Page 153 of Snowbound Threat

My already frustrated mood darkens further. What he can’t know is that we have a solid lead now. One that might lead us to actual answers. Unfortunately, to get those answers, we have to walk right into a den of wolves who wouldn’t hesitate to devour both of us if they were to discover I carry a badge. Then there’sthe risk to Beckett. If Creed is the one who sent someone after her in that hotel room, then going there is literally handing her over to them.

I’ll be walking her in, and neither of us will ever walk out again.

“Everything okay?” Beckett asks.

“They don’t have any idea who attacked you.”

“I’m not surprised. Especially if it’s linked to Lucian Creed.”

“Which is why you shouldn’t go into that airfield,” I growl. It’s a repeat from our earlier argument. One where she reminded me of the stubborn streak I found so frustrating when we first met. “If they are the ones who sent people after you, they’re going to recognize you.”

“I’m going,” she says. “I understand the risk.”

“Do you?” I snap, taking a step closer to her. “Because if we walk in there and he ID’s you, then we’rebothdead.”

She tilts her face up at me, jaw set, dark eyes narrowed. “Then you don’t have to go. You stay behind. I want answers.”

“That will get you killed!” I yell, unable to keep my temper at bay any longer. How can she not see how foolish this is?

Beckett flinches and takes a deep breath. “I’m not asking you to risk your life for me, Shawn. But this is theonlylead we have. So, we either follow it, or I give up.” Her voice breaks at the end, and all of the frustration in me vanishes.

If it were me in her shoes, I wouldn’t give up, either.

And the truth is: It’s not my life I’m worried about—it’s hers.

“It’s not the only lead we have. We have the flight logs. At the bare minimum, we know they’re missing information. At most, they’re completely false.”

“That picture puts him on that airfield,” she argues. “You and I both know that’s the better lead. Especially if it all ties together.”

I hate that she’s right.

“We have to be smart here. If they recognize you, we may not be walking out of there.”

“Then what do you suggest? You’ve been undercover before.”

“Many times.” I let out a sigh as I run my hand through my hair. “There was never a risk of me being recognized, though. And I had an entire police force ready to back me up should things go sideways. We don’t have that, and it’s not exactly like you’re forgettable.”

She arches a dark brow. “Oh?”

Heat climbs up my neck. “Bold red lipstick? Not many women wear that into a courtroom. Or at all, for that matter.”

Her gaze remains on mine, and I’m unable to tear my attention away as the seconds continue to tick by.

She’s the one to break the connection. “Look. We don’t even know for certain that he’s the one who sent someone after me—” She holds up a hand when I open my mouth to speak. “All signs point to yes, but we don’t know for sure. Andmaybeif we go, we can find something that explains everything.”

She’s desperate to prove her husband wasn’t a criminal. And at this point, I think it’s more about finding outwhyhe lied to her than anything else. But this truth isn’t worth her life. Not when she could still live a happy life if she only leaves it alone.

Or we could both get killed.

In a normal investigation, I’d at least take backup with me. But since I don’t have enough to take it to my captain and insist the case get reopened, we’re on our own.

She won’t leave this alone.

So, with or without me, she’s walking into that club. And I’d rather die alongside her than live knowing she died because I let her go in there alone.

“Fine. But we do this my way or not at all.”

13.Beckett