says the encryption would keep a normal person out and finding someone to open a computer would be his second priority, his wound would be his first. That being said, I’ve called in one of my many favors with the big guy. Guardian is going to track this and encourage the Governor of California to put us in charge of the investigation. Again.”
“Do you know what was in that email?” He looked at Eden’s bewildered expression and pulled her into him.
“I do. If we get wind Cyrus is heading your way, we’ll send a security team out there. They’ll be bunking close by and will deploy if we get any indication shit’s heading your way.”
“Jamison, even if I leave—”
“That’s just it. My bosses don’t want you to leave. There are a lot of variables in play in this situation. If he doesn’t die of his wound, if he isn’t captured, if he can crack that password and get into the computer, and if he looks through the warden’s email, we will at least have a safety net for you at your current location. Right now, my boss is planning for a worst-case scenario and hoping none of the plans he is putting in place have to be used.”
“So, I just sit here and wait?”
“Yes, there is nothing else to do at this point. Go about your life. I’ll keep you updated. As soon as we know something, you’ll know it.”
“And if he is coming this way?”
“Then he will have made a critical error. Guardian isn’t the government, they’re private, agile, and damn good at what they do.”
“All right.” He glanced at Eden. “I need to explain this to Eden.”
“I’ll call every morning with updates. You have my word on that. By the way, I checked. South Dakota is an open carry and open concealed carry state. You don’t need a permit.”
Jamison’s promise reassured him that his agency was engaged, but he’d seen what the man was capable of firsthand. There was no way he’d let him contaminate this town, his sister, or his lover.
“Understood. Thank you, Jamison. I appreciate you reaching out to me and letting me know.”
“I believe the prison tried to contact you also. Your supervisor is an okay lady.”
“She is. Until morning, then.” He waited for Jamison to hang up before he locked his home screen on his phone.
“Tell me what’s going on because not knowing the backstory here is freaking me out.” Eden turned to face him on the couch, and he took her hand in his.
“Remember what I told you about my tattoo?” She reached up with her free hand and cupped his neck where the snake was visible and nodded.
“The man who did that is also the man who drove me away from my prison practice.” He cleared his throat and gave her the bare minimum to convey what he’d witnessed and what Cyrus had done.
She stared down at their linked hands for several minutes, and he gave her time to process what he’d revealed. She finally lifted her eyes to him. The expression wasn’t one of fear; rather, what he saw in those beautiful blue eyes made his heart expand. “You’ve been living with this since it happened? Why haven’t you told me? Does Gen know?”
“She knows.”
“And you didn’t tell me because…?” Eden cocked her head and held his gaze.
“Because it was over. I talk to Jamison once a week, a professional courtesy to me, and I’ve put it behind me. Or I thought I had until tonight. It isn’t the type of conversation you just bring up. I would have told you eventually.” He shrugged. “He had no place in this relationship and I didn’t want to taint you with his deranged acts.”
“Do you think he will come for you?”
“If he finds that email, he’ll try. There is no doubt in my mind,” he answered honestly. “The thing is if he comes and I’m not here, he’ll still kill anyone he thinks is important to me. Any way he can hurt me, he will.”
Eden nodded and moved across the space between them, hugging him. “I don’t know what Guardian is and it’s good that they are going to be around, but you’ve never seen this town close ranks.” She sighed and then sat up. “We need to tell Ken so he can let the sheriff’s department know. Then we need to get the word out. Every man and woman in this town owns weapons. If they know there is a risk, they’ll