to do or not. But based on what you just told me, it appears it was the only logical course of action. And truth be told, I would’ve done the same thing in hopes of saving my friend.”

“You’re just trying to make me feel better.”

“I think you know me better than that.” He cocked a brow. “If I believed you were in the wrong, I’d say so.” He smoothed down her hair. “I’m just so grateful you’re alive.”

She scrunched her face. “But Mallary isn’t.”

“We don’t know that, and we’re going to pull out all the stops to look for her.” Keaton yanked his cell from his back pocket and tapped at the screen.

“What are you doing?”

“Letting your dad know you’re awake. I’m also texting Dawson. He needs to take your statement.” Keaton glanced up. “I should go get the doctor.”

“You have my father’s cell number?”

Keaton chuckled. “I spent the last few hours in the waiting room with him. It’s been… interesting.”

“I’m going to need more information.” She pointed toward the cup on the tray. “Am I allowed to have water?”

He lifted the straw to her lips. “Let’s just say your dad wanted to know my…intentions.”

She coughed, and a little water dripped down her chin. “How awkward for you.”

“Not really.” Keaton smiled. “I like your dad. He’s cool.”

“Yeah, he is.” She glanced around the room. Cards and flowers lined the windowsill. She pointed.

“None of those are from me.” He arched a brow. “Though I have half a mind to toss out that bouquet.”

“Why?”

“Because they came from Fenton.”

She rolled her eyes. “You have my blessing to burn them.”

Keaton frowned. “Is he the reason you don’t like it when a man gives you flowers?”

“No.” She sighed. “I’ve never really been a flowers girl—partly because my mom demanded them from my dad for every single occasion. But mostly because the guys who gave them to me did so because they had done something they needed to apologize for. Usually lying or cheating or both.”

“Ah, I see.” He strolled over to the window, snagged the largest arrangement, and stuffed it in the garbage. “Well, if I ever get you flowers, it won’t be for those reasons, that’s for sure.”

“They’re kind of a waste of money.”

“Maybe someday I can change your mind about that.” He eased back on the side of the bed. “Do you need anything? Are you in pain?”

“I honestly don’t know what I am.”

A tap at the door filled the room, and a young man pushing a tray strolled in. “Oh, good. We’re awake. That will make my job easier,” the man said. “I just need to check your blood pressure, temperature, change out your IV, give you some more IV antibiotics, and escort you down for some X-rays.” He nodded to Keaton.

“She needs more? Why?” Keaton asked.

“It’s standard procedure with a surgery like hers,” the man said.

“The doctor didn’t say anything about that.” Keaton furrowed his brow.

“I’m not sure what to tell you, but it was in her orders this morning.” The man shrugged. “I’m sure the doc just wants to make sure there are no complications from surgery before she sends her home. It’s going to be a little while. Why don’t you grab yourself a fresh cup of coffee? Or better yet, some food. I hear you’ve been here all night and day.” He lifted the chart at the end of the bed. “Unfortunately, Trinity missed dinner. You could grab her something from the cafeteria. Nothing too heavy on the stomach. Soup would be good. Or some ice cream. Something like that.”

“Are you hungry?” Keaton asked, glancing at Trinity.

“Even if she isn’t,” the man said before she could even open her mouth. “She should have something. The chicken noodle soup isn’t horrible.”

“I could eat that.” Trinity let out a long breath. “And maybe some hot tea. ”

“I’m on it.” He squeezed her hand. “I won’t be too long.”

“Thank you.”

“Anything for my princess.”

She cocked her head. “I might be one, but I don’t belong to anyone, and the only person who can call me that is my dad.”

He chuckled. “I couldn’t help myself.” He leaned over and brushed his lips over her mouth. His tongue snagged hers in a possessive swirl, letting her know that while he might not own her, he certainly didn’t want her accepting any other suitors.

Not that she would. Wow. Was Keaton her man? Were they dating? Exclusively?

That was enlightening.

Keaton slipped off the bed. “Before I go, mind if I check your hospital badge?” He waved his finger at the young man.

Oh, my. “Is that necessary?” She glared, though, when she glanced at the man and didn’t see a badge, which was standard hospital practice, it did give her pause.

“It is.” Keaton rested his hands on his hips and looked the poor man up and down.

Trinity groaned. This was an aspect about Keaton that if they were going to have a go at it, he would have to tame. Not the action, because she appreciated that, but how he went about it.

“No problem. I understand.” The man patted his chest. Then his waist and hips. “Crap. I must’ve left it at the nurses’ station when we had a changeover meeting.” He hung the chart on the bed and reached for the near-empty IV bag. “This needs to be changed out, and she’s already late for her antibiotics. That’s important. Let me do that first, and then I’ll go grab my badge.”

“Nope. I’m sorry. I need that before I?—”

“Mr. Cole, there are bubbles in this line, and infection after surgery is a real thing.” He pulled out a vial. “If you’d like, you can snag my badge from the station around the corner.” The man turned and took a bag from the tray he’d pushed into the room. He reached up and hung it on the metal hook, untangling the line.

“Please stop what you’re doing,” Keaton said with a harsh, dark tone. “I know enough about IVs to know she’s got a couple of minutes. I want to see that hospital ID before you do anything else.” He pointed toward the door. “Don’t make me put my hands on you.”

“Keaton, that’s uncalled for.” Trinity narrowed her stare.

“Really? Then why is he making it such a big deal, and how does a man I’ve never met know my name?” Keaton asked.

“Mr. Cole.” The man let out an exaggerated sigh. “Calusa Cove is a small town, and everyone on the floor has been talking about you and how you found this one.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder in an angry shake.

Trinity didn’t blame the poor guy.

However, considering the recent events, she could also see Keaton’s point. He was simply trying to protect her, and she appreciated that. Her father would be grateful. The reality was that if she were in his shoes, she would have pushed for him to find his badge. She might have been a little less aggressive, but she would have wanted to see it, too.

If she’d thought to look for it, and that was the part that scared her more than anything.

“Right now, talk is cheap,” Keaton said. “I’m sorry if you think this is all one big inconvenience, but if the whole floor is gossiping, you know what she went through and why I might be a little overprotective of my girlfriend.”

The word girlfriend rolled off his tongue quickly and easily. Perhaps a little too easily.

But it felt right, and that was strange.

“All right. All right.” The man ruffled something on the portable tray. He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “I’ll be right back with that badge.” The man stared at Keaton as he strolled by the edge of the bed.

“Why don’t I walk with you?” Keaton said.

“Now, that’s really overkill, dude.” The man lunged toward Keaton, pulling something sharp and shiny from his pocket.

The small scalpel nailed him in the biceps. “Motherfucker,” Keaton mumbled with a groan.

Trinity gasped.

Keaton slammed the asshole up against the wall, but the jerk managed to yank the knife from Keaton’s flesh and stab him higher in the shoulder. He gritted his teeth, jerked his arm, and kicked the man’s ankle, sending him crashing to the floor. “You fucked with the wrong man.” He held him by the throat. Not too hard. Not enough to cut off all the oxygen, but enough to put pressure on the windpipe and make it incredibly uncomfortable for this idiot. He pressed his knee into his chest before gripping the knife and giving it a good yank. He glanced up. “Are you okay?”

Trinity nodded. “But you’re not.”

“I’ll be fine. Just a few scratches.”

“What the heck is going on in here?” Doctor Emily Sprouse skidded to a stop at the door, followed by one of the female nurses. “Why are you holding that man down? You’re going to hurt him.”

“Please call the chief of police, Dawson Ridge. Tell him that someone tried to attack?—”

“I’m here.” Dawson sidestepped the two people at the door. “Jesus, man. I leave you unattended for five minutes, and this happens.”

“He doesn’t have a hospital badge, gave me shit for asking for one, and then stabbed me. Twice.”

“Let him go.” Dawson took over, restraining the man. “What’s your name, son?”

He got nothing but a stare down.

Keaton raced to Trinity’s side, ignoring the pain registering in his brain. It wasn’t horrible, but his muscles burned every time he flexed his biceps. When he shifted his shoulder, it was the same thing. It was a minor inconvenience, but it still put him in a major sour mood.

Had he not been diligent, or if he’d stepped away for even a moment, he shuddered to think what would have happened to Trinity. And on his watch.

“Are you going to give me your side of the story? Or are you going with the one where you were going to do something to Trinity when Keaton left the room? Maybe give her something to make her sleepy? Kidnap her? Kill her? You tell me,” Dawson said.

The man said nothing.

“Okay. I’m guessing you attacked him instead when that didn’t happen?” Dawson asked.

More silence. Nothing like taking the fifth to new heights.

Emily lifted Keaton’s shirt. He winced as he jerked his arm away. He didn’t need attention. He needed to give his attention to Trinity. He took her hand and pressed his lips to her palm.

“Let her look at it,” Trinity whispered.

Keaton sighed and sat on the edge of the bed while Dawson continued to try to get information from that little asshole. He asked questions like, Were you acting alone? Did someone hire you? Was your goal to hurt or kill?

But the jerk wasn’t saying shit.

“Hey, Doc, do you know that guy? Does he work at the hospital?” Keaton asked softly while the good doc poured antiseptic on his wounds.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen him, and I pretty much know everyone on this floor,” Emily said. “Lulu, do you know that man?”

Lulu nodded. “His name is Warren Harley. He works nights as a janitor in the ER. I’ve seen him down there when I’ve filled in a couple of times, but never up here. ”

“If he worked in the hospital, why wouldn’t he have his credentials?” With his good hand, Keaton squeezed Trinity’s thigh. His pulse had yet to calm down, and he wasn’t sure if it would until whoever was behind this was caught. “Wouldn’t he have needed them to get the supplies he rolled in here with?”

“Yeah, care to explain that one?” Dawson asked.

Warren huffed out air, but not an answer.

“If I might wager a guess here,” Emily said. “That cart was left in the hallway. He’d need a special keycode that only the doctors and charge nurses have, so he wouldn’t have been able to do anything.”

“What about the IV bag?” Keaton asked.

“It’s fluid,” the nurse said. “It was on the tray because I was making my rounds and knew Trinity needed a flush.” Lulu unclipped her badge and tucked it in her pocket. She then pulled it out and waved it. “I’ve been known to start my day with this sucker tucked neatly away. When I start my shift, it’s always easier to pull it out of my pocket to run it across the door for meds and supplies. But when entering a patient’s room, I always have it clipped.” She waved her hand toward Warren. “Any hospital staff member should have it when they enter a patient’s room, and Warren knows that, especially working in the ER. That place is a zoo, and security is tight down there, even though we’re a small town.”

“Good to know,” Keaton said.

Dawson read Warren his rights, but he still refused to speak. He stood rigid, lips pursed, and glared at Keaton, as if Keaton had personally ruined his day, instead of the other way around.

“Who do you work for, you piece of shit?” Keaton said. “Because no way could you have pulled off something like this all by your little self. You’re not smart enough.”

Warren’s eye twitched, and he snarled, but he didn’t cave.

“You know, whoever sent you is going to let you rot.” Keaton sneered. “They’ll let you take the blame. They aren’t going to bail you out or even send you a lawyer. Nope. They’re going to let you hang for attempted murder.”

“I did no such thing,” Warren said with his nostrils flaring.

“Oh, really?” Dawson let out a sigh. “Because those two stab wounds in my buddy over there paint a different picture.” He cocked his head. “And even if your intent with my friend wasn’t to kill, what the hell were you doing with this vial?” Dawson waved the small glass object he’d taken from Warren’s pocket. “Hey, Doc. Can you tell me what this is? Without touching it?”

“Sure.” Emily leaned over, glancing at the vial. “Jesus. That’s fentanyl.” She glanced between Dawson and Warren. “Where’d you get that? Only certain medical professionals have access to that.”

“I want a lawyer,” Warren said.

“Thanks for making more work for me today.” Dawson curled his fingers around Warren’s elbow. “I’m going to radio Remy and have him come get this guy. Once that happens, I’ll be back to take both your statements.”

Keaton nodded, doing his best not to wince as the doctor glued his wounds together. At least it wouldn’t be traditional stitches. Those sucked. “When can I take Trinity home?” He met the doctor’s gaze.

“I’d like to keep her overnight for observation.”

“Is that necessary or for precaution?” Keaton cracked his neck.

“If all Trinity underwent was surgery, we would have sent her home as soon as she woke up.” Emily held up her hand. “But that’s not the case, and to be safe?—”

“She’ll be safer where I can protect her from whatever that was.” Keaton stretched his arm. “Someone tried to kill her yesterday, and it seems they just tried to do it again. I mean no disrespect to you and your ability as a doctor.”

“None taken, but if I release her, it will have to be against medical advice, and I’m going to send you two home with some strict guidelines.”

“That’s fine.” Keaton nodded.

“Um, excuse me.” Trinity poked his good arm. “Both of you are talking as though the patient isn’t even in the room or incapable of making her own decisions.”

“Are you seriously going to fight me on this after you watched that jerkoff stab me? He was going to dope you full of a drug that could have killed you.” Keaton held her gaze. He tried not to glare. He tried to be soft, kind, and caring. But he doubted that’s how he came off .

“No, but I’d at least like to be treated like I have a brain and know how to use it.”

“Never said you didn’t.” He shook his head. “Doc, can we get those walking papers?”

“I’m sure you’re familiar with how red tape works. It’ll take some time, but I’ll get the ball rolling.” Emily patted his good shoulder. “Just promise me you’ll try not to be a repeat customer. Either one of you.”

“We’ll work on it.” He laced his fingers through Trinity’s. “Thanks.”

“Get out of my way,” her father’s voice bellowed through the hallway. “What on earth happened?” Monty asked as he rounded the corner. “Princess, are you okay?”

“Once again, thanks to Keaton, I’m fine.”

“I shouldn’t have left you.” Monty yanked Keaton off the side of the bed and shoved him to the side. “I’ll never leave your side again.”

“I’m a grown woman, Daddy. That’s going to be kind of hard,” Trinity said.

“You’re going to move home until we know for sure whoever tried to kill you yesterday is the same man Dawson just dragged into the elevator.” Monty tugged at the comforter, lifting it higher over Trinity’s body.

If Keaton ever had the chance to be a father, and he had a daughter, he suspected he might go a little overboard, too. Not that Monty was being overboard at all. He cleared his throat. “To be honest, I don’t think—and I’m sure Dawson will agree—that Warren Harley isn’t the mastermind behind what’s happening.”

“I have other patients. I’ll get the discharge paperwork started. Good luck having any say over what happens next.” Emily laughed, patting Keaton’s good shoulder. “You’re gonna need it. No one will ever be good enough for her or be able to protect her. No one. Not even someone like you.”

Keaton had waged that war before with Petra’s father. Talk about a high-strung dad with control issues. “Sir,” Keaton started.

“Do not call me that.” Monty fluffed Trinity’s pillow. “If you want to stand guard at my front door, feel free. But my daughter is staying with me. I have the best state-of-the-art security?—”

“I’m sure you do, but you’re not a trained Navy SEAL. I am.” Keaton rarely puffed out his chest or used his career to get what he wanted. It was even rarer that he ever needed to do it. “And while what is available on the open market is good, really good, what I have access to is ten times better. It’s been tested by the FBI, the DEA, the ATF, and the highest levels in the Department of Defense. You’ve never seen anything like it. My place might not be a mansion, but it’ll keep you and Trinity safe. I can guarantee that.”

“You’re inviting me to come stay with you?” Monty folded his arms across his chest.

“I know that where she goes, you plan on being at her side, so yeah.” Keaton nodded, holding Monty’s painful glare. “My place has two bedrooms. We’ll manage.”

Monty chuckled. “You don’t know my child very well if you think a two-bedroom home is going to serve?— ”

“Daddy, stop it,” Trinity said. “Keaton, does it have to be your place? Can’t we make my house safe?”

“I’m sorry, but no. It’s too big, with too many weak spots—too many exits and entrances. If I had more time to set something up, maybe, but right now, it’s got to be my house. I know it’s small, but?—”

“We’ll make it work.” She took his hand and squeezed before shifting her gaze. “Dad, please stop giving Keaton a hard time. He’s only trying to help, and he’s a lot more qualified than either of us.”

Monty glanced toward the ceiling. “How concerned do I need to be for my own safety?”

“I don’t know,” Keaton answered honestly. “But I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to stay alone in your house. I suspect whoever is after Trinity, and what they think she may have found, won’t think twice about coming after you to get to her. Considering what happened, I wouldn’t put it past whoever came after her to do that.”

“Why not announce that Dawson has the Flying Victoria jewels?” Monty asked. “Wouldn’t that stop them from coming after my little girl?”

“Now that she’s awake, and we know what happened, Dawson may want to do that.” Keaton nodded. “Lord knows I want to do whatever will ensure hers and your safety. But that doesn’t mean they won’t stop trying to kill her for what they think she knows.”

“But I don’t know anything,” she said with a tremble in her voice.

God, he hated that her normally confident self had taken a back seat to this scared person. He understood trauma. He’d had his own battles with PTSD over the years. Those demons didn’t vanish. They didn’t disappear. They lurked in the shadows of his mind and occasionally reared their ugly heads. It would take time for her to work through what had happened. To feel safe again. To regain that confidence she’d carried around like a badge of honor.

But he had no doubt she’d get there. She was strong. Stronger than most.

“I didn’t see them. They both wore masks. I can’t even remember what they sounded like. It all happened so fast.” Tears sprang from her eyes like a raging river.

Her father wiped them away, holding her tight.

“That’s just it.” Keaton rolled his neck. A million things raced through his brain, and he resented where they went. He knew Dawson was thinking the same thing. “They have no idea what you know or don’t know.”

“They know Mallary and I found the jewels,” Trinity said.

“But they don’t know for sure you have them.” Keaton arched a brow. “Knowing Dawson the way I do, he might want to keep a lid on things to draw the bad guys out.”

“You mean use my little girl as bait?” Monty stood. He inched closer.

Keaton wasn’t afraid of most men, but Monty scared the shit out of him. “Not her, the jewels.”

“That’s semantics, son. And you know it.” Monty glared.

He sure did, and just saying it left a bitter taste in his mouth. “That may be true. However, it’s also not my call.”

“But you’ll stand by your friend, even though you claim to care about my daughter.” Monty folded his arms. His eyes turned into narrow slits that shot spiked daggers right at Keaton’s heart.

“I do care about her, and I will protect her.” He held up a hand, hoping it didn’t tremble. “Based on everything I know so far about what happened, and the fact they sent some asshole in here to kill her, I wouldn’t be surprised if they have Mallary and?—”

“You think Mallary is still alive?” Trinity bolted to a sitting position. She groaned, clutching her shoulder.

Her father rushed to her side.

Keaton raced to the other side of the bed, leaning his hip on the mattress. Gently, he rested his hand on her thigh and held her gaze. “I don’t know. But it’s possible. Again, she could be used as leverage to get to you and the jewels. Our first order of business needs to be to get you to a safe place. Then, Dawson and the rest of us will devise the best plan to catch the bad guys. It’s not our first rodeo.”

“No offense, but you’re not a cop,” Monty said. “I respect the hell out of your previous profession, and I will gladly take your help protecting my child, but going after these guys? Seriously?”

Ripping his gaze from Trinity, he shifted it to her father. “We helped Dawson take down Paul Massey and his special band of idiots. I don’t say this to be cocky, but that operation wouldn’t have gone down the way it did without us. Besides, Dawson won’t do anything without careful consideration. He has not only Trinity and Mallary to think about but also all of Calusa Cove. If it makes sense to act as if the jewels of the Flying Victoria were once again lost to the sea, then that’s what we will do.”

“Daddy,” Trinity said softly.

“Yeah, princess?” Monty brushed her cheek much like he used to when she’d been a little girl.

“While sometimes Keaton’s delivery is god-awful, and he acts like a chest-pounding gorilla, Dawson’s an excellent chief of police. We need to do whatever he and his friends think is best.”

Keaton ran his fingers through his hair. “I’m not that bad,” he muttered.

“Yes, you are,” both father and daughter said simultaneously.

“I wouldn’t want to get in the way of police business.” Monty crooked his finger. “But I’m going to be in your face every step of the way.”

“I would expect nothing less.” Keaton swallowed. When he became a parent… no, if… no… What the hell? He couldn’t think straight when he was around Trinity. There was no if—or when—but he could appreciate how much Monty wanted to protect his daughter.

Keaton would die before he let anything happen to her…again.