Nobody believes she’s innocent...

Except her child’s secret father

Framed for her new husband’s murder and on the run from both the killer and the police, Claire Mitchell needs help. But her ex-fiancé is the last person she expects to rescue her. Alex Vasquez just found out he’s the father of Claire’s daughter, and he knows they will have to face their rocky past…if they can survive long enough to clear her name.

AMITY STEFFEN lives in northern Minnesota with her two boys and two spoiled cats. She’s a voracious reader and a novice baker. She enjoys watching her sons play baseball in the summer and would rather stay indoors in the winter. She’s worked in the education field for more years than she cares to count, but writing has always been her passion. Amity loves connecting with readers, so please visit her at Facebook.com/amitysteffenauthor.

Also by Amity Steffen

Love Inspired Suspense

Reunion on the Run

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk.

Reunion on the Run

Amity Steffen

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-09637-9

REUNION ON THE RUN

© 2019 Amity Steffen

Published in Great Britain 2019

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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Version: 2020-03-02

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“I’m not positive, but I think we’re being followed.”

“It’s a dark sedan, either black or navy blue,” Claire confirmed. “There are at least two people in it. How long have they been following us?”

“I spotted them a few blocks from the park,” Alex said. “But there were a lot of people there. A lot of people coming and going. It wasn’t until this last turnoff that I knew for sure.”

“They couldn’t go after us in the park. There were too many people. And—”

“And it wouldn’t fit into the scenario Xavier has built around you being the murderer if someone took you out in such a public place. It would look too suspicious.”

Claire winced. If Xavier got to her, if he killed her, he would make sure there were no witnesses.

“We’re certainly not in a public place now.” Claire eyed the empty road ahead with trepidation.

“Here they come,” Alex said under his breath. He reached for his Glock. “Hold on tight,” he said to Claire. “We’re going for a ride.”

Dear Reader,

I’ve always adored second-chance romance stories. I love the rich histories the characters often share. In Reunion on the Run, Claire and Alex have a painful past. But they also share a daughter, and the desire to get back to her drives them. Claire learned a long time ago that forgiveness can set your soul free. Alex has spent a lot of years running from his past. He’s finally come to understand that true peace can only come from God. He’s handed over his regrets, his fears.

Have you ever failed at something that left you feeling as if you let others down? Have you ever been entangled in regret? Alex finally realized that God’s grace is greater than all our sins and our faults. It is my hope that every one of you find the same peace in the knowledge that your sins and mistakes are forgiven and forgotten.

I hope you’ll join my characters and me on future adventures. You can find me on my Amity Steffen, Author Facebook page. Check in for future releases, or just stop by to hang out and say hello! I’d love to hear from you!

Blessings,

Amity

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive and ye shall be forgiven.

—Luke 6:37

For my boys, Zack and Nick. I’m so proud of you and I’m so blessed to be your mom. I know your dad is watching over you, every bit as proud of you as I am.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

Dear Readers

Bible Verse

Dedication

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

Extract

About the Publisher

ONE

Roscoe’s fierce growl sent a chill skittering down Claire Mitchell’s spine. She slid back from the rickety table, bouncing to her feet as her dog continued to give his warning. It was gloomy in the old one-room hunting shack. A kerosene lantern cast a hazy glow over the notes she studied. She’d been on the run for weeks. From the outside, the shack should look unoccupied. The nights had become chilly but she hadn’t indulged in the luxury of a fire, too worried the smoke would give her away. There were only four windows in the small dwelling, one on each wall. She’d had to make do with what she’d been able to scrounge up. Threadbare bath towels had been tacked over each pane. They should block the minimal kerosene light, even in the evenings.

It wasn’t dark yet but would be soon. Her heart slammed against her rib cage, each thump pushing ice through her veins. She’d been telling herself if someone found her, she was prepared. She’d almost believed the lie.

She was a murder suspect.

But she was not a worthy adversary of Xavier Ambrose’s hired henchmen.

Roscoe growled again. Mild-mannered and loving most of the time, rottweilers were fiercely loyal protectors. Having his companionship and protection eased her mind, making it worth the extra trouble to keep him with her.

His sturdy body guarded the door, the only way in—or out—of the shack. His teeth were bared and his posture rigid. There was no need for her to try to peek outside to confirm that she was about to be ambushed. Roscoe’s change in demeanor made it clear.

“Hush!” She hissed the word under her breath. She was grateful the dog was well-trained, courtesy of Alex Vasquez, her ex-fiancé. He wouldn’t bark, giving away the fact that she wasn’t alone in the shack. She couldn’t chance the intruders hearing him growl, either. Roscoe was her best chance at escape.

With trembling hands Claire shoved the notes she’d been working on into the backpack that rested at the center of the table. It cost her precious seconds, but the contents were even more precious. She slipped the backpack over her shoulders. She tugged at the cord around her neck, finding her poor excuse for a weapon at the end of it. Palming the vial of pepper spray, she snuffed out the flame in the lantern.

Roscoe huffed, his huge body nimbly pacing back and forth in front of the doorway.

Claire darted over to him. She pressed herself against the rough plank wall of the shack. Not for the first time she futilely wished the place had another escape route. The windows were small and simple, nothing more than single panes of glass built into the frames. They would need to be shattered because they couldn’t be wedged open. She wouldn’t risk the noise announcing an escape attempt, nor would she risk being sliced to ribbons trying to squeeze through the small space.

“Heel.” The command was barely a whisper. Roscoe gave her a bewildered look before he complied.

The doorknob jiggled. It sounded like a cannon against the silence.

She had been under no illusion that she would be safe here indefinitely. That hadn’t stopped her from hoping for more time. With limited resources, two weeks hadn’t been nearly long enough to compile the evidence she needed to clear her name.

“Claire, we know you’re in there,” a deep, gravelly voice taunted from the other side. “Open up and we’ll take it easy on you.”

A second menacing voice warned, “Make us come in after you, and you might not live to regret it.”

It was an empty threat. She was well aware of the fact that she might not live to regret it either way.

Terror mingled with the intense determination to stay alive. A hard edge dug into her palm as she held her hand at eye level, poised and steady.

Mia’s precious face flashed through her mind. Her dark curls, her spunky smile. It had been far too long since she’d been able to give her three-year-old daughter a hug. A kiss. Far too many nights had passed without reading her a bedtime story.

For Mia, she had to get out of this mess. She would not leave her daughter parentless.

The thin wood shuddered as a body slammed into it.

Roscoe whined as he crouched, ready to attack.

Please Lord, please Lord, please Lord, Claire silently prayed. She could string together nothing more coherent than this simple, frantic prayer. She trusted He knew what she was asking, even if she was far too panicked to find the right words to say.

Another assault shook the entire shack. The flimsy door splintered at the bottom.

Claire gritted her teeth and braced for the inevitable. She pressed herself as tightly as she could against the wall.

When it shattered, pieces of wood flying everywhere, she was ready.

Her first attacker blinked in surprise, his eyes trying to adjust to the gloom. He clearly did not expect Claire to be ready to face him head-on. She squeezed the trigger before he could swing his gun her way. He screamed in agony as the pepper spray shot out of the canister she held. A gun clattered at her feet. She kicked it, sending it flying across the cabin to land under the battered couch.

Roscoe, snuffling and sneezing from the mist in the air, leaped at the second man before he could enter the cramped space. He slammed him to the ground as his gun went off. The window next to the door shattered, spraying glass that narrowly missed Claire.

The first man clawed at his face, cursing and writhing in pain. The second man cried out, his gun falling to his side as Roscoe latched onto his forearm. The dog stood over him, teeth clenched tightly as the man tried to push him off.

Claire stepped out of the cabin and gasped, sucking in fresh air. Though she’d used the stickier, gel-type pepper spray, the fumes still lingered. She blinked hard a few times, clearing her vision but not allowing herself a moment to slow down.

“Heel!” Claire commanded after she grabbed the second gun and tossed it into the trees. Roscoe let go of his target and bounced to her side. Claire was ready. The moment Roscoe was out of her way, she shot off what was left of the pepper spray. The second man shrieked, his cries melding with his cohort’s.

A third figure, dressed in black, emerged from the tree line. He shouted something at her, probably her name, but it was mostly drowned out by the sound of her heartbeat crashing through her ears.

“Come.” She grated out the stern command, unwilling to let Roscoe go after the newest threat. These thugs worked for the man who’d had Jared, her husband, murdered. She knew they wouldn’t hesitate to shoot a dog.

Claire took off at a dead run, circling to the backside of the cabin. She lacked brute strength and she was outnumbered. If she’d known there was a third henchman, one who was able to pursue her, she may have been tempted to keep the gun. It was too late now. She prayed she hadn’t made a grave mistake. She had God on her side. He had brought her this far, she was counting on Him to bring her the rest of the way.

Her hiking boots pounded across the thin edge of lawn before she charged full-speed into the thick copse of trees. The sun had just slipped past the horizon, plunging the world into the murky gray of twilight. Darkness would work to her advantage. She knew these woods. She’d already planned her escape through them.

Adrenaline spilled through her body, making it easy to push ahead. Her heart pounded chaotically and her spine tingled, anticipating a bullet at any moment. She knew the two men at her door would be down and out for several minutes. The third man posed an enormous threat.

She tore through the dense forest, dodging trees, leaping over fallen logs. Pine boughs and oak branches slapped at her, tore at her skin. Roscoe obediently raced alongside her.

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. This had become her mantra. She was in about as deep as she could get. She was drowning in troubles but it gave her comfort to know she was never alone. He was always by her side.

She didn’t dare a glance over her shoulder. She couldn’t waste precious seconds by slowing down, and if she looked while running she’d likely crash into a tree. It didn’t matter. She didn’t need to look. Claire had no doubt she was being pursued. She didn’t have to see him to know. She could feel his presence behind her. This knowledge drove her to move even faster.

Her escape plan was on a constant loop, playing through her mind. Up ahead the woods were bisected by an overgrown logging trail. If she continued to run straight, she’d hit the trail eventually. The trail led to the gravel road that would ultimately spill onto a county road leading to the highway.

Freedom was within her reach.

If only she didn’t trip, crash into a tree or get shot in the back first.

“Claire!” The harshness of her name grated out in frustration caused a sharp whimper of surprise to bubble up in her throat. She hadn’t realized her pursuer was so close. Her skin broke out in a chilled sweat and it had nothing to do with exertion. Her legs burned, and her lungs ached. She couldn’t move any faster. Even if she made it to the logging trail, with her pursuer so close, she’d never have the extra minutes she desperately needed to get away.

Now that she was aware of his nearness, she could hear branches snapping and footsteps racing up behind her.

She winced, fully prepared to be taken down.

The man’s voice rang out again. Louder, clearer. Closer this time. “Roscoe! Come!”

The sharp command was like a mental punch to the gut. She whirled reflexively, nearly tripping over her own feet at the sound of the unexpected voice. It was doubtful Xavier’s men knew the name of her dog. Even more doubtful they’d take the time to toss out a command. Not when they had an arsenal at their disposal. And that voice... It caused her heart to rattle because it was so familiar. Yet impossible.

The dog yipped as his agile body changed course. He circled around, leaping up, plastering his feet against the chest of their pursuer. The man was prepared. He braced himself so the enormous dog didn’t take him down. One hand gripped the dog. The other hand gripped a firearm.

Roscoe’s massive form blocked Claire’s view of his face. But she’d caught a glimpse. Just a glimpse of that bronzed skin, the charcoal hair and those coffee-colored eyes.

Her mind had to be playing tricks on her. Maybe the stress she was under was messing with her mental state. Had she finally cracked under the pressure? Was she hallucinating? She felt she had to be.

Now that she’d skidded to a stop, her legs felt like rubber. She willed them to move. Taking a step backward, she didn’t take her eyes off the dog and man. Only a few seconds passed but it felt like an eternity before the man gently pushed the dog aside.

Roscoe landed on all fours with a disappointed whine.

She had been prepared, as prepared as she could have been, for Xavier’s men.

But as the weeks dragged by, she hadn’t prepared for herself for this. Hadn’t been prepared for him. His presence stole what little was left of her breath, leaving her gasping. Her already wobbly legs threatened to give out and send her toppling.

She might as well have been looking at a mirage because Alex Vasquez was the absolute last man she’d expected to see.

* * *

“Alex?” Claire gasped for breath as she pressed a hand against her chest. Her gaze slid over his shoulder, scanning the woods behind him. “What are you doing here? How...? Why...?”

“Your sister sent me.”

Her eyes widened at the mention of Beth.

“I don’t have time to explain.” He cast a glance over his shoulder, as well. He’d seen Claire take down two men. He couldn’t have been more impressed. But he knew they wouldn’t be down indefinitely. He would’ve liked to have incapacitated them, tied them up, let the law deal with them, but in doing so he would’ve lost Claire. He’d had to make a split-second judgment call. Chasing after her had definitely been the right choice. If he’d lost her, he was certain he wouldn’t have found her again. “We need to get out of here.”

Claire pivoted and took off again. He jogged after her.

“I have a vehicle parked back there,” he explained. “We need to loop around the cabin, keep a wide berth and head to the west.”

“And risk running into Xavier’s men again? No.” Her tone was firm.

“What do you suggest we do?” He wasn’t really expecting an answer, but he was on board with putting more distance between them and the men. It would be dark soon. Nighttime would offer them the cover they needed to skirt back around, as he’d suggested.

He easily kept pace with her, though she was moving at a steady clip.

She shot him a look that was full of questions. He was relieved she didn’t press him for answers. He’d give them to her eventually, but at the moment they had more urgent matters to deal with.

They had to get out of these woods.

“I’m not going back that way. We don’t know that those men were alone. More could be coming.”

He’d thought of the possibility, as well, but hadn’t wanted to mention it.

She slowed as the woods thinned. Seconds later they emerged from the trees. Claire cut a sharp left and he followed. Their feet pounded in unison against the hard-packed trail. He scanned the area, always on the lookout.

Up ahead he spotted a gray tarp draped over a hulking object. It looked out of place this deep in the woods.

“Is that part of your getaway plan?”

“Yes.”

Alex had no doubt the tarp covered a vehicle. He reached it first and tugged the covering to the side. A rusted-out Jeep Wrangler appeared. At one time it must’ve been a vibrant shade of red. Now what was left of the faded paint was barely visible. The thing had to be at least a quarter of a century old. It had a canvas top rather than a hard top. The sort that could be removed, convertible style. The canvas was tattered but in good enough shape to offer protection from the elements.

“I hope this thing runs,” he mumbled.

“Of course it runs.” She tugged a key chain holding a single key out of her pocket.

Claire, he realized, was incredibly resourceful. Accused of killing her husband of nearly a year—the man she’d married after Alex had broken off their engagement over three years ago—she’d managed to evade law enforcement for weeks. Maybe that wasn’t an attribute he should be proud of, but he was.

He knew now was not the time to be struck by her beauty, yet he couldn’t help himself. He hadn’t seen her for years. She hadn’t aged, not that he could tell. If anything, she looked younger. Her face looked gaunt, probably from the stress she’d been under. Her cheeks were rosy. Her long auburn hair had been chopped into a shaggy cut and dyed black. Fire flashed in her green eyes when she caught him staring.

She nudged him to the side as she reached for the driver’s door. He blocked her way and held out a hand.

“Give me the key.”

“No.” She tried to reach around him.

“Hand it over, Claire. We don’t have time to argue. If we get pulled over, do you really want a cop to see your name on the license?”

“Do you plan on getting pulled over?”

“Did you plan on being framed for your husband’s murder?”

The words seemed to echo as they hung in the air. He wanted to take them back. He hadn’t meant to sound so callous. Before he could apologize, Claire clenched her jaw and slammed the key into his palm.

He opened the door, allowing Roscoe to leap into the back seat. He slid into the driver’s seat as Claire flung open the opposite door and scrambled in.

Alex jammed the key into the ignition. True to Claire’s word, the old beast roared to life. With one final visual sweep of the woods, he put the vehicle in gear and sped down the rutted trail. If the men had followed, there was a chance they’d gotten themselves lost in the thick woods. The Jeep’s engine would alert them to what direction their quarry had headed. He left the headlights off, not wanting to make it any easier for them.

Claire braced her hands against the dash as the Jeep bounced over the rough terrain.

“The gravel road intersects around the next corner. Take a left,” she instructed. “Taking a right will bring us back to the hunting shack. If we head the other way, it’ll lead us to the interstate.”

The Jeep slid to a stop as they emerged from the tree line. Alex did a quick scan for oncoming traffic before tearing onto the deserted road. The Jeep fishtailed on the gravel, but he easily kept control.

A vehicle turned onto the road ahead of them. Its headlights sliced into the night. The Jeep’s headlights were still off. Alex knew he was taking a risk. It was one he was willing to take.

“I have a bad feeling about this.” Claire’s tone was tense. “There’s almost never traffic on this road.”

The vehicle barreled toward them. With its headlights shining, it was impossible to determine the make.

In the past, Alex had wronged Claire in more ways than he could count. He wasn’t about to add another mistake to that list.

“Hold on tight.”

“I am,” she said through clenched teeth.

His spine stiffened as he gripped the steering wheel. Claire wasn’t the only one who had a bad feeling. When the oversize SUV swung into their lane, skidding sideways, blocking both lanes of traffic on the narrow road, Alex was ready.

He had only an instant to decide if he was going to crash into it, cut in front of it or loop around the back. He hit the gas. The Jeep sped forward as he cut behind it. The driver likely expected Alex to stay in his own lane, cutting down to the ditch in front. If he did that, the driver would only have to hit the gas to take them out.

Alex did the opposite. He cut into the other lane, tore down into the ditch and passed on the backside. By the time the driver wrenched into Reverse, they had cut back onto the road.

Claire’s head whipped around to look out the back window. “He’s trying to turn around.”

Alex glanced in the rearview mirror. The SUV had angled into the oncoming lane as it tried to cut the Jeep off. The driver backed into the ditch but had to pull ahead again. He’d be tied up with the back-and-forth motion as he tried to turn around.

Taking advantage of the other driver’s incompetence, Alex sped toward the interstate. He wasn’t sure it was the best plan of action. This time of night, traffic would be pretty light. As they reached a crossroads he wrenched the steering wheel to the right. This stretch of road was lined with thick pines.

It was dark now, but in the glow of the moonlight he could make out mailboxes intermittently dotted along the road. He glanced in the rearview mirror.

“They haven’t turned yet,” Claire said. “They will any minute, though. They’d just turned around when you turned off.”

“Perfect,” Alex said under his breath.

They passed another crossroads. Alex split his gaze between the road in front and the road behind. He knew Claire was right. Any second now the other vehicle would be barreling after them. They had an impressive lead, but he’d rather lose the men for good sooner rather than later.

He made a decision he hoped he wouldn’t regret. He wrenched the steering wheel and whipped into a long, winding driveway. Alex thought he glimpsed headlights slicing around the corner that was now a good distance back. He coasted down the driveway, grateful the house wasn’t visible from the road.

“What are you doing?” Claire’s panicked tone was laced in fear.

“This is our best chance at losing them.” He performed a quick three-point turn with finesse the driver of the SUV did not possess. He kept the Jeep back far enough so that it wasn’t visible from the road.

He withdrew his gun and reached for the door handle.

Claire clutched his arm. “Are you going after them?”

He couldn’t make out her features in the dim moonlight. It didn’t matter. He didn’t have to see her to know what she looked like. He had her face, her expressions, memorized. He knew she was staring at him with wide eyes. Her lips would be pressed into a frown. A worry line would be etched between her brows.

“I need to see which way they go.” He gently pulled his arm from her grip. “I don’t think there’s any chance they saw us turn here. But if they did, I want to have the element of surprise.”

Before she could launch a protest, he leaped out.

Staying close to the tree line, he ran to the road.

Dim headlights grew brighter by the second as the vehicle raced toward him. He moved into the foliage and crouched down. The SUV slowed as it reached the crossroads. Alex hoped it would turn but it rolled right through, speeding up again. He pressed himself against a tree, knowing his dark clothing would blend in.

The chances that the driver would realize this was the driveway he’d turned off on were slim. He was prepared regardless. They sped past. He squinted, hoping for a glimpse of the license plate. It was a fruitless attempt to gain information. It was too dark to make out anything. The vehicle continued on with no sign of slowing down.

He raced back to Claire. Flinging the door open, he slid inside.

“We lost them?” Claire demanded as they took off.

When they reached the edge of the driveway, taillights glowed red in the far distance.

“Looks that way.”

Alex maneuvered onto the gravel road. He backtracked to the crossroads their pursuers had avoided. He took a right, not sure where they were headed but not really caring. Once on this deserted stretch he flipped the headlights on.

He felt Claire’s gaze burning into him.

“You have a lot of explaining to do,” she said.

He shot her a wry look. “I could say the same for you.”

TWO

Claire read the description of the campground to Alex as he drove. Using his phone, she’d scanned several of them before finding one she thought might be a good fit.

“That one should work,” he said as he flicked another glance into the rearview mirror.

Though they’d been driving without incident for half an hour now, she appreciated his vigilance.

“I think so, too,” she agreed. “They accept dogs and it’s less than an hour away, near the Tillamook State Forest.” She read off the directions before sliding his smartphone into the Jeep’s cup holder.

For weeks she had been fervently praying, asking God to help her. She had not anticipated help to arrive in the form of her ex-fiancé. Claire hadn’t seen Alex in years. He’d left her at the worst possible time. He’d had no way of knowing she was pregnant with Mia. She hadn’t figured it out herself until after he’d disappeared. She had no idea how he was going to react to finding out he had a daughter.

Having him barge back into her life was surreal. She kept sneaking glances, assuring herself it was really him.

Alex had spent years serving as an Army Ranger. After a mission gone horribly wrong, he had changed. During his last deployment, a suicide bomber had blown up a school in an area he was supposed to be protecting. Men, women and far too many children had died. Though Claire had no doubt Alex had done everything by the book, he still blamed himself.

When he was discharged, he’d taken a job with an elite security company. It seemed to Claire he’d always put himself in harm’s way. It was more than being an adrenaline junkie. It was as though he’d thought he could make up for the past if he pushed himself hard enough.

The problem was, no matter what he did, no matter how many lives he saved, it was never enough. He could never get over the lives that had been lost.

He’d fallen into a pit of self-loathing and despair. No matter how Claire had tried, she hadn’t been able to help him. She hadn’t been able to save Alex from himself, nor had she been able to save their relationship. Claiming she was better off without him, he’d walked away from her, from the plans they’d made, and he’d never looked back. Years ago she’d come to terms with the realization that she might never see him again. That’s why his unexpected appearance was so hard to grasp.

Now that they had a plan of action for the night, she was ready to get some answers.

“How does Beth play into this?” she demanded. How had her sister been able to find him when Claire had spent months searching for Alex? Granted, that was years ago. At the time she’d exhausted every resource she had. Alex had been nowhere to be found. Emotionally drained and heartbroken, she’d given up the search and hadn’t picked it up again. “I can’t believe she was able to find you.”

“She didn’t find me. I contacted her.”

After a moment of stunned silence she asked, “Why would you do that?”

“I came in on an international flight this morning. As I was walking through the airport I saw your face on a television screen.” He cast a glance her way. “I stopped to listen to the news report. There aren’t a lot of things that shock me these days, but that report was definitely one of them. I went home, did some quick research and realized you were in way over your head.”

She couldn’t argue. She needed help. If Alex was offering, it would be stupid and prideful to refuse. As much as seeing him had thrown her, she knew that if anyone could help her, it would be him.

“There’s a warrant out for your arrest, you’re on the run and the media is pushing the idea you crossed the border into Canada,” he said, his tone matter of fact.

She turned to study his profile, barely illuminated by the dashboard lights. Earlier, when demanding the key, he’d said Claire was framed. “I didn’t kill Jared.”

“I know you didn’t.” His voice was calm and steady.

She knew that. She had been surprised to hear him say it.

“How do you know?” she demanded.

Alex held her gaze in his for a few silent heartbeats before returning his attention to the road. “We were together for a few years, Claire. Like it or not, I know you better than just about anyone. You couldn’t have killed your husband, or anyone else for that matter. You don’t have it in you. I saw you whip the gun into the trees at the shack. You’d rather risk your life than use it to defend yourself.” He gave her another pointed look.

She turned from him, unable to bear the intensity of his stare. Closing her eyes, she leaned her head against the seat. Alex believed her. Beth believed her. Her sister hadn’t hesitated in taking Mia, so Claire could work at proving her innocence. Maybe the rest of the world was against her, but knowing she had two people on her side gave her strength.

“I called Beth to ask if there was anything I could do to help,” he continued. “She told me that you were framed. She said you were on the run, trying to gather evidence against the real murderer. She was on a roll and kept talking.”

Claire wasn’t surprised. Beth had probably known she’d had to take advantage of Alex’s attention while she’d had it. Otherwise he might drop off the face of the world again, disappearing for another three years or more.

“She said you were hiding from a powerful man.” His tone hardened. “She insisted your life was in danger. Then she told me about the shack, location and all. Beth said she wasn’t positive that’s where you’d gone, but she suspected.”

“I didn’t tell her,” Claire said, “because I knew there was a warrant out for my arrest. I didn’t want her involved any more than she had to be. I was sure the police would question her. I didn’t want her to lie. Suspecting and knowing are very different things.”

The hunting shack had belonged to their grandfather. He’d sold it over a decade ago to the couple who owned the adjoining land. They’d wanted to increase their acreage but had no interest in the shack. The building was rundown, and hadn’t been used in years. When Claire had first arrived, it had been a mess. She’d cleaned it as best she could and turned it into a place of refuge.

“When we were kids, we used to say that if we ever ran away from home, that’s where we’d go. I couldn’t flat-out tell her that’s where I was headed, but I was fairly certain she would figure it out.”

“I get it.” Alex tapped his fingers against the steering wheel.

“I thought it was an incredibly strange coincidence that Xavier’s men found me the same time you did.” She paused, cringing. “It wasn’t a coincidence at all, was it?”

“Beth told me this guy was desperate to track you down and would probably go to any means necessary. If that’s the case, and he seems to have plenty of resources at his disposal, I started to wonder if the phone line had been tapped,” he admitted. “As soon as we hung up, I hit the road. I’d already learned what I could about the murder. Beth was adamant you’d been framed. She said she was sure these men were after you. Obviously she was right.”

She frowned as she turned to face him again. “How did you get there so quickly?”

He hesitated, and she instinctively knew he didn’t want to answer her question.

“I live right outside of Portland.”

“Portland.” Her voice was flat. For years she’d feared he was dead. “You still live in the area.”

He stared straight ahead. “I have an apartment. I’m not there much. My work takes me all over the country. Sometimes out of the country.”

She was quiet a moment, wrapping her head around that. She wasn’t sure what “work” he was referring to these days, but she had to assume it was something dangerous. She also assumed he wouldn’t answer if she asked, so she saved herself the trouble and kept her mouth shut. Even when they were engaged, much of Alex’s professional life had been on a need-to-know basis. He’d more often than not decide she did not need to know.

He’d been in the business of saving people and, often times, discretion was key.

Claire shook her head. “I get it now. The reason you came after me today.”

Alex gave her a wary look.

“You always have to save the world, be the hero. This,” she said sadly as she tossed her hands in the air, “is what it takes. My life has to be in danger in order for me to finally have your attention.”

“Claire,” he said wearily, “it’s not like that.”

“Isn’t it?” She was hit with a crushing wave of sadness. She had always admired Alex’s selflessness. But at some point he’d taken it too far. His sole purpose in life had become trying to save strangers while distancing himself from those who were closest to him.

He didn’t respond, and she didn’t press the matter.

They rode in silence for a while, putting distance between them and Xavier’s men.

“For what it’s worth,” he eventually said, “I’m sorry about your husband.”

“I’m the first to admit it was not a happy marriage.” She struggled to keep her voice steady. She had realized too late what a volatile temper Jared had had, how controlling he would be, how demeaning. “I’m relieved to be free of him, but I certainly didn’t want him dead.”

It pained her to admit it, but it was the truth. It was not something she wanted to talk to Alex about. She wasn’t willing to divulge the details to him. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

“That’s not how the media is spinning it.” His words were a fact, not an accusation. “They’re claiming your rocky marriage gave you the perfect motive for murder.”

“I’m sure I can thank Xavier Ambrose for that.”

“Jared’s business partner.”

“You did do your research.”

“As much as I had time for.” He cleared his throat and Claire braced herself. There was so much history between them. There were so many hurts, so many things left unsaid. If Alex had looked into her life at all, he had to know about Mia. “Beth mentioned you left your daughter with her.”

She was sure she didn’t imagine the way his voice hitched ever so slightly on “daughter.” With clenched fists, she waited for a barrage of questions. Silence hung heavy and cloying in the cab of the Jeep for several long, drawn-out heartbeats.

Minimal research would easily have uncovered that Mia was almost one by the time Claire and Jared had met. She was two by the time they’d married. She realized Alex wasn’t ready to discuss Mia yet. Neither was she.

“I should let you know I sent a friend of mine to Beth’s house. Gretchen looks harmless, but the woman is lethal.”

“‘Friend’?” Claire echoed. How close of a friend? Was Alex in a relationship? Had he found someone else to love after he’d told her his work had to come first? The thought sent a stab of pain through her heart. It wasn’t jealousy she felt, she assured herself, but rather the old hurt. The realization that she wasn’t enough for him.

Had Gretchen gotten through to him in a way she hadn’t been able to?

“Colleague.” He shot a look her way. “She’s a colleague, and I trust her to keep them safe.”

“Right.” Claire fidgeted with the hem of her cardigan as worry began to niggle at her. “Beth lives in a gated community and her house has a top-notch security system. Do you think they could be in danger?”

Leaving her daughter behind had been the hardest thing she’d ever done. She’d only been able to go through with it because she’d been so sure that Mia would be completely safe with Beth. Far safer than if Claire had taken Mia on the run with her.

“Gretchen will check over Beth’s security system, make sure it’s up to par. I asked her to stay with Beth and her husband until this is over. I don’t think your sister will fight her on it. She sounded frazzled when we spoke.”

“I thought Mia would be safe with Beth,” Claire admitted. “Wouldn’t it be foolish of Xavier to go after her? It would draw unwanted attention to him, to the situation. He’s framed me, wants me to look guilty. If something happened to Mia, it would be too suspicious. Do you think I was wrong? You never answered my question. Do you think they could be in danger?”

“You’re probably right and Mia is probably safest with Beth,” he agreed. “If he were to go after Mia, if she were harmed in any way, it would bring the investigation to a whole new level. Given how reporters are covering this story, something like that would cause a media explosion. But I’ve seen desperate people go to desperate measures. I prefer to err on the side of caution.”

Claire’s stomach clenched at the thought of anything happening to her daughter.

“Thank you. I appreciate the extra protection for my family. I’m sure Beth will, too,” she said. Her sister was married to a cardiologist. Though Steven was brilliant, he was in the business of saving lives via complicated surgeries. Not protecting them by fending off gunmen.

She missed Mia so much her heart ached with it. Prior to this ordeal, she’d never spent a night away from her. Beth had always been actively involved in Mia’s life. Claire knew Mia would be comfortable with Auntie Beth. Yet the child had to be confused. Claire didn’t want her daughter to feel abandoned. She knew all too well how much it hurt to be left behind.

“Claire?”

Her head snapped up.

He motioned to a sign up ahead. “We’re here.”

* * *

Tourist season was over for the year. The small campground was nearly deserted. It was the perfect, indiscriminate place to stay. A Place in the Pines offered small, one-bedroom cabins in addition to its nearly empty campsites. The setting was rundown—or rustic—depending upon your perspective.

Alex scanned the parking lot as he returned to the Jeep. He was confident they hadn’t been followed. He’d driven the back roads long enough to be sure they hadn’t had a tail. Claire had not seemed happy with the prospect of spending time with him. Yet she hadn’t argued, confirming just how afraid, how desperate, she was.

After what he’d put her through years ago, he owed her and he was going to take care of her now, the way he should’ve done back then.

His mind was still reeling, trying to come to terms with what he’d inadvertently uncovered earlier in the day. He had a child. Though the online article he’d read hadn’t mentioned him by name, he was sure of it. It stated that Claire had a three-year-old daughter from a previous relationship. It didn’t take a mathematician to figure that one out. The fact was driven home when the article stated that the girl’s father had been absent from her life.

At the time, he thought he had good reason for leaving. Now he wasn’t so sure.

Regret stabbed at him when he remembered how difficult he’d been. How withdrawn. He’d been plagued by nightmares, riddled with guilt over what had happened overseas. How could he ever make Claire understand that pushing himself, going to the extreme, had been the only way to quiet those feelings? It had worked, but only for a while. The guilt always came back with a vengeance. It wasn’t until after he’d found a connection with God a couple years ago that he’d been able to find peace within himself. It had taken being jumped in a dark, grungy alley and nearly losing his life to get to that place.

Now he did his job for the right reason. He was no longer running from the past but living for every moment when he could reconnect a person with their loved ones. Sure, his job was still dangerous, but he was good at it. He was cautious now in a way he hadn’t been back then.

He’d returned from breaking up a human trafficking ring just this morning. Now he wished he’d returned weeks ago. He could’ve been helping Claire all along. Helping her with what, exactly, he wasn’t sure yet. He was going to find out. She’d mentioned Xavier Ambrose a few times now.

While reading about the murder of Jared Mitchell, Xavier’s name had come up several times. They were business partners who owned a successful hotel chain.

The media suggested a volatile marriage between Claire and Jared. His gut instinct kicked in. Claire and volatile were not words that belonged in the same sentence. If their marriage was truly volatile, he had no doubt Jared was to blame.

Alex felt a surge of anger. His mind took off with scenarios he didn’t want to think of. If Jared had hurt her...

He pushed out a breath. If Jared had hurt her, he would face judgment with the Lord for that. There was nothing Alex could do. Especially not now that Jared was dead.

He reached the Jeep and hopped inside.

“Do we have a place to stay?”

“We do.” He held up the key. Claire’s face was plastered on newspapers, the television, the internet. They both knew she had to stay out of sight as much as possible. “It’s the one on the end.”

He drove the short distance to the last cabin in a row of five. All were painted the same deep brown with green shutters. Only one cabin in the middle had a car parked in front of it.

“Tomorrow morning we’ll have to run into town,” he said. “I’ll need a couple changes of clothes. I had a duffel bag in the vehicle I left behind, but we’re obviously not going back there.” He tapped the backpack she clutched on her lap. “Do you have enough to get by?”

“I should.”

“Let’s get you into the cabin.” He got out, pulling the seat forward. Roscoe dropped to the ground with a grunt. His stubby tail wagged as he scoped out their new surroundings.

Claire clutched her backpack as she followed.

Alex quickly opened the door, flipped on the light and ushered Claire in.

The cabin was sparsely decorated but appeared to be clean. When he went into town for clothes, he’d have to grab some groceries, as well. There was no telling how long they would be there.

“It’s not exactly paradise,” he said to Claire, “but it’ll have to do.”

She gave him a cool look. “Compared to where I’ve been staying, it is paradise. At least it has running water.”

“How did you get by in that shack?” Alex asked.

“I took the Jeep into town a few times a week. There’s a truck stop that has showers. I had a propane cookstove, water jugs, a cooler. I made it work.” She moved into the cabin, placing her backpack on the table.

“You went into town and no one recognized you?”

“I was careful.”

“How careful?” It seemed like an awfully big risk to take. She had told him a bit about the Jeep. He already knew she’d purchased the Jeep it in cash from an old farmer. She hadn’t changed the title card on it and the thing didn’t have insurance.

They should ditch it as soon as they had the chance. Not only was it illegal to drive, but Xavier’s men had seen it. They’d be on the lookout for it.

“I wore a disguise every time I went to town.” She frowned. “I had no choice. I needed an internet connection. I used the connection at the local library. They had chairs scattered all over the upper level. I could charge my laptop and research at the same time. No one paid any attention to me.”

“Care to tell me what you were researching?”

“I can do better than that. I’ll show you.”

She tugged the backpack’s zipper down. Reaching in, she pulled out a black binder. “Xavier Ambrose killed Jared. Unfortunately, I don’t have enough evidence to prove it.”

She handed the binder to him.

“Tell me what you need from me.”

A sharp laugh cut through the cabin. “What I need from you?”

He realized that could be a loaded question. Or maybe not. She was looking at him as though the only thing she needed was for him to go away.

“You need help,” he said firmly. “That’s obvious.” He offered up a small smile. “Though I have to admit, seeing you take down two men with nothing but pepper spray was a pretty amazing sight. You must’ve used the good stuff. Police grade.”

He knew the stickier spray wouldn’t blow back in the sprayer’s face. The heat of the red pepper spray would be debilitating. Because it was a gel, it was harder to clean off. She had made a good choice.

“I didn’t take them down with just pepper spray,” Claire corrected, “I took them down with Roscoe’s help. Without him startling them the way he did, I think the outcome would’ve been very different.”

He couldn’t argue with that.

“Read through that information and tell me what you think,” Claire requested. “That’s all I need from you right now.”

He clenched the binder in his hand.

Roscoe whined as he leaned against Claire’s leg.

Alex knew he was being ridiculous, but he felt as if Roscoe was holding a grudge. Though Claire was too panicked to realize it was Alex coming out of the woods at the shack, he was pretty sure Roscoe had known. The dog had stuck by Claire’s side, not acknowledging Alex until he’d commanded the dog’s attention. Even now, Roscoe was making it clear who his real owner was.

Alex couldn’t blame him. He’d abandoned the dog, as well. It didn’t seem to matter that Alex had spent countless hours working with Roscoe, turning him into the disciplined animal he was today. They’d spent many afternoons going for jogs or playing fetch. But in the end, the dog had become Claire’s, and Claire’s alone.

“I should take him out,” she said.

“I’ll do it. I’m not having you walk around out there in the dark.”

“You said there was no chance we were followed.”

“I stand by that.”

“Then what do you care if I’m outside, alone in the dark?” She wrapped her arms around her slender waist.

He heard the challenge in her words and sighed.

“Look, Claire, I don’t want to fight with you. I think we’ve done enough of that to last a lifetime.” He raked his free hand through his hair. He wanted to ask her about Mia, but one look at Claire, so on edge, warned him it wasn’t a good time. He couldn’t imagine the conversation going well right now. So, he’d wait. Instead he asked, “Can we call a truce? Can we concentrate on the current problem instead of getting bogged down by the problems of the past?”

“Yes. I’m sorry.” Her shoulders drooped, and she seemed to deflate in front of him. “I’m not myself these days. I’m exhausted. I’m terrified I’m going to spend the rest of my life in prison, paying for a crime I didn’t commit.”

“That’s not going to happen. I won’t let it.” It was a promise he intended to keep. “You’re not on your own anymore. I’m going to help you figure this out.”

And if he didn’t? If they couldn’t find the proof she needed? He had a backup plan. He’d get her and their daughter out of the country. He had the resources to do it. He wouldn’t allow her to be sent to prison when he knew she was innocent. And then...well, he couldn’t let himself think too far ahead. His mind was still reeling from what he’d discovered earlier in the day. He and Claire needed to have a serious talk about the little girl staying with Beth.

Soon.

Just not quite yet because, despite how anxious he was for answers, Claire looked as if she were about ready to collapse from exhaustion.

“Thank you.” Her words were a breathy whisper. “I don’t think I’ve said that yet.”

“You don’t need to thank me.”

“I do. Even though you’re standing right here, I’m having a hard time grasping the fact that you came after me.” Her lower lip trembled as he watched her fight for composure. “I was so sure I’d never see you again.”

Did she really think so little of him that it surprised her that he was there to help? She probably did. Worse yet, he probably deserved it. When he’d walked out on her, he had been in a bad place emotionally. He’d thought he was doing the right thing. He’d been sure cutting her free was the kindest thing to do. She’d deserved better than to be tied to a man who was so miserable to be around.

Maybe he’d been wrong.

He didn’t know.

“I’ll never be able to tell you how sorry I am about the way I ended things,” he admitted.

She studied his face for a moment, looked as if she wanted to say something and then forced a weak smile. “You were right. My current problem is big enough. It would be silly to drag up problems from the past.”

Roscoe released a loud, theatrical whine. He didn’t appreciate being kept waiting. Alex reached for the doorknob, ready to let the dog out, but twisted back around when Claire spoke again.

“I’m just happy to know you’re alive and well,” Claire said. “I prayed for you. Every night. I prayed for your safety and for healing.” She dropped her gaze, unable to look him in the eye. “I pray for you still.”

“I didn’t know you were the praying type,” he said, feeling somewhat surprised. Maybe he didn’t know Claire as well as he thought he did.

“Things change.” She lifted her chin. “After you left, Beth convinced me to start attending church with her. A lot of years had passed since I’d stepped foot inside a chapel. Once I did—” she gave a small shrug “—it made me question why I ever let myself drift away from the church in the first place. I started reading my Bible again and I began to pray. I prayed a lot.”

“God heard you,” he said gently. “He heard you loud and clear. It took some time for me to listen to Him, but He finally helped me get my head straightened out.”

Claire looked at him quizzically. “You’re a Christian now?”

“Yes,” he said firmly. “Maybe sometime I’ll tell you how that came about. But it’s a story better saved for another time.”

She looked like she wanted to push the matter, but a yawn cut off her words.

It was for the best. Maybe sometime he’d tell her about the stabbing that had taken place in the alley. Maybe he’d tell her how it had changed his life. But he didn’t want to get into that tonight. It was clear she had enough weighing on her and he didn’t want to add to that.

“Get some sleep,” Alex suggested as he motioned toward the bedroom. “I’ll take the couch. You’ll be safe here.”

She shook her head. “You can think what you like, but until this is over, I won’t be safe anywhere.”

“Claire—” his tone was firm “—I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

She leveled him with a look that clearly stated he had already hurt her more than anyone else could.

“You’re right,” she said quietly. She picked up her bag, edging away from Alex as she headed toward the bedroom. “I should get some sleep. I’m tired. I can’t deal with any more tonight.”

He thought she probably meant she couldn’t deal with him any more tonight. He couldn’t blame her. He would help her clear her name. It wouldn’t absolve him of his past mistakes, but it was something. Then he would allow her to get on with her life.

THREE

Claire struggled to force her eyes open as she fought against the sensation of water filling her nose, her mouth, threatening to fill her lungs. Her limbs vibrated with anxiety as a feeling of dread flowed through her body. She tried to move but her arms felt weighted down, too heavy to budge.

She gasped for air as she willed herself out of the nightmare that had plagued her since Jared’s death. She tried not to think of that awful day, but the memories consistently wound themselves into her dreams. Jared had drowned...and she’d nearly drowned trying to save him.

Blinking into the dimly lit room, she felt disoriented.

Where was she?

She scrambled into a sitting position, heart hammering wildly. Hazy light crept through the sides of the curtains, barely offering enough light to see by. Unfamiliar walls surrounded her. A strange door was straight across from her. Panic sizzled through her veins as the foreign room came into focus. She jerked fully awake as she tried to get her bearings.

A soft nudge against her hand immediately calmed her. Roscoe whimpered, as if sensing her panic. He nudged her again, the action instantly setting her at ease. She let her hand drift over his head. His silky fur felt familiar and comforting under her palm.

She hated reliving the moment she’d found Jared facedown in the pool. She’d jumped in without thinking, her fleece bathrobe weighing her down, pulling her under, anchoring her below the surface. She’d struggled with the tie around her waist, fighting to get it undone so she could slip free. Once out of the robe, she’d broken the surface of the water, gasping for air even as she swam toward Jared. She’d dragged him to the edge, pulled him out. Her efforts had been in vain. He had died within moments of being shoved into the pool. The blow to his head incapacitating him enough that he’d dragged in a water-filled breath and that had been the end of him.

Her own lungs burned as she dropped back onto her pillow. She shoved the nightmarish memory aside. Other nightmarish memories quickly seeped in, filling her mind with another brand of terror as she thought of the harrowing evening she’d had.

She’d escaped Xavier’s men by the grace of God, and the grace of God alone. She focused on that realization. God had been with her. He had protected her.

Eventually her heartbeat calmed to a dull, hollow thud.

She tried to tell herself she was safe but couldn’t quite force herself to believe it.

On the other side of the door rested another sort of threat.

Alex would never ever hurt her physically. Not like Jared had. But the man was hazardous to her emotional state. Last night the shock of seeing him had numbed some of the hurt.

Roscoe ducked out from under her ministrations. He moved to the closed door and treated her to a pathetic look as he silently pleaded to be let outside.

Claire tossed off the blankets and swung her legs around the side of the bed. She shivered despite the comfy sweatshirt and sweatpants she’d slept in. Her body still tingled with the echoing fear of her nightmare. Would her life ever feel normal again?

The bedroom door creaked when she pulled it open.

Alex’s blanket—an extra one she’d found in a dresser drawer—was already folded and tossed over the back of the couch. His pillow was neatly propped against the armrest. He stood before the window, his body alert, always ready for action.

Claire watched him for a moment. Mixed emotions swirled through her. He had left her. He left her alone. Scared. Pregnant. Grieving over the loss of her fiancé, her best friend.

Seeing him now, she couldn’t help but think of what could have been. They should’ve been married by now. They should’ve been a family. Alex, her and Mia. If things had gone differently, would Mia have had a little brother or sister? She could so easily imagine Christmas mornings by the tree, church together every Sunday. Family dinners, Saturday morning breakfasts.

She shook the thoughts away. That had been her dream once. But Alex had killed that dream.

He turned to face her, a cardboard cup of coffee in one hand. His hair was damp and he was clean-shaven. Despite wearing yesterday’s clothes, he managed to look put-together.

“The office carries a few essentials,” he said. “There’re powdered doughnuts on the table and a cup of coffee for you. I got Roscoe a couple packages of hot dogs. I know it’s not ideal but it’ll get us by for the morning. I got myself a razor, toothbrush, toothpaste. If you need anything, let me know and I’ll go get it.”

She nodded. “Thanks.”

“I’ll take him out so you can have a few minutes to yourself.”

When he was gone she carefully rummaged around in her backpack. A toiletry bag held enough to get her by for a few more days. She had several outfits in there, more than one would have thought. Each rolled into a tight, efficient bundle. Each plain and perfunctory.

In a side, zippered pocket was her second bottle of pepper spray. Like the one she’d used at the cabin, it belonged on the end of a key chain. Instead she’d put it on the end of a cord so she could wear it around her neck. She didn’t need it now but was grateful she had thought to buy more than one.

She grabbed what she needed and headed to the bathroom. By the time she got out of the shower, Roscoe was tended to, her coffee was cool and Alex looked apprehensive. An unusual look for him.

He patted the seat next to him at the table.

She dropped down into it, happily taking a doughnut. It was dried out, but she was ravenous. Even the lukewarm coffee was a treat. She was halfway through her coffee before she realized her wallet was open on the table. The plastic sleeve that held pictures was conspicuously absent.

Her last bite of doughnut tasted like chalk. She gulped some coffee to choke it down.

“I shouldn’t have dug through your things,” he admitted. “But I couldn’t wait any longer. I assumed you had a picture of her.” He held up the photos. “She’s the prettiest little thing I’ve ever seen.”

Claire met his eyes. His expression was guarded. Yet it was so like Alex to bluntly jump right into the conversation without preamble.

She appreciated his directness and intended to reciprocate.

“I need you to understand that I never wanted to keep Mia from you.” Claire paused, taking a moment to organize her thoughts. “It took me a while to realize I was pregnant. I wasn’t feeling well. I was sick for months. I attributed it to stress.” She’d attributed it to a shattered heart. She saw no point in laying that accusation on him. “By the time I knew I was pregnant, I had no idea how to find you. I did try. You had been behaving so recklessly, as if you had no regard for your own life. Each mission you took was more dangerous than the last. I was afraid of what I would find. I was so afraid you’d been killed. I had to stop looking.”

“I left the country for a while.” He cleared his throat. “I’m in a better place now.”

“I can tell.” His eyes no longer held the haunted, hollow look. “I’m happy for you.”

“I take full responsibility for how badly things ended with us.” He raked a hand through his hair. “I should’ve faced my problems, worked on our relationship. But when I needed the most courage, I ran.”

Claire felt all of her old arguments rising to the surface. He didn’t need to run. She would stand by his side always. They could get through anything, if only he would let her in.

It was too late for all of that. Though it surprised her to hear him admit to his past mistakes, she couldn’t get sidetracked by that right now.

She tamped down thoughts from the past, deciding to focus on the present.

“Does Gretchen know Mia is your daughter?”

“If she does, she figured it out on her own. At the time I sent her, I’d only known a few hours, having just run across an article stating you had a three-year-old daughter from a previous relationship. I was still grappling with the information and didn’t feel I had the right to claim her as my own.”

“And now?”

“Now that the shock has worn off, I want more than anything to meet my little girl.” A muscle ticked in his jaw. “If that’s okay with you.”

She swallowed the lump of emotion rising in her throat. When she’d first found out she was pregnant, she’d tried to track Alex down. She had wanted nothing more than to be a family. But now, so much time had passed. They’d gone their separate ways, were living completely different lives. Yet Mia was still his daughter and she couldn’t deny either of them the relationship they deserved. “We’ll need to discuss some ground rules,” she said firmly. “I don’t want you flitting in and out of her life. It will only confuse her. She’s been through enough. I won’t allow you to hurt her.”

“You think I’d hurt my own daughter?” Alex asked, his tone incredulous.

“Not intentionally, no,” Claire said. “But if you disappoint her one too many times, if she realizes she can’t count on you—”

“So what you’re saying is that you don’t think I can be a good father,” Alex said, cutting her off.

“That’s not what I said,” Claire argued. “What I am saying is that to be a good parent you need to be present. You need to be involved.”

His jaw clenched as he thought that over. “Look, I get where you’re coming from,” he finally said. “I understand why you might have concerns. But I will be a good dad.”

Claire studied his face for a moment. His gaze was intense, his expression determined. In that moment she believed he wanted to be a good father, but he knew nothing of how demanding a young child could be. He didn’t understand how one too many broken promises could lead to broken trust.

“Claire,” he said, his tone softening, “I realize you don’t have a lot of faith in me at this point. But if you let me, I’ll make Mia a priority in my life.”

Claire forced a smile, trying to ease some of the tension hanging over them. She wasn’t necessarily persuaded by his words, but she needed to give Alex the chance to know his daughter, without her old hurts clouding her judgment. “We’ll see.” Her tone was clipped and she wasn’t sure what more she could say right then. There would be time to figure it out later.

“You don’t sound too convinced,” he said in annoyance.

“I guess time will tell,” Claire replied.

Alex nodded curtly. “Fair enough.”

He glanced down at the photo he still held. Claire heard his breath catch. “She really is beautiful.”

“She is,” Claire said. “She has your eyes.”

“She has your smile.” Alex finally lifted his gaze to meet hers.

“You should have this.” Claire took the plastic sleeve from him and slid one of Mia’s photos from it. She’d looked at it so many times she had it memorized. “It seems only fair that I should share.”

Alex didn’t argue, confirming Claire’s suspicion that he wanted it badly.

“Thank you.” He gave it a long, hard look before taking out his wallet and sliding it inside.

* * *

“The sooner we get your name cleared, the sooner I can meet my daughter,” Alex said. His heartbeat sped up at the thought. There had been a time when he couldn’t wait to start a family with Claire. That dream had vanished like vapor when he’d allowed his past to own him. Yesterday, when he’d run across the article mentioning Mia, he’d had to reread the line countless times before the words made sense. Even now, he wasn’t sure the news had completely sunk in.

A full day later and it still seemed so surreal.

He fought to tamp down the frustration he felt. He wanted to tell Claire that he wasn’t the person he used to be. Like her, he’d found a connection with the Lord and it had changed him. He didn’t want to see the look of doubt in her eyes. He was pretty sure she wished just about anyone else had come to her rescue. He’d be lying if he said that didn’t hurt, at least a little.

“Did you look through the information I gave you?” Claire asked, pulling him from his thoughts.

“I did.” He was impressed. She had compiled detailed information regarding sales made by Xavier. She had buyers’ names, dates of sales, pickup sites and purchase prices. “You’ve built a very good case against Xavier. I don’t think there’s any disputing he’s fencing stolen antiquities. Why haven’t you taken this to the police?”

“Does anything in that file prove he murdered Jared?”

He frowned. “No.”

“Exactly. Having him locked up for fraud wouldn’t get me off the hook for murder.” She fidgeted with her coffee cup. “I was hoping to tie him to Jared’s death using the information in the file I gave you. I haven’t been able to do that yet.”

“You’ve compiled a lot of information on the antiques Xavier was fencing,” Alex said. “How were you able to get the documentation?”

“Jared.” She winced. “I took most of it from him.”

“He was involved?”

“Yes. It’s what got him killed.”

Alex could use another cup of coffee, but he wasn’t about to walk away from this conversation, not even for a minute.

“In order for me to help you, I need the whole story. Can you start from the beginning? You need to tell me everything.”

“‘The beginning’?” she echoed.

Claire was strong and determined, always had been. Now she seemed hardened, world-weary. It was a burden Alex was familiar with and never wanted Claire to have to carry. She’d always been welcoming, open, quick to smile. Now she seemed closed off, cynical.

“I’m supposed to tell you all about how awful my marriage was?” She squeezed her eyes closed and pinched the bridge of her nose.

She looked defeated as she slumped into her chair. If there was a way he could spare her from this, he would. But if he was going to help, he needed the facts. All of them.

“I am at fault somewhat,” she said. “I rushed into the marriage. After you left, I was angry. I was hurt. I was missing you terribly. I had a new baby and I didn’t want to be alone. Jared was charming. He treated me well at first.” She picked up her coffee cup, realized it was empty and set it back down. “Looking back, I realize he was too charming. Too perfect. But after we were married that changed. I have no doubt he wanted a wife because it fit the image he was trying to create. His investors were more comfortable with a family man. Many of them saw him as altruistic, taking in a child that wasn’t his own. He doted on Mia in public, putting on a wonderful show, as always. But in private, he ignored her. It was probably for the best, but it was very confusing for Mia.”

Thinking of another man raising his daughter was like an emotional sucker punch to the heart. So much had changed in the past twenty-four hours. He was still trying to comprehend that he had a daughter. Not just the fact that he had a daughter but all the emotional turmoil that entailed, including having abandoned her. Having missed out on three entire years of her precious, young life.

“He treated her okay?”

“He never hurt her, if that’s what you’re asking.”

It was. He pushed ahead with the next question. “And you? Did he hurt you?”

“We weren’t married long before I realized he wasn’t the man I thought he was. I knew he was a man of power. I didn’t realize he was a man of unscrupulous morals. Looking back, I wonder if I missed the signs. Or maybe there were no signs. He hid his dark side from the world. When we met, he hid it from me. Once we were married, it emerged. It came out swinging, quite literally,” she murmured.

“Why didn’t you leave him?” Alex asked as he struggled to keep his voice even.

“I tried to leave him once. It didn’t end well,” she said quietly. “He threatened to take Mia from me if I filed for divorce. He had no claim to her, but I couldn’t risk it. I couldn’t risk him winning even partial custody because he would’ve only done so out of spite. With high-powered lawyers and bottomless pockets, I was afraid he could pull it off. I wouldn’t have put it past him to pay off the judge. I knew if I was going to try to leave him again, I had to be able to remove myself from his reach.”

“How did you plan to do that?” Alex asked. “Get out of his reach, I mean.”

“Last spring we had Xavier over for dinner. I went upstairs to put Mia to bed. When I came back down the two of them were in Jared’s office arguing. Jared told Xavier he knew all about his ‘special endeavor.’ That’s what he called it. It piqued my interest and I couldn’t get my feet to move. I knew it was a conversation I shouldn’t overhear, but I couldn’t stop myself.”

Alex nodded, indicating he was following.

“At the time I didn’t realize they were talking about the black market. However, Jared made a comment that stuck with me. He said he had proof Xavier terminated those who got in his way.” She forced a bitter laugh. “I thought ‘terminated’ meant he fired them. I’m so naïve. I’m still having a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that there are people in the world evil enough to kill someone over a business deal.”

“Is that what happened with Jared? He got in Xavier’s way and was going to turn him in?”

“No,” Claire scoffed. “Oh, no. Jared didn’t have the moral aptitude for that. He used the information to threaten Xavier. He didn’t want to shut the operation down, he wanted in on the action. He was using what he knew to blackmail Xavier into cutting him in on the deals. Xavier didn’t want to share. That’s what got Jared killed.”

Claire’s words hung in the air as Alex took a moment to think over everything she’d told him.

“That night, Xavier agreed to Jared’s demands. I knew they were talking about some sort of illegal activity, I just didn’t know what. Jared was gone a lot, checking out potential locations for new hotels. He was careless with his files because as far as he knew, I had no reason to be digging. It didn’t take me long to realize they were fencing antiquities on the black market.

“I started making copies of everything I found. I had every intention of taking it to the police. I knew if I could get Jared locked up, it would provide me the chance to escape.” She shook her head. “I waited too long, wanting to be sure my proof was solid enough. I knew the two of them would hire the best lawyers. I wanted to be rid of Jared. I didn’t want to take the chance of them getting off. Xavier has less patience and isn’t the sort of man to tolerate being blackmailed. He took Jared down and set me up.”

Alex patted the black file. “This is the information Jared was using against Xavier?”

“Part of it. I think there has to be more, but I’ve been unable to find it. As soon as it was determined Jared was murdered, the police confiscated his computer.” She offered a small shrug. “I don’t think they’ll find much on it. I never did. I think he was afraid if he stored information on the hard drive, Xavier would find a way to hack into his system. The files in the binder are off a Jumpdrive.”

“Where is the Jumpdrive now?” Alex asked.

Claire shook her head and shrugged. “I don’t know. About a week before he was killed, it disappeared. He’d been keeping it in his desk drawer. Maybe he realized I was onto him.”

“You don’t think the information you have is enough to put Xavier away?”

“At this point, he could claim Jared was the front man. What if Xavier walks? It would be like kicking a hornets’ nest.”

“He’s already after you.”

“I thought he only wanted to frame me.” She pulled in a breath. “After your phone call with Beth, he knows I’m onto him. If her line really was tapped—and judging by the appearance of the men last night, it seems likely—he would’ve heard her say I knew I was framed, that I was searching for evidence. I don’t think framing me is enough anymore. I think he wants me dead. If he knows I’m looking for evidence, he’ll do anything in his power to stop me.”

Alex knew she wasn’t exaggerating. The gunmen at the cabin attested to that.

“What’s your game plan?” he asked. “You said you’ve been doing research the past few weeks. What are you looking into?”

“It goes back to that first conversation. I thought jobs were on the line. I didn’t realize lives were on the line.” Her fingers tapped listlessly against her thighs. “Jared said Xavier terminated someone who got in his way. Terminated. Past tense.”

“Meaning it wasn’t a threat, but something he’d already carried out.”

“Yes.” Claire frowned. “I’ve looked up every name in this file.”

“You only have a list of buyers.”

“Right.”

“Any of them dead?” The question was blunt but necessary.

“No.”

“So chances are,” Alex said as he thought it over, “if Xavier took someone else out, it was a middle man. Maybe someone in charge of sales.”

“That’s what I’m thinking,” Claire agreed. “Maybe even a competitor. He probably made it look like an accident.”

“Like he tried to do with Jared?”

A grim look settled on Claire’s face. “That was the initial report. Jared had a gash on the back of his head. I assumed he’d tripped and hit his head on the edge of the pool. When the emergency responders first arrived, they seemed to think so, too. However the autopsy showed there were flecks of paint in the gash. They matched the paint on a lawn statue in our backyard. Whoever killed Jared hit him with the statue before shoving him into the pool. His official cause of death was drowning.”

“But whoever hit him over the head wanted him dead,” Alex finished. “Did they find the statue?”

“The statue was in the garden where it had always been. There were still traces of blood when the investigators came back.”

“No fingerprints?”

She winced. “Only mine. It’s my flower garden.”

“How convenient,” Alex said sourly. “That’s when you became a suspect?”

She nodded. “I was brought in for questioning, but they let me go. I already had my suspicions by then. As soon as I knew Jared had been murdered, I knew Xavier was involved. They questioned him, as well. He told them Jared and I had a troubled marriage. Things went sideways pretty quickly from there.”

“You didn’t tell them you suspected Xavier?” Alex asked.

“Of course I did,” Claire said. “But I don’t think they took my suspicion seriously. One of the detectives asked if I was accusing Xavier out of retaliation because of what he’d said about my marriage to Jared. The information I have regarding the antiquities just as easily points to Jared being the front man. I have no proof that Xavier was dabbling in the black market, let alone that he’s a murderer.

“When I left the station that afternoon, they told me not to leave town.”

“So that’s exactly what you did.” Alex shook his head. “That doesn’t sound like the Claire I knew. You’ve always been a rule follower.”

Her spine stiffened, and she sat straighter. “That’s because the Claire you knew didn’t have a daughter to protect. She’s already growing up without her father. I’m not going to allow her to grow up without her mother.”

“Keep that attitude,” Alex said, refusing to take offense at her words because he knew she didn’t mean for him to. “I have a feeling you’re going to need it.”

“What I need,” Claire said firmly, “is to prove that Xavier really did have someone killed and that Jared knew it. That would give him motive to keep Jared quiet. Permanently.”

“You hit dead ends with the names in the file,” Alex said.

“True. But I know someone who might know something.”

“Yeah?” Alex raised an eyebrow. “Who would that be?”

“Ruth Crenshaw. She was Jared’s secretary. She left a message saying she needed to speak with me. Her message wasn’t detailed but she did say she had information about Jared that could be important,” Claire said. “By the time I got the chance to contact her, she was gone.”

“Gone?”

“She left A & M Inc. after Jared’s funeral. It makes sense. Jared was her boss. Though, to be honest, I think there was more to it than that. She was afraid when she left the message. I could hear it in her voice.”

“How do you know she’s no longer at A & M?”

“After I left, I tried getting in touch with her. I was told she no longer worked there. I asked where she’d gone but I was told they couldn’t give out that information. I found her home phone number but it was disconnected.”

“Do you know where she lives?” Alex asked. He was already reaching for his phone.

“No. Her address wasn’t listed.”

“Give me a few minutes. I’m sure I can figure it out.”