Gabe grinned at the variations on “Way to go, girl!” Some of those old sourdoughs—male and female—were damned bloodthirsty.

“The FBI figures Spyros and his team will come after Audrey.” Gabe hated the way Audrey’s face paled. “I’d like you all to watch for them. I don’t want heroics. These are skilled hitmen, and they’ll kill anyone in their way. What I’m asking is that you keep your eyes open.

“How will we know?” Felix called. “The town is full of fishermen.”

It was salmon season, dammit. “True. But these men are predators. And one man is missing an eye. If you get an off feeling, call the line to the station direct, no matter what time. It’ll get relayed to me.”

Uriah tapped a key on the laptop, and the number for the station came up on the projection.

Just about every person in the room pulled out a phone or pen and paper to record the number.

Gabe stared. Swallowed. Then had to clear his throat. “That’s it. Thank you all.”

After Mayor Lillian ended the meeting, Gabe grabbed Audrey as she was leaving.

Her eyes narrowed.

He kissed away her cute frowny-pout and pulled her close. “Sorry, sweetheart. I know you don’t like being the center of attention.”

Before she could speak, Guzman stepped in front of them. “But she’s such a pretty center of attention.” He gave Gabe a level look. “Tucker and I’ll stay close to town for a while. Watching. You’ve got back-up if you need it.”

Gabe shook his hand.

Several more people came forward to say essentially the same thing, including every member of the search team who’d looked for Chevy’s kid.

By God, he liked this town.

Maybe, maybe together they could keep Audrey safe.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

At Lillian’s house, as Audrey climbed out of Gabe’s car, she still couldn’t get her mind around the townspeople’s response.

Last night, Rescue had volunteered to keep Audrey safe, and people kept repeating the intention today.

Earlier, in the coffee shop, a man patted his holstered pistol and said he was carrying today in case those bastards came after her. He assured her he was ready to “perforate” them. Two men and a woman had laughed in agreement and stood to show her their weapons.

She’d come very close to bursting into tears.

In Chicago, fleeing for her life, she’d had no one to turn to.

In Rescue, all day, people had offered her sanctuary with variations of: Those bastards will never find you at my place; it’s off the road. Come and stay with me.

God.

The feelings inside her were so big, so overwhelming, she had no way to express them.