Текст книги "Love or Justice"

Автор книги: Rachel Mannino

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Текущая страница: 17 (всего у книги 19 страниц)

CHAPTER

TWENTY-TWO

 

 

The week passed in a haze for Laurie and Dante. On Monday, Dante and Laurie rented a car. They went to Fremont for Laurie’s doctor appointment and to finish some last minute Christmas shopping. They had both lost track of time. They hadn’t even realized Christmas would be on Tuesday.

The doctor’s visit fascinated Dante. He kept asking questions right up until the sonogram started. Then he stared at the screen in silence with the widest grin on his face. He grabbed her hand, then pressed it to his heart. Laurie’s heart had swelled near to bursting. Dante had walked out of the office like a zombie, dropping his keys, forgetting where he parked. He drove a few counties over into Iowa before he mailed Rick a copy of the tape from the safe house. Laurie didn’t want to see it. Dante didn’t ask.

***

Christmas was as hectic an affair as Thanksgiving. The boys slept in the living room, waiting for Santa to come. After they fell asleep in the early hours of the morning, Dante and Albert laid out the gifts under the tree. The next morning, the boys tore into everything, attacking one present and leaving it behind to tear into another.

The adults all took turns opening their gifts. Neither Dante nor Laurie had had a real Christmas—a Christmas surrounded by family—in years, so they were equally shocked with each gift they were handed.

Laurie cried when she opened Dante’s present to find a small necklace with a hand painted orchid on it, a reminder of their day at the waterfall near Mauna Kea. Laurie gave Dante a watch, with the date they first met engraved on the back. Everyone else showered them with gifts for the baby: diaper bags, a little handmade quilt, clothes, and lots of toys. With the gifts finished, they commenced with cooking, eating, and taking tons of photos, before settling down to watch a movie.

They spent Wednesday helping Bob and Gabriella pack up and get ready to leave. On Thursday, they all had breakfast together, but then they went out to the van to say goodbye. They were a somber group as they stood out in the driveway. Laurie gave Gabriella a fierce hug goodbye. Then she sniffled and held each of the boys until they started to squirm. Dante hugged each of them in turn.

“You marry that girl,” Bob whispered loudly to Dante as they said goodbye. “I mean it.”

Dante laughed, but Laurie’s heart skipped a beat when his gaze slid to her with a smile.

“You had better.” Bob released him.

Dante put his arm around Laurie. He stood there smiling as Bob shook hands with Albert, and hugged Emma.

Then Bob got in the driver’s seat of the van, turned the van around, and drove down the driveway blaring his horn.

Friday was quiet. With half of their house now empty, it just sounded less alive. Without having the boys to teach, Emma and Laurie wandering around the kitchen in the morning. They didn’t know what to do with themselves, until Emma dusted off some old knitting supplies and started teaching Laurie.

Dante packed everything up for their flight the next day.

Laurie couldn’t face that chore. Laurie knew they didn’t come with much, but they had somehow accumulated an entire bag of items she knew they didn’t come with. Laurie made sure they took back pictures of the family from Christmas. She also needed her medical records, vitamins, and books on expecting a baby. They had come to this house as semi-fugitives, with little on them and trusting no one. It seemed they were leaving an entire life behind just to go back.

Saturday dawned bright and sunny, though everyone in the farmhouse had privately wished for a sudden blizzard. Emma made breakfast with Laurie, but when Dante and Albert walked in, Emma was crying on Laurie’s shoulder. Dante and Albert looked at each other. They sank into their seats at the table, and stayed as quiet as possible. Laurie managed to get Emma pulled together enough to sit down for breakfast.

“I want you to call me as soon as you land.” Emma gripped Laurie’s hand, sniffling.

“I will, Mom.” Dante nodded.

“You make sure she takes all of those vitamins. Laurie has to find a good OB/GYN in Hawaii or wherever it is they send her.” Emma wiped her eyes.

“I know, Mom. I got everything from the doctor she’ll need.” Dante smiled.

Emma grabbed his hand, squeezing it. Dante tried not to grimace, but his mother had a very firm, insistent grip on him.

“You’re going to talk to them about expediting the trial?” Emma squeezed harder.

“Yes. I’ll talk to the DA himself if I have to. I’m pretty sure they’ll want to put Kaimi away as quickly as possible, given all he’s done.” Dante patted her hand with his free hand.

“You remember, anytime you need to talk honey, anytime.” Emma teared up again.

“They won’t let her make phone calls to a burner phone like yours. Her calls all have to go through the main switchboard.” Dante spoke gently.

“Well, you’ll be there, so anytime she wants to speak to me you let her!” Emma’s mouth settled into a hard line.

Dante flinched. He didn’t respond, just nodded his head. His mother finally let go of him.

Dante rubbed his sore fingers in relief.

“Oh, God. I wish you didn’t have to go back.” Emma sniffled again.

“Emma…” Albert said.

Emma was crying into her eggs and toast.

Laurie made a move to comfort her, but Albert beat her to it. He stood, kneading his wife’s shoulders.

Dante heaved a sigh, picking up his plate and Laurie’s. When he came back to the table, he sat beside Laurie, rubbing her back while she stared at her breakfast. Laurie felt like she was being orphaned for a second time. He sighed.

“It’ll be okay, you know?” He tried to soothe them both. “The trial will be over before we know it.”

Both women nodded, but they didn’t listen. Albert finally cleared his throat.

“I think it’s time for you and Laurie to get going.” Albert nodded to the door.

Laurie looked at the clock. Dante’s father was right. If they delayed much longer, they might miss their flight.

Dante helped Laurie up, leading her toward the door.

Emma and Albert followed them out to the rental car to say goodbye.

“You take c…care…of her.” Emma hugged her son.

“I will, Mom. I promise.” He gave her a big, long hug.

“I mean it. You tell me the second she goes into labor. I’ll get right on the next plane.” Emma squeezed him.

Dante blanched.

“Okay, Mom. I will.” Dante gave her a kiss goodbye.

Laurie hugged Emma again. They stood there holding one another while Emma tried to pass on as much information about motherhood as she could possibly cram into the few minutes they had.

Albert surprised Laurie by pulling Dante into a hug.

Dante’s eyes widened as he met Laurie’s gaze over his father’s shoulder.

“You take care of yourself.” Albert patted Dante’s back.

“I will. Take care of Mom.” Dante broke their embrace.

“Always.” Albert clapped him on the back one last time. Albert released him, but grabbed Dante by the shoulder.

“You’re a damn good agent. They would be fools not to give you back your job after everything you’ve done.” Albert squeezed his shoulder.

“Thanks. We’ll just see how it goes.” Dante gave an unconfident shrug.

“I’m real proud of you. You know that, don’t you?” Albert asked.

Dante paused as the praise sank in.

Laurie watched as Dante looked up into his father’s eyes. For once, his father’s expression was open, unguarded. There was vulnerability there, a need to know that Dante understood how his father felt. Laurie’s heart lifted for them both. A smile played at the corner of Dante’s lips.

“Yeah, I do.” He nodded, looking away. He looked back at his dad. “Thanks for your help with everything. I don’t know where we’d be without you and Mom taking us in, and you helping me get to Kaimi.”

Albert gave him one of his rare smiles.

“Of course I would help you.” Albert paused as he snaked his arm around Dante’s shoulders. “It was fun. It was a lot of fun putting the cuffs on him after all these years.”

Dante laughed at his father’s blissful smile, and the twinkle that came into his eyes.

Laurie wanted to laugh with him, but she didn’t want to distract Emma.

Dante lowered his voice as he spoke into his father’s ear, but Laurie heard him as Emma turned away to blow her nose.

“Yeah, that part was a lot of fun. But I wouldn’t tell Mom if you want to live.” Dante raised his eyebrows at him.

Albert laughed. Laurie had never seen him laugh before, at least not a deep, genuine laugh.

Shaking his head in amazement, Dante stood next to his father for a few moments. Then, Dante took Laurie by the hand, made several more promises to his mother, and led Laurie to the waiting car.

Feeling like she couldn’t breathe, Laurie strapped on her seatbelt. They watched out of the car mirrors as the farmhouse slipped away behind them.

Laurie glanced at the clock. Dante was driving slower than usual, below the speed limit. Laurie nestled into her seat, sniffling. The farms rolled past. Dante turned onto the road that led to the airport. Dante’s breathing changed. Laurie looked over. He was grabbing at his seat belt. He was breathing in fits and gasps. He pulled off to the side of road, yanking off his seatbelt so forcefully it snapped.

“Dante? What’s wrong?”

He didn’t answer. He sat in the driver’s seat gasping for air.

“Dante, what is it?”

Dante forced open the door, almost falling out of the car. He rolled to his left, placing his hands on the side of the back window, trying to hold himself upright. He kept gasping for air.

Laurie launched out of the car, running around the vehicle to him. Tears were running down his cheeks when she reached him.

“Dante? Tell me what’s wrong!” She placed one of her hands on his chest, and the other around his back, in half an embrace.

“I can’t.” Dante tried to breath deep but he stuttered and gasped.

“You can’t what? Can you talk?”

“I can…talk. I just can’t do it.” He shook his head, tears flowing freely. “I can’t take you back.”

“You can’t take me back?” she asked in confusion.

“I can’t take you back.” He looked at her with pain in his eyes. “I know that I should, but I can’t.”

Laurie nodded. She stroked her fingers over his back in small circles. Then she ran her fingers through his hair. She understood how he felt. She wanted to stay with their family, to keep their baby safe. She bit her lip, wrestling with what she should say, what she should do. Laurie rested her head on his shoulder.

“It’s okay, Dante. I know how you feel.”

“No. I’m supposed to take you to the trial to protect the people.” He rested his head against the cold metal of the car. “I’m supposed to take care of the woman I love, but I can’t do both. I know what I should do, but I can’t, Laurie. I just can’t.”

He pushed himself upright. He took his fist and rapped it hard against the top of the window. He turned around, leaning against the car, placing his hands on his hips. He hung his head in shame.

“I can’t be like my dad and just give up my family to God and country. You’re my family now. How can I take you back when I know what’s ahead?”

“Dante.” Laurie placed both her hands on his chest. “I know it’s terrifying, but we have to go back.”

He raised his head. He looked at her with such deep, incredible pain that it made Laurie’s heart ache.

“I can’t protect you if we go back.” He shook his head. “I don’t know what will happen to you, or our baby.”

She cupped his face, running her gloved fingers over his cheek. His arms snaked around her in a move that was both protective and possessive. Laurie took a breath to steady herself. She had made her decision. It felt right. Now she just needed to help Dante feel right about it, too.

“I’ll be all right,” she told him, her voice steady. “There are other Marshals that can protect me. We’ve made it this far. We have to see it through.”

He shook his head, breaking free of her hands. He looked skyward. Laurie curled her hands into Dante’s jacket, pulling his attention back down to her.

“Dante.” She looked into his eyes. “I saw how scared they were when I was in that hotel room. They were terrified. I’ve thought about them every day since.”

Her hands had dropped to her growing belly.

Dante swallowed hard.

“We have to go back. I know it hurts; it’s killing me to leave. But we have to—I have to do this.” Laurie pleaded with him with her eyes. She tugged on his jacket.

Dante nodded. He took a breath, steeling himself.

“We have to get going.” Laurie let go of him and took a half-step back. “We’ll miss the plane.”

She made her voice stern. She turned to shed his embrace and walk to the other side of the car, but Dante caught her wrist. She turned back to him. He looked into her eyes.

“Marry me,” he said. Laurie felt her heart trip over itself.

“What?”

“Marry me. Please?” He tugged on her arm.

“Dante—” Laurie started to say, shaking her head.

“No, please listen to me.” He sank to one knee. “I love you. I love you, and I want to have a family with you. Not just this baby, but a big family. I need someone who’s as strong as you are. I need someone who makes me laugh like you do. I need you with me for the rest of my life. Please marry me?”

Laurie’s heart stopped beating, as she listened to him utter those words. She had never imagined or daydreamed about the perfect marriage proposal, but she was sure she just heard it. Her pulse fluttered. She smiled down on his anxious face.

“Yes,” she said. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

Dante propelled up from the ground. He wrapped his arms around her. He kissed her, standing by the side of the road as onlookers drove by. Then he rested his forehead on hers, and they grinned at each other.

“Thank you.” He kissed her again.

“Dante, we have to go.” Laurie gave him a pointed expression.

“Right! Right. Get in.” He released her.

Laurie ran to the other side of the car. She slid into the passenger seat with a smile. She buckled her seatbelt while Dante gunned the engine, and they took off down the road toward the airport.

Dante parked the rental car right by the door. He grabbed their bags from the back. They ran into the small airport, rushing to the counter. The attendant looked hesitant, but Dante reached for his badge. With a flash of the Marshals symbol, the attendant hurried to check them in while flagging down a colleague to escort them through security right to their gate.

After they boarded the plane, Dante put his arm around Laurie as they began the first of two flights to Honolulu. They sat, holding hands and staring out the window with contented smiles. When the captain turned off the seatbelt sign, Dante rose to rifle through his carry on. He pulled out a worn leather jewelry box and sat down. He opened it, revealing a sparkling diamond ring.

“My mom gave it to me last night. It was my great-grandmother’s on my mother’s side. They’ve passed it down. My mom wanted me to give it to you when I proposed, which I planned to do after the trial. But I guess I got a little ahead of myself.” He gave her a sheepish grin.

Laurie hugged him from her seat. She gave him a heartfelt kiss, before extracting the ring from the box. She slipped it on her left hand.

“Does it fit? I was going to have it re-sized.”

“It’s a little loose, but I have a feeling I’m going to be gaining some weight soon anyway.” Laurie beamed at him.

She kissed him, circling his tongue with hers in a kiss that was both sweet and a promise of more to come. They gradually became aware of clapping and whistling in the background. They had caught the attention of their fellow passengers in the tiny plane. When they broke off the kiss, they smiled at the people around them. The people on board began congratulating them. Embarrassed, they both sat quietly as everyone who walked past smiled or winked at them for the entire flight.

CHAPTER

TWENTY-THREE

Dante

 

Several hours later, Dante and Laurie emerged from the plane. After flying for almost half a day, they both felt cramped. The warm Hawaiian winter was shocking. When they were finally able to take off their heavy winter coats, they had to peel them from their body like a second skin. The sky was overcast, and the humidity made their clothes cling to them as they exited the airport, taking their bags out to a waiting rental car.

Since they had flown west, chasing the sun, it was now the early evening. Dante thought about where he wanted to take Laurie for dinner—a nice dinner. They would have to go into the Marshals headquarters on Monday morning, but tonight and tomorrow were their own. He had made hotel reservations at a hotel in Waikiki, overlooking the ocean. They could spend two romantic evenings together and put Monday right out of their minds.

They walked on the beach, ate ice cream, and swam in the hotel pool. They acted like a honeymooning couple on the islands, and no one spared them a second glance. On their last night, Dante picked up some takeout food. He drove Laurie to his favorite lookout point. They picnicked there, as the sun sank into the ocean, and night descended on the city. They made love on the picnic blanket, underneath the stars. They were at peace as they lay in each other’s arms. They both thought it was the most perfect day they ever had in their entire lives.

The next morning, they silently went down to breakfast. They moved with deliberate care, as if a quick movement would shatter their pretense. They packed everything up, put everything in the car, and checked-out. Dante made some excuse about wanting to miss rush hour, so they walked on the beach one last time, but they both knew the truth.

In the late morning, Dante parked their rental car outside the federal building. He took Laurie’s hand as they walked toward the front entrance. As he opened the door to step inside the building, Dante saw several of the security guards he knew. They stared at him in wide-eyed shock. They said nothing as Laurie passed through the metal detector. Dante pulled out his gun and his badge. He placed them on top of the x-ray machine. He nodded to one of the security guards as he stepped through the metal detector. He went to reach for his gun, when Jacob, an elderly guard Dante had known for years, spoke.

“I’m not supposed to let you have that.” Jacob nodded to the gun.

Jacob looked at Dante, fidgeting with his belt loops and flushing bright red.

“I’m sorry, Dante. But they told us…” Jacob looked away.

“That’s okay.” Dante put up his hand. He took his badge out of the tray. “Just make sure it gets back to Rick and no one else.”

Jacob nodded, as his shoulders relaxed.

Dante gave him a half-hearted smile. He put his hand on the small of Laurie’s back. He led her down the hall to a wooden door. The frosted glass on the door had the Marshals logo emblazoned on it. Dante looked down at Laurie.

“Ready?” He took a deep breath. She nodded, forcing a gulp of air down. Dante turned the handle.

The receptionist was at the right of the door. She looked up as they entered the room. She froze. Her mouth dropped open. She made several inaudible sounds. Her eyes just kept moving from Laurie to Dante and back again.

“Hi, Janice,” Dante said after a few minutes. “Is Rick in?”

Her jaw moved back and forth several times, and then:

“Rick!” she called, not even looking over her shoulder. “Rick, there’s someone here for you!”

“Janice, I’m in a meeting!” Rick exclaimed. “Tell them to come back later.”

“Rick, you really need to come out here!” Janice said.

“What the hell could possibly—” Rick began, yanking open his door, and storming out of his office.

He stopped cold, as he saw Dante and Laurie standing before him. A tall gentleman in a suit appeared behind him. Dante recognized him as the District Attorney, one of the few men that wore a tie on the islands. It occurred to Dante that he and Laurie had probably just interrupted a meeting about themselves.

“Dante?” Rick took a step forward.

“Rick.” He nodded to the DA in the background. “It’s been awhile. I think we need to talk.”

“Yes. Yes, we do.” His eyes finally took in Laurie, who stood clutching Dante’s elbow. “God, I’m glad to see you, son.”

“It’s good to see you too, Rick.” Dante gave him half a smile.

“Come in to my office.” Rick stood aside to let them in. “Danny, I think maybe you’ll want to come back in about an hour or so?”

Danny nodded. He walked around the receptionist’s desk on his way out the door.

“Yeah, I think I do.” Danny said, smiling. “I’m Danny Escobar, by the way. The District Attorney.”

He extended his hand to Laurie. Laurie’s eyes flickered between the DA’s coal black eyes and his hand for a few moments. He was a young DA, maybe ten years older than Laurie. His beaming smile emanated eagerness. Laurie reached out, giving his hand a cautionary shake.

“Hi.” Laurie shifted back, closer to Dante.

“You don’t know how many people are very, very glad to see you, Ms. Shelton. Very glad.” His smile grew brighter.

“Thank you.” Laurie responded with a watery smile.

“Very glad,” Danny said again, as he left the office.

“Janice, can you get them something to drink? What would you like, dear? Water, soda?” Rick gestured to Laurie.

“Just water,” Laurie responded, as they all filed into Rick’s office.

Rick sat down at his desk. The heavy wooden beast took up half the space in the room. Shelves lined both sides of the walls, filled with binder after binder, of all shapes and sizes. Pieces of loose papers poked out from the sides. There was an old, dusty computer at Rick’s side, with a large, bulbous monitor. A coffee mug sat beside it, with several even taller Styrofoam coffee cups lined up behind the mug. Papers, notepads, and folders were scattered all across the desk. At the very corner, a small plastic inbox peeked out from the weight of fifty folders.

Dante and Laurie sat down across from Rick. Dante’s knees bumped against the desk. The heavy, mismatched leather chairs had several tears. The wood creaked as Laurie fidgeted, trying to get comfortable.

Rick sat staring at them in wonder.

Dante broke the awkward silence.

“I owe you an apology, Rick.” Dante leaned forward in his chair. “I know I should have told you what I was going to do. It was clear that someone inside the Marshals Service was feeding Kaimi information. In fact, I suspected it might be you. I had to do what I did to protect Laurie.”

“Me?” Rick shook his head in shock.

“Yes, I overheard a conversation in which Kaimi himself said his mole in the Marshals Service was running the annual training, and of course that means you.” Dante gestured to Rick, watching him intently.

Rick nodded.

“I couldn’t do it this year,” Rick replied with a hint of sorrow. “I had a mild heart attack the week before. I had just gotten out of the hospital. So I asked Cheyn to lead it for me.”

Dante felt relieved as he studied Rick’s expression. There was no hint of deception there. Rick didn’t have a shred of tension around his mouth or eyes. His response was quick and open, with only a hint of embarrassment. Rick also looked worn down—he had bags under his eyes and his complexion was dull and waxy.

“You gave us quite a scare.” Rick looked up at Dante. “I didn’t know quite what to make of it for a long time. Most everyone thought the worst of you. But I just kept hoping it wasn’t true.”

“It wasn’t.” Dante shook his head.

“I know, believe me.” Rick swallowed. “I saw the tape. I guess you sent it to me?”

“Yes.” Dante nodded.

Rick paused for a few minutes, looking away.

“It was hard to watch.” Rick’s eyes slid back to Dante.

Dante nodded. He didn’t want to tell Rick it was even harder to do. Nor did he want to say that the look of terror etched on Cheyn’s face as he lay dying was burned in Dante’s memory. Dante looked away from Rick, staring down at his hands.

“Now, there’s no doubt you had to do what you did.” Rick held up a hand, then both hands. “He went for his gun. I saw it. But still it was, well, tough to watch.”

Dante nodded again, staring at the pile of papers closest to him.

Laurie reached over, squeezing his forearm. The warmth of her fingers brought him a small measure of comfort.

“I just don’t understand why Cheyn would do that.” Rick sat back in his chair. “He loved this job. He was such a damn good Marshal. I just can’t wrap my head around it.”

Rick shook his head in bewilderment.

“I don’t know. I guess he just felt like it was either his job or his family.” Dante looked at the floor. He took a shaky breath.

Laurie squeezed his arm again.

Dante gave her a half-hearted smile as he covered her hand with his. He sat back in his chair to look at Rick again.

“Well, what’s done is done. Danny is more than ready to take on Kaimi. With Ms. Shelton here, we have a case against him for murder. You went above and beyond the call of duty, son. I’m real proud.” Rick smiled.

“Thank you.” Dante gave him a small smile in return.

“There will still be a full investigation, of course. I have a lot of questions about how you found out it was Cheyn, and everything else that’s happened. I won’t be able to reinstate you right away. I’ll have to put you on desk duty or unscheduled leave for a while. But I’m sure we’ll have you back in the ranks in no time.” Rick waved his hand.

“But who will protect me?” Laurie interrupted. “He’ll still be able to protect me, right?”

“All of our agents are highly trained, Ms. Shelton. Your protection is my highest priority. I’ll check-in on you every day if I have to. I will have my best agents assigned to you, but no—Dante will not be able to continue on this assignment.” Rick shook his head.

“But Dante is your best agent. You’ve said that to me before. And how many other agents are in Kaimi’s pocket? I don’t want anyone else protecting me.” She huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Shelton, but my hands are tied.” Rick’s smile turned apologetic. “Dante has to be put on administrative duty until the whole disappearance thing is sorted out.”

“Well, then I’m not going to trial.” Laurie lifted her chin.

Rick’s eyes grew round and huge as he took in a gulp of air.

Dante could see Rick’s temper flickering to life. Dante squeezed Laurie’s hand in warning, but her heated stare locked onto Rick.

“Ms. Shelton, I understand your request, but it’s not possible. Our protocols are quite clear.” Rick shuffled the papers in front of him.

“I don’t care about your—” Laurie began.

“Laurie, Laurie!” Dante stopped her. She turned her angry stare on him.

“I don’t want anyone else protecting me,” she hissed. Her eyes glassed over.

“I know, I know.” He stroked her arm. She shook him off. Laurie sank back in her chair, staring resolutely at the corner of Rick’s desk.

Dante turned back to Rick, who watched them. Suspicion lurked behind his eyes. Rick hadn’t missed the familiar touches or the emotion in Laurie’s voice.

Dante sighed.

“Rick, there’s something else you should know.” Dante stared his mentor in the eye. “Laurie’s pregnant.”

Rick blinked. Then his brow furrowed, looking at Laurie, who refused to look at anyone else.

“I don’t remember that from your notes, or any of your reports.” Rick searched around on his desk for the right file.

“She wasn’t pregnant when she entered protection.” He paused to build up his courage. “The baby’s mine.”

Rick’s head snapped up from his desk to look at Dante. His eyes widened as he took in Dante’s serious stare.

“Oh, Christ!” Rick exclaimed, propping his elbows on the desk and resting his head in his hands.

“I’m sorry, Rick, but I had to tell you.” Dante winced. “That’s why Laurie wants me to be with her right now.”

Rick was silent for a long time. Dante waited it out, tapping his thumb against his knee to keep himself calm. The minutes ticked by and no one spoke.

“I’ve been doing this job for fifteen years. This case is the biggest disaster I’ve ever had to deal with.” Rick sighed.

Dante stared at the floor. His shoulders slumped, and tension was beginning to creep up his neck into his head. He was a fool to think this would work. He only had one card left to play.

“I’m sorry, Rick.” Dante shook his head. “Laurie and I we…we fell in love.”

“Well, love isn’t in the Marshals handbook,” Rick snapped, as he sat back. “It says protect the witness, not fall in love with them.”

“We didn’t mean for this to happen.” Laurie sat forward in her chair. “I can understand that you might see this as an imposition or an employment mistake, but for us it’s the best thing that’s ever happened. This baby is the best thing that’s ever happened. I want my fiancé with me during my pregnancy.”

“Fiancé?” Rick looked at Dante.

Dante nodded, reaching over to rub Laurie’s back, to soothe both her and himself. He needed to keep her calm long enough for Rick to start thinking clearly. It was their only hope.

“I love her.” Dante shrugged.

Rick’s head sank back into his hands. They all sat for a long while in silence again, as Dante just let Rick think things through. Rick finally sat back in his chair and began tapping the edge of his desk with a pencil.

Dante felt Laurie’s muscles tense with every tap, so he kneaded her back more with his hand. Finally, Rick’s gaze settled back on them.

“Dante, if this were any other circumstance—and I mean any other circumstance—I would be congratulating you right now. I mean, no one deserves to fall in love and start a family more than you. On one hand I’m happy for you. I really am.” Rick laid a hand on his desk. “But on the other hand, I have to make sure that Ms. Shelton makes it to the trial. I just can’t have you on her protective detail. I’m sorry.”

“Why?” Laurie coiled like a snake ready to strike.

Dante put his arm around her to keep her still.

“Because, Ms. Shelton, a man will do anything to protect the woman he loves. That includes putting everything else at risk. Dante has already shown he’s more than able and willing to disappear with you into an untraceable existence. If you hadn’t walked into this office today, we never would have found either of you. I’m afraid the Marshals Service just can’t take that risk.” Rick pinned her with a stare.

Laurie glared at him across the desk.

“Can I come with her, Rick? Not as an agent, but as a family member. Unarmed, of course.” Dante lifted his eyes to Rick’s.