I reluctantly handed my phone to Mason, and he pulled me into a tight embrace.

I desperately wanted him to come with me. I was terrified and Mason was the only one who could give me any kind of reassurance. But I also didn’t want to be selfish. What if he lost his job over me? I had caught enough of their conversation to figure out that Chief Deputy Dimler thought it was a possibility. I couldn’t do that to Mason.

I leaned back and cupped his cheek, looking into his eyes. “It’s okay. I’ll be fine.”

“I have a really bad feeling about this, Rose.”

My mouth lifted in a half-smile. “I do too. But Jeff is right. There’s no need for you to sit around doin’ nothing with me. Besides,” I glanced over at the deputy “that’s what the sheriff’s deputies are trained to do. Protect people.” It didn’t seem like a good time to remind him that I’d been kidnapped from the sheriff’s office a month ago right under their noses.

“I’ll come see you as soon as I can.”

“Mason,” Jeff groaned. “You know we’ll need to limit outside contact.”

His face reddened with anger. Before he could open his mouth, I grabbed his shoulders and stood on tiptoes so I could look him in the eye. “Just do your part and help me come home,” I whispered. “To you.”

Mason pulled me into the kitchen and kissed me with a ferocity that surprised me. I clung to him, scared to death to go into hiding without him, but I didn’t have a choice. Instead, I absorbed as much strength from him as I could.

“Be careful,” he murmured, searching my eyes. “Do what they say and don’t put yourself in unnecessary danger.”

“You too,” I said, tears burning my eyes.

Alarm spread across his face when he saw a tear fall down my cheek.

“I’m fine.” I pulled away from him and walked toward the chief deputy. “I’m ready.” If I didn’t leave now, I’d change my mind and beg Mason to come with me. And I knew I’d always regret that.

“Rose,” Mason called out from behind me, but I ignored him as I followed Jeff to the door.

The deputy’s phone rang and he scowled when he looked at the caller ID. “Wait here,” Jeff said. He ducked outside, closing the door behind him.

I sniffed, hoping I could hold it together long enough to get out of the house.

Mason pressed his chest to mine, pushing me backward until my back was against the wall. His mouth devoured mine, working me into a frenzy of desire and need. “I’ll see you tonight,” he whispered in my ear. “I’ll find a way to get to you.”

“I don’t want you to get into any trouble, Mason.”

“Don’t worry about me. Just worry about you.”

“Will you call Neely Kate and let her know? She’ll be so worried. And Jonah?”

His face softened. “Of course.”

“And check on Muffy.” My voice broke. “I’m sure she’ll be fine with Violet, but I forgot to ask about her, and—”

He grabbed my hand and lifted it to his mouth, kissing my knuckles. “I know how much she means to you. I’ll make sure she’s okay.”

“Thank you.”

The door opened again and Jeff poked his head through the crack. “Okay, we’re ready.”

Mason opened my hand and placed another kiss in my palm. “I’ll see you soon.”

I leaned into him and murmured against his lips, “I’m counting on it.” Forcing myself to step away, I followed Jeff out the door.

“Rose, why don’t you ride in the back and I’ll have you duck down as we drive through downtown Henryetta, okay?”

I nodded and slid into the back of his unmarked car.

Jeff climbed behind the wheel and started the engine while I watched Mason stand there in his doorway. Our eyes locked and we stared at each other, both of our faces expressionless, while Jeff backed out of the driveway. As he drove down the street, I turned to watch Mason grow smaller and smaller. And when he disappeared completely, I swallowed a sob.

I had never felt so alone in my life.

Chapter Eleven

I took several deep breaths to keep from breaking down and embarrassing myself in the back of Chief Deputy Dimler’s car.

“Rough morning, huh?” he asked.

My gaze strayed up to the rearview mirror and found him looking back at me. “Yeah.”

“Mason seems very attached to you. How long have you been dating?”

He’d already asked Mason that inside, so why was he asking me? Who knew how far the safe house was, maybe it was far enough that he wanted to pass the time with conversation. “Our relationship is…complicated.” Just like the rest of my life.

He laughed. “People say that, but either someone’s worth fighting for or they’re not. Nothing so complicated about that.”

It was a presumptuous thing to say, but he had a good point. “Are you married, Chief Deputy Dimler?”

He looked over his shoulder with a grin. “If you’re a good friend of Mason’s, we’re past the formal stage. Call me Jeff.” He turned back to look in the rearview mirror.

I looked behind us, too, and noticed that the unmarked police car that had been parked in front of Mason’s house was trailing us.

“And yep, married with three kids. Expensive little buggers.” He paused. “Funny that Mason has never mentioned you to me before—other than professionally, of course.”