Maddie stepped around the outstretched legs and all the bodies in the way in the twelve-by-twelve space and headed for the door. “You really have, Evan.”

Connor almost smiled. Evan had overplayed his hand. He launched an attack, not realizing that it would drive Maddie further away from him.

Evan’s jaw clenched. It looked like he wanted to go on, to blow, but he reined his temper in. He lowered his voice and brought back that singsongy calming tone. “Maddie, you know I can’t tiptoe around the danger. My language is harsh because what can happen to you is harsh.”

“She fired you already.” Connor had been holding that one but he enjoyed dropping it now.

She nodded. “Yes, I did. Sort of.”

Before Evan could fire back, Ben took over by talking directly to Evan. “By tomorrow other police officers will arrive. You can take a look around the island with them. I’ll start the house search and we’ll meet up after that.”

Evan swore under his breath. “None of that deals with Maddie’s safety.”

If the argument upset Ben, he never let it show. “I will have someone watching her. Me, one of my people, or one of the police officers who are on the way.”

She appreciated all of the help but wanted to make one thing clear. “I’m staying with Connor.”

She shifted until she stood beside him. Their arms touched but she didn’t make a move to show any more affection in front of Evan.

“Your boyfriend?”

Connor waited to see how she’d react to the word.

“He is.”

All of the amusement ran out of Evan. He didn’t look quite as self-satisfied now. “We talked about distractions and the risk they pose.”

Maddie shook her head. “It’s my life, my choice.”

“You could do better.”

For the first time since they met, Connor agreed with Evan.

Chapter 21

The day dragged on forever. Between the talking and Evan and moving her stuff back to her house, Maddie had reached her limit. So when Connor offered to cook dinner, she jumped on it.

She loved the idea of watching him cook. She also looked forward to seeing him busy in the kitchen and maybe a bit distracted. Him off guard meant she could ask some of those questions she’d been holding inside.

As sucky as the day had been for her, it was equally sucky for him. Evan had acted like a jackass. More than once she saw Connor visibly restrain his anger to keep from going off. She appreciated the effort and guessed that was for her benefit. Maybe he sensed she could only take so much more without having a few hours to refuel. Because that was true. She’d run out of the energy needed to keep fighting this fight. All those years of running, all the lying, raced up behind her and knocked her flat.