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Which is why you ll be watching us.

Noah smiled. Talk about cat and mouse.

Yeah, but I ve got to get to Charlene s house before Renault heads over there.

I m on it.

Just don t get caught speeding again.

Just have your badge handy.

Halfway there, they saw flashing lights following behind Noah s vehicle.

Damn, Ethan said. We can t get a break.

There must be a speed trap in here. Noah pulled over onto the shoulder and parked.

The patrolmen waited in his car, probably calling in the plate number.

Hell, this is going to take forever, Noah said.

The cost of being in a hurry.

The patrolman walked up to their car and said, Hey, it s you two again. Do you need our help?

It was the same officer—Jenkins.

We re still undercover but we ve got a situation. We need to return to the homeowner s house immediately, Ethan said.

Did you call up reinforcements? the patrolman asked.

Yes, bodyguards, so she s safe, but we have a problem. Hey, how about you give me a lift to the house? Ethan asked, thinking that might be the way to resolve the conundrum.

Oh, that s a great idea, Noah said. Then he won t chance seeing me. I ll be on the lookout for you while you head out with him and follow you without him seeing me.

Is that all right with you? Ethan asked the patrolman.

Jenkins appeared to be eager to do that, since it was more interesting than stopping speeders and ticketing them. Yes, sir.

Thanks so much, Ethan said.

Good luck, Noah said to Ethan.

Keep me safe, Ethan said to him in return. To Jenkins, Ethan said, No word to anyone about this. We don t want the wrong people to learn of it or we ll all be dead.

No, sir. The patrolman hurried back to his car and Ethan went with him.

Ethan called Charlene once he was in the car. Tell everyone I m on my way back to the house. We have a change of plans. An urgent one. Renault is coming to the house to pick me up so I can go with him on a stakeout.

No. What if it s an ambush? Charlene asked, sounding worried.

Noah s backing me up.

He d better keep you safe or else.

I know. I ll have the patrolman, Jenkins, drop me off at the woods before I reach the house.

I ll slip in through the back door, just in case Renault shows up before I do.

We —Ethan smiled at the patrolman— got stopped for speeding again.

Maybe I can get something out of Renault to learn what s really going on.

Okay, I m telling everyone now, Charlene said.

***

Charlene was already dressed and hurried out of the bedroom to speak with the men guarding the house. Ethan s coming through the woods. Don t show yourselves. Renault is coming to get him to conduct surveillance with him.

Hell, no. What if Renault s working for Kroner? Josh asked.

Noah s supposed to be watching his back.

I m going too. I ll call Noah to have him pick me up. Josh called Noah then. Hey, this is Josh Wilding. I m going with you. He glanced at the others in the house. All right. I ll meet you in the woods. Then he took off through the back door.

Maverick, his brother, said, Josh will keep Ethan safe. They used to work together on cases when they had wolf situations to take care of and also when the police had to supplement the DEA missions.

I m glad Ethan has someone else to watch over him, Charlene said.

Then Charlene got a call from Ethan. I m nearly to the house, he said.

Josh is going with Noah, Charlene told him.

Okay, I see him in the woods coming toward me, Ethan said to her. Hey, Josh, thanks a million.

You bet, Josh said.

Then she heard a car pull up in the drive. Renault is here now, Ethan.

Tell the guys there that Renault can t see anyone in the house. Delay Renault if you have to, Ethan said.

I will. God, what a mess. She couldn t believe how topsy-turvy everything was. She ended the call and went to the door while the other men slipped off to one of the rooms, but they kept the door open to listen in case she was in trouble and they would come to her aid.

Just as she was about to open the door to Renault s knock, Ethan came in through the back door. I ll get it. You return to bed like you had been sleeping.

No way. She gave Ethan a quick hug and kiss. I ll get you a thermos of coffee like I love you and got up with you before you went off to war. Charlene headed into the kitchen and started to make some coffee.

Ethan smiled. I love you. Then he answered the door. I ll be out in a moment, Renault.

Okay, I ll wait for you in the car. Renault returned to his car and Ethan shut the door.

Ethan embraced Charlene and kissed her much longer and deeper this time.

If he tries to hurt you or is in league with the ones who want you dead, I will end him myself, Charlene promised.

You won t need to. I ll take care of him. Love you, honey. I ll be back soon, hopefully with some good news.

Take care, Ethan. Love you back.

I will. You do the same.

She poured fresh coffee into a thermos for him while he took a bathroom break, then came back for another hug and kiss and the coffee. I ll see you.

Soon, hopefully.

Ethan hurried out of the house and Charlene locked the door. She knew Noah and Josh would try to take down Renault and Kroner and Oakley if they could while protecting Ethan. But she called Noah just to reassure herself. Don t lose sight of Ethan.