Protect And Serve. Terri Reed

be affected and you seemingly aren’t?”

      She shrugged. “Even non-twin siblings have a ten-percent chance of developing the same disorders.”

      “That’s a pretty low percentage. Chances are you’ll never suffer the same fate.”

      She wished she could count on his words to be true. “But there is still a chance. No one can make any guarantees one way or the other.”

      “One of God’s many mysteries.”

      She met his gaze, expecting to see wariness, pity even. Instead, his expression was open and sincere.

      “I often wonder why God chose to afflict Tim,” she told him. “Dad would say God never made mistakes and that, for reasons we may never know, God made Tim the way he is for a purpose.” She couldn’t keep the bitterness out of her tone. “I love my brother but I fear him, and have for as long as I can remember. Maybe I inherently knew something wasn’t right with him. As for a purpose? That I can’t wrap my mind around.”

      “I agree with your dad. God has a purpose for Tim. For you. I don’t know what that purpose is, but He does have one. You have to trust Him.”

      She cocked her head and studied Shane. She hadn’t realized he was a believer. But then again, it wasn’t something they’d had reason to discuss during class, and she’d been very careful to keep things work-focused despite how much she wanted to spend time with him outside class. “My dad would have liked you.”

      The green of his eyes was highlighted by the firelight. “I wish I’d had the chance to meet him.”

      So did she. A wave of sadness washed over her. She missed her dad so much.

      Bella jumped to her feet, her ears back. She let out a loud bark.

      A shaft of anxiety tore through Gina. “What’s wrong with her?”

      Shane rose. “I don’t know.”

      They heard scratching and a long howl. Hawk. James opened his bedroom door. The bloodhound raced through the living room and halted at the sliding glass patio door. Bella joined Hawk, her deep growl ricocheting off the condo’s high ceiling. James came into the living room wearing sweats and a T-shirt, his expression sharp with concern and his service weapon in his hand.

      From her bedroom, the puppies’ excited barks rang out. Even the pups sensed danger. A shiver of dread ran across her flesh.

      Shane touched her shoulder, startling her. “Go to your bedroom and lock the door.” He and James moved toward the sliding door.

      Gina nearly dropped the glass in her hand. Someone was on the patio. Deep in her heart she knew the trespasser was her brother. Hating the thought of anything happening to Shane or James, she said, “Be careful. You know how dangerous he is.”

      Shane met her gaze. “I know. Now go.”

      She hesitated for a second then hurried to her bedroom, locked the door and gathered the pups in her arms. “Oh, Lord, please,” she whispered.

      There was only one thing for her to do.

      Leave Desert Valley and hope this time Tim wouldn’t find her.

FIVE

      Shane tempered the adrenaline swamping his system with the knowledge that Gina was safely tucked away behind the locked door of the third bedroom of the condo. They’d made the right call in bringing her here.

      He only regretted that he hadn’t been the one to suggest it, but the idea of having her underfoot had left him feeling a bit off-kilter.

      With the threat of her brother lurking so close, Shane knew his own discomfort had to be relegated to unimportant.

      It didn’t matter that he found Gina attractive and interesting and that he admired how well she was holding up considering she’d been chased from her home, had discovered her boss’s dead body and was being stalked by her evil twin. Not a good day.

      Shane reached the kitchen drawer where he’d stashed his service weapon. He grabbed it along with a heavy-duty flashlight, then followed James out the condo’s back sliding door.

      The dogs ran for the tall fence separating the oblong-shaped patch of grass behind the building and the empty lot beyond. Both dogs sniffed the ground near a spot in the fence where a loose board had been pushed aside.

      The acrid odor of tobacco hung in the chilling air. The temperature had dropped as it often did at night in the northwest part of Arizona.

      Shane swung the flashlight’s beam in sweeping arcs. The light revealed a freshly lit cigarette abandoned on the cement patio floor; a wisp of smoke curled from the smoldering tip in the cool breeze.

      How long had the intruder been standing outside? Had it been Gina’s brother? Of course. Who else could it have been?

      James inspected the fence. “Our guy pried the nails loose.”

      Which spoke of Tim’s determination. Tension knotted Shane’s neck muscles. “We need to reattach the board ASAP. And bag and tag this cigarette butt.”

      James joined him on the patio. “Agreed.”

      “He’s not getting her,” Shane vowed. He could feel James’s gaze on him but was powerless to keep the fire out of his voice. “I won’t let him.”

      “She’s one of the good ones,” James observed quietly. “A keeper.”

      Shane closed his eyes for a moment. “It’s not like that.”

      “Whatever you say.” The mocking amusement in James’s voice grated on Shane. “I’ll get a baggie for the evidence.”

      James whistled for Hawk and the two went inside, leaving Shane and Bella standing on the patio.

      Bella nudged his thigh.

      He scrubbed her behind the ears. “It’s okay, girl. We’ll get him next time.”

      Because, unfortunately, Shane knew there would be a next time. He knew in his gut that Tim wouldn’t give up. “We’ll keep Gina safe.”

      It was his job to protect her. But he had a feeling he’d have a hard time walking the tightrope between doing his duty and letting himself care too deeply.

      He wasn’t staying in Desert Valley, and becoming attached to his beautiful charge would only complicate his life in ways he couldn’t—wouldn’t—allow.

      His focus had to be on his career. Distractions like love and romance were for way down the line. He wasn’t ready to open himself up for a relationship. Even if the sweet and special dog trainer made his heart pound with longing to amend his plan.

      * * *

      Gina paced the floor of her suite in agitated silence. Three steps right, pivot, three steps left, pivot, repeat. She’d calmed the two puppies, now both chewing on bones she’d grabbed from the training center earlier.

      Every noise beyond the confines of her room sent a jolt of alarm through her, making her heart pound and her blood rush. She was terrified to think Tim had somehow found out where she was so quickly.

      Had he been watching, and trailed them to the condo? Would Shane and James capture him? Or would Tim hurt these two brave men who’d promised to protect her? Had Tim put an arrow through Shane? Was Shane even now bleeding and dying because of her?

      She squeezed her eyes tight against the onslaught of horrible scenarios that played through her mind. Awfulizing was destructive, as her therapist had advised on numerous occasions. She wasn’t even sure that was a real thing but she understood the sentiment behind his caution.