Page 25

TWENTY-ONE

Morning light streamed through the blinds on the hospital window, forming shadows across Owen’s small form in the tiny crib. He slept peacefully, Ellie holding his hand. Her eyes had finally drifted shut. Long lashes rested against her cheeks, hollowed out by worry and stress.

Last night had been a harrowing ordeal filled with questions from the doctors, medical tests, and medications.

Owen’s mild respiratory infection had escalated into something more serious, which had the potential to create complications due to his heart condition, but the doctors were hopeful antibiotics would halt the progression.

Daniel removed a blanket from the closet in the corner of the room. Careful not to wake Ellie, he gently unfolded it before covering her slender form.

Her eyes cracked open. “Owen…”

“He’s sleeping. You should too.” Daniel bent and kissed her forehead, the wound on his leg pulling painfully with the movement. “I’ll keep watch.”

They’d admitted Owen under a pseudonym at the hospital, and so far, it seemed to have worked. There was no sign of the Iron Fist or any of Tobias’s men. But Daniel wouldn’t let down his guard.

Ellie’s eyes drifted shut again. Daniel drew back, his attention lingering on her and Owen.

A heady wave of protectiveness and tenderness washed through him.

He’d walk through fire for this woman and her little boy.

If Daniel had any doubts about his feelings, this incident had dissolved them.

There was no going back. No walking away.

He feared failing Ellie and Owen, but somehow, the thought of losing them had become far more terrifying.

A faint knock on the door immediately commanded his attention.

Daniel's hand automatically went to the holstered weapon at his hip.

He quickly moved to the window and peeked through the blinds covering the glass window that separated their room from the nurses' station.

The tension immediately eased from his stance. It was Jackson.

Daniel opened the door and slipped out into the hallway. “Ellie and Owen are sleeping.”

Jackson lifted the tray of coffees in his hand. The other held a bakery box. “I brought breakfast. Kolaches and donuts. There’s an assortment, since I wasn’t sure what Ellie liked.”

Daniel’s stomach rumbled. They sorted out what they wanted, and then he set the rest of the pastries, along with Ellie’s coffee, inside the room. He rejoined Jackson in the hall. The coffee was rich and dark, the caffeine working wonders on his sluggish brain. “Thanks for the breakfast.”

“It’s nothing.” Jackson sipped his own coffee. “How’s Owen?”

“The infection is under control. They’re just monitoring him now to make sure he doesn’t have any complications.” Daniel scarfed down the kolache in three bites before wiping his mouth with a napkin. “What’s happening with the case?”

“I have two things to share. First, a confidential informant reached out to Jonah with the news that Tobias is dead. Gideon’s enforcer killed him two days ago. We haven’t been able to independently verify the info, but it could explain why there haven’t been any new attempts to kidnap Owen.”

Daniel breathed out. “I know it’s not Christian to wish for a man’s death, but…. I’ll be honest, I hope that’s true.”

“No one would blame you.” Jackson leaned his shoulder against the wall and lowered his voice.

“I quietly looked into James Callahan and Vincent Maddox. Callahan’s record is spotless.

Maddox has a clean record too, but there’s something…

odd. A personal bank account in Maddox’s name had large sums going in and out over the last year.

Nothing obviously illegal—the money could be explained in thousands of ways—but it’s enough to raise questions about where it’s coming from. ”

Daniel’s brows knitted. “The account’s only been in operation for the last year?”

“Yeah. Opened thirteen months ago.” Jackson sipped his coffee.

“If Maddox is the mole, then he’s been working for the Iron Fist a lot longer than that.

It’s partially why I’m not sure this implicates him.

Not to mention, an FBI agent of Maddox’s caliber would be smart enough to have an off-shore account for any kickbacks he was paid. ”

Jackson had a point. Daniel rocked back on his heels and kept his voice pitched low. “Can you trace the money?”

“Working on it. Since Maddox is with the FBI, we have to tread carefully. I don’t want him to catch wind of what we’re doing.

Jonah is tracking down people who Lena spoke with in the days before she was murdered, but most of them won’t talk.

They’re either part of the Iron Fist or terrified of Gideon.

We haven’t made any progress on uncovering where she may have hidden the evidence. ”

“Lena left those messages for Ellie. She was smart enough to put the evidence someplace only Ellie could find it.” Daniel downed the last of his coffee. “Now that Owen is out of the woods, maybe she and I can brainstorm together and come up with some new ideas on where to look.”

Jackson nodded. “Keep us updated. And call if Owen gets discharged. Someone will escort y’all back to the ranch.”

“Will do.”

Hours later, as the sun hit high noon, Daniel breathed a sigh of relief as his Explorer rumbled over the cattle guard at the entrance to his family ranch.

Ellie, looking refreshed from her brief nap and a lot of coffee, was seated in the back next to Owen, who was playing with his stuffed dog, Scout.

The antibiotics had worked wonders. Owen’s temperature was back to normal, and from the constant babbling, he was back to his normal cheerful self. It was a relief to hear him so happy.

Behind them, Jonah drove his own state vehicle. Still no sign of the Iron Fist, but it was only a matter of time before they made their next move. Daniel had taken a circuitous route back to the ranch to ensure they weren’t being followed.

“Mom texted to say she made pulled pork for lunch.” Daniel glanced in the rearview mirror and caught Ellie’s eye. “And peach cobbler.”

She made a noise of satisfaction. “I’m gonna go into a food coma after I eat.” Ellie’s brow furrowed in the cutest way. “You must be exhausted too. Sugar and caffeine can only keep you going for so long. We should both take a nap. Then we can work on figuring out where Lena left the evidence.”

“Good plan.” Daniel’s phone beeped with an incoming text from Cole. He scanned it. “Looks like lunch and our nap will have to wait. Chief O’Neal just arrived at the house with Owen’s social worker. They want to speak to you.”

“It’s probably a surprise home check.” Ellie groaned and lightly smacked her forehead. “I didn’t tell Maggie that Owen was sick. She’s gonna lecture me about that.”

“Well, she shouldn’t.” Daniel could feel his blood starting to heat as he parked his Explorer in his usual spot.

A Silver Creek patrol car sat next to a ten-year-old Honda with peeling red paint.

He killed the engine. “The doctor said that your quick actions saved Owen from spending days in the hospital, hooked up to IV antibiotics. She should thank you for being such a conscientious mom. No one would take better care of this boy than you do.”

Ellie’s belt clicked open, and then her hand was on his shoulder. “Thank you, Daniel. For everything.”

He turned and their gazes met. Warmth and admiration emanated from her gorgeous eyes.

They were captivating… her eyes. When guarded, they were a hard and unyielding steel gray.

But once those protections were down, the color shifted into a lighter blue, closer to a summer sky just before a storm broke. His breath hitched.

“There’s nothing to thank me for, El. I’m glad I could be there for you.” His attention shifted to little Owen in the car seat. “For both of you.”

Movement on the front porch broke the sweet moment as Chief O’Neal emerged from the house.

His hangdog expression was haunted, and he looked stricken at the sight of Ellie holding Owen close as she climbed the steps.

Daniel immediately placed a hand on the small of Ellie’s back.

Her muscles were tense. She also sensed something wasn’t right.

Roy held out a hand, silently asking Daniel to stay put.

The screen door slammed shut as Ellie entered the house.

“I need you to know that I tried to stop this.”

Daniel’s heart leaped into his throat. “Stop what?” He didn’t bother waiting for a reply, but hurried into the house.

Maggie Lyons, the social worker, stood in the living room dressed in sensible heels and a summer suit.

Cole glowered, one hand resting reassuringly on Marta’s shoulder as she sat in the armchair weeping.

Jinx, sensing his owner’s sadness, was leaning against her leg, his dark brown eyes filled with worry.

Ellie’s expression was pale as she held Owen closer. “There’s an explanation.”

“Is there?” Maggie’s mouth was flattened into a hard line.

“Then I’d love to hear it, Miss Brooks. Or should I call you Miss Conway?

” She tossed a printout on the coffee table.

A copy of a Texas state driver’s license for Elizabeth Conway.

The photo was five years old, but there was no denying that it was Ellie.

“Do you have an identical twin sister I know nothing about?”

Daniel stepped forward, his anger sparking hot and fast. “There’s no need to be sarcastic, Mrs. Lyons. Ellie is right. There’s a reasonable explanation for what’s going on. What I’m more interested in knowing is how your office found out about her name change.”