The nerves he expected left him, and he practically jogged to her cabin. As he neared it though, he noticed a light burning in the den, then saw the silhouette of two bodies through the window.
Two bodies?
He froze, wondering if Jordan might have company. A friend? Lover?
No...
Then he spotted movement, the silhouette of a hand holding a knife, and his instincts kicked in. Automatically he reached for his gun and slipped up the steps to the porch, crept to the edge of the window, pausing to listen.
“Please, you don’t want to do this,” Jordan pleaded.
“Didn’t think we’d see your picture in the paper, you stupid bitch.”
The voice, low and throaty, trying to sound adult. A teenager.
The memory of Jordan’s brother’s death and her fear of gang retaliation struck him, and he realized the publicity over Dugan’s arrest had placed her in the limelight.
And brought danger to her door.
Dammit, he had just found her. Had just realized how much he loved her.
He and Timmy couldn’t lose her now. She was their future, their life.
Chapter Twenty-One
Miles inched up to the door, eased it open and crept inside, careful to make his footsteps light. Still, his boots must have hit a weak spot in the floor because the plank squeaked and the big guy holding Jordan swung around, the knife at her throat.
Déjà vu of Dugan’s attack on Jordan hit him, nearly blinding him, but Jordan’s voice broke through the haze. “Please, there’s no reason to do this. What you did to my brother is over, but I can help you if you let me.”
Dear Lord. Jordan was trying to help the kid who had her in his clutches.
She was a fool.
And the most courageous, wonderful woman he’d ever met.
But he didn’t give a damn about the kid. Not if he hurt Jordan.
He raised his gun and pointed it at the teenager. “Listen, I’m a cop and a damn good shot. And I’ve taken down a lot bigger, tougher men than you.”
The kid was big, angry and, judging from his tattoos, a member of the gang who had killed Jordan’s brother. Here to get retribution for her testimony against one of his own.
Loyalty misplaced.
Angry lines slashed grooves around the boy’s face, accentuating the scar on his jaw. A knife wound. Probably a gang fight.
“Let her go, man. I’m a lawman. There’s no way this is going to have a happy ending.”
“Please,” Jordan said gently. “There are people who can help you. I’ll help you.”
The kid released a curse. “Why the hell would you help me, lady?”
“Because you’re young, and you’ve had a tough life, but I think you can do better.” Jordan gripped his hand where he had it at her throat. “My brother wouldn’t want anyone else to die.”
Miles kept his gun trained on the teen. “Do as she says and no one gets hurt.”
The kid looked him in the eye, and for a moment, Miles thought he was going to fight. But he dropped the knife to the floor instead and released Jordan. Miles vaulted forward, spun the kid around and handcuffed him.
“Miles—”
He cut her off. “He’ll have his day in court, but I can’t let him go. Not with all the other boys’ lives at stake.”
Her eyes glittered with emotions, but she knew he was right. Then he called the sheriff’s number. Jordan continued to talk to the kid and encourage him to seek help while they waited on him to arrive.
Miles had no idea if the teenager had any redeemable qualities, but his admiration and love for Jordan grew because he knew she wouldn’t give up.
As soon as the sheriff left with the boy, he planned to tell her how he felt.
* * *
JORDAN’S HEART TUGGED with sadness as the teenager was arrested. She hoped he’d let her help him, but she also realized she couldn’t save everyone.
Timmy’s drawing caught her attention where it lay on the table and she smiled. His childlike insight and wisdom brought tears to her eyes.
Miles stepped back inside, then gave her a fierce look and gripped her arms with his hands. “God, Jordan, I was scared when I saw he had you.”
Jordan’s heart stuttered. She had been afraid, too. “Why did you come here, Miles? Did you know he was here?”
He shook his head, a flicker of possessiveness back in his eyes. “No, I came to tell you that I love you.”
Her mouth curved into a surprised smile. “You do?”
He nodded. “The past few days I was so worried about Timmy, and trying to figure out what to do, where we would go. I felt so guilty over Marie—”
“You can’t keep blaming yourself,” Jordan said quietly. “She wouldn’t want that. And Timmy needs you to forgive yourself.”