“It’s okay. Let’s stay calm.” Evan’s voice remained even and placating. There was a rhythm to his words that was almost hypnotizing.

“You heard me.” Ben kept his gun raised with his aim clear. Nothing in his demeanor suggested he was ready to back down.

“How did you even know we were out here?” Evan kept the conversation light despite the tensions slamming against them. “Impressive.”

“Four people came into my office to report you the second you got close to Maddie and Connor.” Ben’s voice didn’t waver. “Now, put the gun down.”

Color flooded into Maddie’s cheeks. She looked at the men around her, the weapons, and held up her hands. “This is the marshal. Evan Williams.”

Ben hadn’t moved. “Lower the weapon, Evan. Now.”

Evan hesitated another few seconds before dropping his arm. Relief flooded through Connor a second later. Every instinct in him screamed to punch this guy but he pushed it down. He still was the only one other than Maddie without a weapon.

“He was bothering Maddie and I stepped in.” Evan slipped his weapon into the holster he wore at his side.

She shook her head. “He really wasn’t.”

“It’s good to see you.” Evan stepped forward and hugged Maddie.

She stilled and he clapped her shoulder a bit harder than normal. The touching struck Connor as one of the more awkward welcomes he’d ever seen. He guessed that made sense since Maddie and Evan had a relationship based on danger and safety. Add to that her reluctance to have protection and it was not exactly a recipe for a close friendship.

“I’m Ben Clifford and that needs to be the last time you draw your weapon on this island.” Ben’s shoulders relaxed as he shifted out of battle stance but his voice stayed firm.

Evan shook his head. “I can’t promise that.”

“Do it anyway.”

For a second Evan just stood there in his dark pants and slim black down jacket. Then he nodded. “Happy you called and filled me in about what’s been happening. Looks like it was just in time.”

Connor’s dislike of the other man was immediate and unrelenting. He tried to nail down what bugged him. The guy thought a lot of himself, which wasn’t a surprise. That tended to come with the carry-a-gun-so-I’m-in-charge vibe. He walked into danger without hesitating. That level of self-assurance sometimes bled over into asshole.

He was fit and tall, probably in his late forties, and wore an expression that suggested he viewed himself as Maddie’s savior. No wonder she wanted out of the program as soon as possible.

“This is Connor Rye.” Maddie moved to stand next to him and touched his arm. “He’s a . . . friend.”

She had to be kidding. “Are you serious right now?”

Evan looked from Maddie to Connor. “What am I missing here?”