The words hit Brick dead center, just like they had the first time she’d said them. To him. He’d been busting his ass as a rookie cop like he’d had something to prove.

In his head, he’d needed Chief Ford to know he wasn’t like his father. A good-time grifter looking for an easy score. He’d needed to prove that he wasn’t going down the same path.

She’d already known it. Strongly hinting that he was being a dumbass if he thought otherwise. And she’d reminded him that on Mackinac, people were judged by their own character, not by those of the people around them.

Remi’s fingers toyed with his hair at the nape of his neck. The gentle touch, the weight of her body against his reassured him. She was his. She belonged with him. And no one was going to take her away.

The conversation cut off when both agents returned.

“With this new evidence, the U.S. Attorney is confident she can take this case before the court and win,” Special Agent Brice stated.

“We just need the bad guy in custody,” White added.

“That is usually helpful,” Chief Ford drawled.

Brice gave the room a cool look. “The best move forward at this time is to encourage him to come out of hiding.”

Brick didn’t like how her gaze lingered on Remi.

She shifted in his lap. “You need bait.”

“Essentially yes.”

“No.” Brick’s voice rang out, silencing everyone else.

“Can I speak to you outside, Sergeant?” Remi demanded.

“You can’t be okay with this,” Brick said to the chief as Remi headed for the front door.

Chief Ford met his heated gaze. There was a warning in her eyes and something else. Something like fear.

He followed Remi out into the lousy, damp spring air.

“Absolutely fucking not,” he said before she could even open her pretty mouth.

“Hear me out.”

“There’s no way you’re taking their side.”

“I’m not taking anyone’s side over you,” she said, huddling deeper into the coat she’d snatched off the rack inside. It was his.

“You are not to put yourself at risk, Remington. I couldn’t take it.”

He crowded her against the railing, needing the proximity to her.

“What if there was no real danger?”

He felt a nagging sensation. An irritation between his shoulder blades as if they were being watched.

“It makes sense,” she began. “From a big picture level.”

“Dangling you in front of a homicidal monster makes no sense on any level,” he argued, keeping his hands on the railing next to her. He was afraid if he touched her he’d never let her go.

“I’m saying, we need him to show his grotesque face sooner rather than later so he can be dragged off in handcuffs. He knows that Camille and I defied him. He’d find us here sooner or later.”

“What’s your point?”

“He knows about the divorce and protective order. He knew about the arrest attempt. Sooner rather than later, he’ll track Camille here to a tiny island with a small police force. What he doesn’t know is there’s a Department of Justice investigation happening. That’s a whole lot of law enforcement who could grace our shores in time to nab him the second he lands here.”