Witness Protection Breach by Karen Kirst

Author:Karen Kirst
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2022-08-07T22:11:02+00:00

THIRTEEN

Cruz had encountered all sorts of criminals during his career. On a scale from annoying to evil, Axel dipped toward the worst of the worst. He enjoyed other people’s misery. He’d watched Jade for days and had seen how she’d turned her life around. The best way to exact his revenge was to rip away her freedom and reduce her to the dependent addict she used to be.

His stomach churned.

Axel had lost his hideout and errand boy, but he’d proved he was resilient. He’d find a way to meet his needs.

The piano at the other end of the fellowship hall abruptly stopped, halting his thoughts. The children’s voices that had filled the hall for the past hour faded uncertainly. Mason’s sister, Candace, was the choir leader, and she gave them instructions in a singsong voice. Sandwiched between Lily and Kai, Henry stood on the second row of the makeshift bleachers, his blond hair shining beneath the bay lights overhead.

The airy room was abuzz with activity as volunteers pitched in to help prepare for the upcoming Christmas pageant. This was the last place he’d expected to come tonight. As they were leaving the Turner residence, Jade had informed him that Henry had practice. His first instinct was to argue against it, but she’d explained that he’d been practicing for months, learning the songs and accompanying hand motions, and he would be devastated if he didn’t get to participate. So Cruz had gotten on the phone and asked some buddies from patrol if they’d stand watch outside the church for a few hours. Mason would be there, as well.

Cruz had planned to remain on the perimeter and keep watch. Instead, he’d been roped into painting sets with the other parents. He and Jade were working on a storefront. They were in the farthest corner from the choir, in a dead zone of activity. He was painting a faux-brick exterior. She was painting windows, adding realistic details like frost, sparkle, garlands and ornaments. She worked with painstaking care, as if this was going in an art gallery.

He put his paintbrush in the can and arched his stiff back. “You’re good at this.”

A becoming blush splashed across her cheeks, and he surmised she wasn’t used to getting compliments.

“I did set design for the high school drama club. My favorite production was Beauty and the Beast. The backdrops were ornate. The schedule was demanding, but I loved every minute.”

“Why didn’t you pursue art as a career? Or theater?”

“I considered it. My parents convinced me to consider other options. I entered as an undecided major and never did narrow it down.” She contemplated her work and leaned in to add swipes of silver to the ornaments. “I was involved in the university theater department my freshman and sophomore years, but I stopped when I had to choose between that and volleyball.”

“Did you play in high school?”

“Yes. We were a tight-knit group.”

“Artistic and sporty,” he drawled. “Were you voted most popular, too?”

Her green eyes flashed in surprise, and she laughed, a husky, pleasant sound that warmed him.

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