Harmony's Way (21 page)

She pulled the Raider to a stop as she watched the young men play, laughter and teasing insults drifting to her.

“Hey, man, that was just a sissy throw,” one youth laughed as he caught the ball. “Let me show you how it’s done.”

He fumbled the ball, to the delight of his friends and the one who stole it from his hands.

“Man. That is so wrong.” Laughter, happiness.

Death had no place here, but Harmony could feel the peace of it wrapping around her. She leaned against the steering wheel, watching the game, a smile pulling at her lips as the boys postured and groaned, grunted and playfully struggled as all young men do when challenging one another.

It wasn’t much different than the young male cubs at the labs, she realized. There had been moments between training sessions when they were allowed to rest beneath the warmth of the sun as a gentle breeze played around them. And they had laughed, teased one another and tested their strength. And sometimes they hadn’t been punished for it.

She sighed as she rested her chin against the hands that gripped the steering wheel. She had never played. She had never laughed and tested herself in such a teasing way.

“Unit four, is everything okay?” Lenny, the eagle eye watching the unit displays at the office, came over the communications link in the dash.

“Just watching a game, Lenny,” she reported as she straightened in her seat. “The boys are out at the community court.”

“They’re too young for you, Deputy.” Lance’s teasing voice replaced Lenny’s.

Harmony smiled, though she found she wanted to laugh.

“That’s affirmative, Sheriff,” she drawled, for once, refusing to fight the warmth rising inside her.

She couldn’t fight him. She had known last night that her own personal battle to deny the bonding between them was over.

“I’m heading out,” she reported. “So far everything’s quiet. Is it ever
not
quiet?”

“Oh, we have the occasional fire, fistfight and rocking family dispute,” Lance assured her. “They save most of them for the weekends though.”

She shook her head. She had answered a call to an attempted burglary that turned out to be a raccoon, and a dispute between a would-be Lothario and the parents of the young girl he was courting. Not that there hadn’t been trouble in other areas, just not in her area. Yet.

“I’m going to finish my round then head in. Reports.” She grimaced at the paperwork waiting for her back at the office. “Maybe I should try meter maid tomorrow. I bet they don’t fill out paperwork.”

“You’d be surprised.” Lance chuckled. “See you when you get in. Control out.”

“Unit four out.” She pulled the Raider back onto the street and completed her area before turning and heading back to the Sheriff’s Department.

It had been a reasonably quiet night, so it didn’t really surprise her to see Dane step from the shadows at the side of the building as she moved from the Raider.

He leaned against the corner of the building, uncaring who might see him, his expression thoughtful as he watched her. For a moment she considered ignoring him. She should ignore him, she thought in frustration; she wasn’t in the mood for him, or Jonas.

Narrowing her eyes, she stared around the parking lot before moving quickly toward the darker area where he awaited her.

“What are you doing here?” She stepped into the shadows, stilling immediately as she realized he hadn’t come alone.

“It’s time to pull you out, Harmony.” His voice was dark, edged with dominance. “It’s time to go.”

She jerked back as he reached for her.

“Like hell,” she hissed, her hand settling on the butt of her weapon as she kept him and Ryan, his partner, within sight. “I’m not going anywhere with you, Dane. I told you that.”

“Even if it means your life?” he bit out. “Listen to me, Harmony, you don’t want what’s going to come down here. And I don’t have time to break you out of a fucking cell again. Now, let’s go before that sheriff of yours comes looking for you.”

“What’s coming down, Dane?” She moved when Ryan shifted as though to get behind her. “Ryan, stay where the hell you are. Don’t make me fight you.”

Both men stilled then. Ryan wasn’t as tall as Dane, but he was muscular and quick. Short, dark brown hair framed his sun-darkened face, and pale blue eyes watched her carefully.

“You’ve never questioned me before,” Dane mused. “When I’ve come to take you away from trouble, you’ve always followed me.”

“I always understood the trouble you were taking me away from. I’m not in any trouble yet, Dane.” And he had always been there.

“It’s coming, Harmony.” He sighed. “You know it as well as I do.”

“Then maybe you can tell me what to look for,” she suggested softly. “And while you’re at it, why have you always done it?”

“Done what?” His gaze narrowed on her thoughtfully.

“Why you’ve always gotten me out of trouble. How you’ve always known I was in trouble. How do you track me, Dane?”

His lips quirked slowly. “I’m intuitive.”

“You’re full of shit.” She should have thought of it before. “How do you know?”

“Let’s just say I have certain contacts.” He finally shrugged. “Enough contacts to know that after that killing a few days ago, Alonzo is going to try to pin Death to your name.”

“He has no proof.”

“Harmony, you’re risking your sheriff’s life…”

“I can’t leave him, Dane,” she snapped. “You don’t understand.”

“Do you think I don’t know you’ve mated the son of a bitch?” He snarled then. “For God’s sake, Harmony. Why didn’t you let me take you out when I tried the first time?”

“It was too late.” She shook her head furiously. “And it doesn’t matter now. I can’t run anymore. I’m tired of running.”

He stared at her silently, frustration marking his face as their gazes clashed.

“I don’t want to force you to leave, Harmony.” He sighed again. “But I will.”

She stepped back. “Why?”

He grimaced tightly. “Isn’t it enough that I care about you?” he questioned roughly. “Watching you commit suicide is a pain in the ass.”

“Not good enough.” Her hand tightened on her weapon.

“Goddammit, it’s going to be enough though.”

She jumped to the side as he moved, placing herself clearly into the well-lit parking lot as he stilled in the shadows.

“It’s not enough. Try to force me and you’ll make an enemy of me, Dane. Don’t do that. For both our sakes.” Turning, she stalked to the entrance, her heart leaping to her throat as Lance stepped from the wide doors, his hand on the weapon at his side, his body tense, prepared.

She could smell the danger surrounding him, the determination as he strode down the steps, gripped her arm without a word and began to move her toward the entrance.

“Lance…”

“Lie to me and I’ll tan your hide,” he snapped. “Get into my office and, by God, explanations are due.”

———

Dane ground his teeth together at the sound of the sheriff’s voice, before motioning Ryan through the shadows of the adjoining park.

No sooner had they moved from the side of the building than two deputies rounded a corner as overhead lights flared on.

The sheriff was a cautious man, and a damned uncanny one at that. How could he have suspected?

Sliding through the shadows, he and Ryan made their way back to the dark SUV parked on the opposite block.

“What now?” Ryan asked as they closed the doors behind them.

“Hell!” Dane clenched the steering wheel as frustration ate at him. “She’s never disobeyed me like this.”

She would have left immediately at any other time.

“The mating is strong,” Ryan murmured. “You can smell him all over her. It’s even changed her scent.”

“It’s going to get her killed.” He started the SUV, slid it into gear and pulled silently into the street before turning the headlights on. “That killing in Pinon was just a warning.”

“Should we call the old man?”

Dane growled. “Do that and we’ll end up with a war here. He’s fond of the girl, Rye, you know that.”

“He’ll kick your ass if she gets hurt,” Ryan pointed out.

That wasn’t an understatement.

“Shit. We’ll take turns and keep an eye on her.” He shook his head in resignation. “I knew I shouldn’t have taken her home that time. Big, big mistake.”

Unfortunately, it had been take her home or let her die. Letting her die hadn’t been an option.

“Why not just ask her for the files and be done with it?” Ryan suggested. “Tell her the truth.”

Dane shook his head. “She won’t give those files up that easily. Besides, it wouldn’t save her life. She has the information in her head as well. And Jonas knows it. What Jonas knows, that fucking spy in Sanctuary knows. I’ll drop you off at the hotel and pull duty tonight. Let’s just hope we can take care of this fast; otherwise the old man just might decide to check it out himself anyway.”

That situation was seriously getting on his nerves. If it weren’t for the danger Harmony was in at present, he would clean house there himself. He just might do it anyway once this little job was over. His father was getting riled, and when the old man got worked up, his mother wasn’t far behind. And in her condition, that wasn’t good for any of them.

One of these days, Dane promised himself, Jonas was going to have quite a bit to answer for.

CHAPTER 16

What the hell was going on?

Harmony allowed Lance to retain his hold on her as they entered his office, turning to face him as the door slammed shut behind him.

“You have reports to finish.” His voice was hard, simmering with anger. “Get them done so we can head home.”

“Lance…”

“Get.” The sudden finger he raised, the chastisement of whatever she was going to say had her eyes widening as she stared back at him.

“What…”

“Reports.” His tone was dark, dominant.

A frown snapped between her brows. She would be damned if she was going to let this attitude continue.

“Argue with me right now, and I promise you, that spanking I keep threatening you with is going to happen.” His face was suddenly in hers, his nose almost touching hers. “Until the sheer terror evaporates from my system from whatever the
fuck
was going on out there, then I’d suggest you tread lightly.”

“I was going to tell you…”

“I heard enough!” He stomped away from her, his shoulders stiff, every line of his body radiating rage. “For God’s sake, Harmony.” He turned back to her as he raked his fingers through his hair in frustration. “Just do the damned reports.”

The words were pushed between clenched teeth as anger sizzled in the air between them. What had he heard? And why was he so furious?

“You know, Lance, the alpha thing is a real turn-on,” she pointed out. And it was. She was getting wet, fast. “But to be perfectly honest, you are overreacting. I was going to tell you…”

“What?” His voice rasped like dark velvet. “That you were in serious danger of being taken from me?” It was obvious he was holding onto his control by a thread. “That whatever or whoever you decided to secretly meet with was within seconds of hurting you?”

Her eyes widened. “Dane wouldn’t hurt me.”

“Dane!” His lips were clenched as he leaned them on the desk, staring across it as a thread of jealousy stole into his voice. “Let me guess. The same man who’s rescued you for the past ten years? The one who keeps a close enough eye on you that he steals you from beneath Coyotes’ noses with an inch of your life to spare?”

Her brows arched. “Yeah, that’s the one,” she answered mockingly. “Should I also point out he’s the one who saved my life, countless times…”

“The same one who was within seconds of kidnapping your ass,” he snarled.

“I wouldn’t let that happen…”

“This time, you couldn’t have stopped it.” His jaw bunched as she watched him forcibly restrain himself from saying more. “Go do the damned reports, Harmony. Now. Please.”

She inhaled slowly.

“I’m a big girl, Lance,” she said slowly. “I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time.”

“Yes, you have.” He nodded shortly as he straightened. “And several times those bastards hunting you have damned near killed you. Until I can get a handle on the sheer terror clenching my balls right now, then I’d suggest you drop this subject.”

He was impossible.

“Fine.” She waved her hand dismissively as she turned her back on him and headed to her office. “I’ll go do the damned reports. But later, I’m going to kick your ass for being so stubborn.”

He was stubborn? Lance stared at her retreating back in amazement. She had the nerve to call him stubborn? The woman could have written the book on stubborn.

Breathing in roughly, he sat down in his chair, staring at the closed door in disbelief. She had no idea how close she’d come to being taken. Within seconds. He could still remember the imperative cry that suddenly filled the air, making his knees weak as the sound of danger, of Harmony’s absence, began to shriek through his mind.

If she resists, we’ll take her
… The hard voice had drifted past his ears as he came out of his chair.
Knock her out and we’ll have her on the heli-jet before she awakens
.

It was the first time in his life that actual words had whispered past his ear as the air called to him. She had no idea the danger she had been in. The man who had rescued her for ten years was now intent on taking her.

Why?

He rose from his chair and paced the office, pausing at the window and staring into the dark landscape of the park beyond.

The side of the department was now well lit, something Lance rarely bothered with unless there was an event in the park itself. The lights from the park illuminated the area enough for safety’s sake, but there were still shadows to hide within. Shadows that suddenly seemed ominous.

He braced his hands on the window frame as he stared into them, searching for answers, for movement. He should have let her explain, but he’d be damned if he could handle her confidence in the unknown Dane right now.

She was smart, and she was damned tough. But that bastard had been her savior for too many years. That kind of relationship built a trust that could so easily be used against her.