Page 46 of Risk of a Lifetime
He’d stay to complete every project, unless someone told him to leave sooner. The moment she had him alone, she’d tell him to go. Let the Crayton Police take care of her. She could handle pushing him away a lot better than waiting for him to reject her later. Suddenly, it dawned on her. She hadn’t shoved him away for his sake years ago. She’d done it for her own peace of mind. Done it so she wouldn’t have to feel the pain if he chose the FBI over her.
Her mother sat a soda in front of her and pressed an opened candy bar in her hands. Marcy went on automation. Bite, chew, swallow, drink…bite, chew, swallow, drink.
Glancing around, she realized everybody in the room had stayed for her. They’d been there through the years. And had put themselves on the front line for her now. Was she the only one who had enveloped her emotions in a cocoon since she was a child? Faced anything but her own emotional peril?
The front door pushed open a second before the scent of pepperoni and sausage and onion and green peppers filled the space. Joanie plunked three large pizza boxes on the front desk, then detoured in Marcy’s direction. “Figured you might be hungry.”
Second through the door, Burt set down another three boxes. “Me and the boss made these ourselves. Haven’t let them out of our sight. So chow down.”
Marcy hugged her friend, then the cook. “You guys are the best.”
“Okay.” JB walked up beside her, took her hand in his free one while the other still held the phone. “Let me know as soon as things are lined up on your end.” He punched a button on his mobile, ending the call.
“Are you hungry?” Joanie asked, giving him a hug.
“Starving, but we gotta go.” JB tugged Marcy behind him.
She resisted until he stopped at the doorway. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“You and me are gone.” He took her by the elbow. “That’s the only way I can protect you until we get this figured out.”
“I’m not going anywhere. Uncle Cal will watch out for me.” She yanked away. “Besides, this is my mess. Not yours. I made someone mad. Not you.”
Oxygen seemed to be sucked out of the air as the room quieted.
“I don’t think this is about you, Marcy.” The pained expression on JB’s face tore at her heart for a second. He sighed heavy before clenching his jaw. “In my opinion, whoever’s doing this is angry at me. Followed me to Crayton. To you.”
“How do you know?” She swayed for a second then steadied herself against the bookcase.
“That’s just one possibility, JB,” Sheriff Davis said. “You could be wrong.”
“No… I can feel it in my gut. I brought this guy to Marcy’s doorstep the minute I stepped foot in town.” JB moved in front of her. “If walking outside and letting him shoot me would end this, I’d do it in a heartbeat.”
She inhaled, deep and loud. When he brushed the back of his fingers against her cheek, she tilted into his warmth.
“Only this jerk wants to kill you.” JB’s voice broke for an instant. “Wants to make me live without you forever. You were right about danger following me. This time it followed me right to you. And there’s no easy way out for either of us.”
Leaning against his chest, she let the impact of his words sink in as his arms folded around her. She knew JB would fight to his last breath before he let anything happen to her. Each other…their lives depended on each other. No one else could save them.
“Will you trust me, Marcy? Go where I can keep you safe?” He eased his arms away.
“Wouldn’t we be safer here in town?”
Shaking his head, he puffed a loud sigh. “There are too many people in Crayton. Too many possible suspects. We’ve got to narrow the trail so the police can track him down.”
Her mind followed his words. Grasped his meaning. “You mean lure him to us?”
“Yes. We can’t just sit around waiting for his next attack.” He zeroed his look on hers. “I’ll do whatever is needed to keep you safe. But, first, I need you to trust me enough to go along with the plan. Can you do that? Will you let me get us some place safe while the police do their job?”
She nodded, then nodded again. A deep sigh purged her nerves as JB walked back to the doorway. She made her round of hugs to Truman, Uncle Cal, and her mother. Sadie’s hold tightened, but Marcy pushed away. She had to go with JB. She’d put his shove up against anybody’s in the world.
He held out his hand to her, and she reached for it as she walked toward him. The two of them stepped outside, the door closing behind. Parked at the curb right in front of the station was JB’s truck. A police officer stationed on each side meant the truck had been swept for security.
JB and Marcy eased into the cab and pulled away as she looked out the rear window. His hand closed over hers, squeezed. She turned back around. One or both of them could be killed before this ended. The thought coated her with apprehension and fear. As long as they were together, she could face her death. His? Never.
She might as well face the truth. She still loved JB more than life itself. From the moment he bumped in to her during seventh grade math to a few moments ago when she made sure to get him the Payday’s he liked so much, she loved him. If she had to, she’d step in front of a bullet for him. Didn’t mean they’d stay together once this was over, but for now, they were each other’s rock.
She leaned against his shoulder to absorb some of his strength. Suddenly, calmness ebbed through her.
