red stain crept up Michael’s neck and into his cheeks. “If I wanted her dead, she'd already be six feet under.”
Charming. Jason’s patience was reed thin. Michael’s behavior toward Addison was hostile. It left little doubt of his capability for violence. The businessman could definitely be behind last night’s attack.
Jason jerked his chin down the hall. “You’ve said what you came to. It’s time for you to go.”
Michael’s gaze narrowed, and he puffed out his chest as if preparing for a fight. Jason nearly laughed. He could take the man down in two seconds even with his war wounds. Once a Marine, always a Marine.
“Go ahead, take a swing.” Jason hardened his tone, letting anger bleed into his voice. “But my guess is you won’t. Bullies like you never want to take on someone their own size.”
Michael’s gaze skittered away, and then he smirked. “You aren’t worth it.”
The words came out whiny. The man was a coward. A niggle of doubt wormed its way through Jason’s convictions about Michael’s guilt. Approaching Addison in the church hallway was reckless. Last night’s attack, however, had been well planned. The two didn’t mesh well.
Connor growled as if to remind everyone of his presence. And his loyalty to Jason.
Michael took several steps backward down the hall. “Make sure that dog stays there. If he bites me, I’ll sue you.” He paused at the end of the hallway. “And I mean it, Addison. Don’t accuse me of anything else. You don’t want to make me mad.”
Addison glared at him but said nothing. Once Michael disappeared around the corner, she set the dresses on the table. “Come on. We should follow him to see what kind of vehicle he drives. I want to know if it’s the same SUV that was circling outside my house.”
They quickly exited the church. Throngs of people were weaving a path along the booths. Michael was heading for the overflow parking. Jason grabbed Addison’s hand to prevent them from being separated in the crowd. She interlocked their fingers, and Jason couldn’t help but notice how soft her skin was.
Wrong time, wrong place, Gonzalez. Focus.
He kept Michael in view but maintained enough distance so the other man wouldn’t realize he was being followed. The crowd thinned.
Jason widened the gap. “Where’s he going?”
“There’s additional overflow parking for the fair behind the bakery,” Addison said. “He should turn at the next street if that’s where he’s headed.”
As she predicted, Michael turned. Jason increased his pace to keep from losing the other man. They rounded the corner of the building and the overflow parking lot came into view, but it was devoid of people. Jason paused on the street, scanning the area. “Where’d he go?”
Addison squinted against the sun’s glare and then pointed. “There he is. He must’ve parked at the edge of town.”
A dark-haired man disappeared around the corner of an abandoned store. Jason hurried to catch up. He didn’t want to lose Michael without seeing his vehicle. If Michael was driving the same SUV that had circled outside of Addison’s house in the days prior to the break-in, then chances were, he was also the attacker.
The street was empty. This area of town didn’t have much foot traffic, especially now that the Winter Fair was in full swing. Jason kept his senses alert, watching for any signs of trouble. He wouldn’t put it past Michael to ambush them.
Next to the abandoned store, Connor sniffed the air and stopped dead in his tracks. He whined. Jason’s heart skittered, and he yanked Addison to a stop.
“What is it?”
He barely heard her question. His gaze was locked on Connor. The dog backed away from the store and gave two quick barks, as if signaling danger. He didn’t want to go past the abandoned store…
Jason’s sucked in a sharp breath. There was no time to explain, no time to second-guess. He shoved Addison in front of him, using his body to shield her. “Run. Run.”
She took off without question. Jason followed, keeping his body between Addison and the store. Connor led the charge down the street.
An explosion erupted behind them.
Eight
The acrid scent of smoke lingered in the air. Broken glass littered the sidewalk, sparkling in the sun. Firefighters sprayed water on the last of the flames in the abandoned store while police officers kept townsfolk behind the yellow crime-scene tape.
Addison leaned against a patrol car. Every muscle in her body hurt. The explosion had knocked her to the ground, but Jason had used his body to shield