Free Witness to Passion (Entangled Ignite) (Guarding Her Body) by Naima Simone Page B

she’s avoided ending up in a morgue with a toe tag. I wasn’t going to risk a possible third time being the fucking charm.”
    A thick, heavy silence descended over the phone line.
    “Where is she?” Tristan asked quietly.
    “Safe,” Shane stated. “With me.”
    “I’m on my way over there to take her statement.”
    “No,” Shane objected, voice sharp. “You’re the lead detective on this case. With Fallon disappearing, who do you think Michaels will have followed? Right now, he doesn’t know my identity or her connection to me. I’d like to keep it that way. Besides, we won’t be here long anyway. Tomorrow, I’m moving her to one of our safe houses.”
    Since GDG Security Solutions was a young company compared to other security firms, they only owned three locations. But the one Shane had in mind granted enough distance between Boston, the Lords of War, and Fallon that he could breathe somewhat easier…somewhat.
    “I’m trying to be patient, Shane. I really am. But my captain isn’t going to be nearly as understanding. One of the most notorious gang leaders in the city busted out of jail, and now the star witness is gone. This doesn’t make the department look good.” Tristan’s sigh echoed down the line. “I get it, man. I do. Fallon is special to you. If this was Joy, I would tear down hell itself to keep her safe.” Shane believed him; Tristan was crazy about his fiancée, and would give his life—and take someone else’s—to protect her. “But I have a job to do, too,” Tristan continued. “And a public to keep safe. Michaels and his boys don’t give a rat’s ass who they hurt or kill. My hands are tied if Fallon opts out of witness protection, but I can still work on arrests for the car bombing, for the threats on a witness’s life.”
    Shane nodded, though Tristan couldn’t see the gesture. “I’ll have her call you. I promise. After tonight, I can’t reveal where we’re headed, but I will keep you in the loop as much as possible,” he conceded. Shane loved Tristan like a brother, but with Fallon’s life in the balance, he refused to compromise any further.
    “Fine,” Tristan agreed, though frustration still colored his tone. “I’ll call—Wait.” A pause. “Joy just came home. I’ll be in contact soon.”
    The call ended, and Shane lowered the phone from his ear, staring at the dark screen.
    “Either you’re really hot or extremely conflicted about what to cook,” a dry voice drawled from the kitchen entrance.
    He glanced up, startled. He’d been so deep in thought, he hadn’t even heard Fallon approach. Returning his attention to the refrigerator, he reached in and withdrew a block of cheddar cheese and butter. “The conflict is whether to go with the cheese or the leftover Chinese. Since the takeout has been there since last week, I’m going with grilled cheese sandwiches.”
    “Sounds good.” She entered the large kitchen, tugged a chair from under the large table, and sank down onto the seat. He studied her as he withdrew a pan and pot from under the counter. Though weariness still shadowed her pretty eyes like heavy storm clouds, a determined glint reflected in the gray depths. Her shoulders were straighter, and the hard, grim slant had disappeared from her soft, sensual mouth. Not necessarily a good thing since it conjured images that had his dick leaping like a damn cheerleader. “Who was that on the phone?” She propped an elbow on the table, resting her cheek on her palm.
    “Tristan,” he said, opening a can of tomato soup and pouring it into the pot. Jealousy twisted in his gut. His friend had been able to protect her while Shane had been kept in the dark. Irrational, since Tristan led the investigation, but dammit, he should’ve been there for her, not his friend. Christ . He dropped the first sandwich into the pan. When did I grow a vagina? “He’s going to call later to get your statement about today and probably last night.”
    “Okay.”