On a Knife's Edge by Lynda Bailey Read Free Book Online Page A

not, we can discuss a security detail once I’m home.
However, in my absence, Shasta and Wyatt will need one.”
    She jolted upright. “What? Me?”
    Adam nodded. “Good point.”
    “I agree,” Dell said. “I’ll check the roster and assign
someone to watch her.”
    “But why do I need protection?” Her voice sounded
shrill in her ears.
    Dell stared at her. “Because you’re my sister.”
    “And my wife,” Graham added.
    Shasta looked from one to the other. “So?”
    Graham tilted his head. “So, Dell and I are the two people
most responsible for Callan going to prison. That potentially puts you in a
dangerous situation.”
    “But…” Shasta frantically searched for a counter argument.
“Having a deputy follow me around all the time would cost a lot of money.” She
glanced at Dell. “Wouldn’t it?”
    His expression hardened. “I don’t care about the cost.
You’re my sister. And I don’t want that bastard within five miles of you, or
Wyatt.”
    “I may be able to help defer the expense,” Adam offered.
“I’ll make a few calls when I get back to my office.”
    “And she should probably be at the stationhouse when not at
home,” Graham said. “Don’t you think, Dell?”
    “Yes I do.” Dell scribbled on a notepad. “And there’ll be no
more jogging in the desert alone. And if she’s not here, and if Wyatt’s not in
school, the two of them will be in lockdown at the house.”
    Dread welled in Shasta’s chest, cutting off her voice. She
couldn’t go into lockdown. Be a prisoner in her own home. Unable to go out. Go
running…
     “Excellent,” Graham said. “I know I’ll rest easier knowing
my family is safe.”
    Dell nodded. “It’s settled then. I’ll have—”
    She slapped her hands on the chair armrests, and three sets
of male eyes landed on her. “You’re all being ridiculous. It’s ludicrous to
think I’m in danger.”
    Dell squinted. “What makes you so certain?”
    “Because—” She stopped herself before saying Lynch would
never hurt me .
    If that come out of her mouth, it would lead to a bevy of
questions. Questions she did not want to answer.
    She’d hadn’t breathed a word to another living soul about
her connection to Lynch, and she wasn’t going to now. Biting her lip, she
pressed her fingers to her temples. She pulled in a slow breath. “When would
this all have to start.”
    “Immediately.” Dell went back to scrawling on his pad.
    “But I have a spa date with Melissa in Reno this afternoon.”
    “Cancel it.” Dell didn’t even bother looking up.
    Her jaw dropped. “I will not cancel. We’ve waited over three
months for an opening.”
    Dell nailed her with a hard look. “Again, I don’t care.
You’re not going anywhere without a police escort. Period.”
    “Oh, for heaven’s sake. Lynch is on the other side of the
state. Even if he drives a hundred miles an hour, he won’t get here until late
this afternoon. There’s absolutely no reason for me to cancel my plans.”
    Graham took her hand. “Please do this. For me.”
    She couldn’t say no to the stark plea in his eyes. Her
shoulders drooped. “Fine. I’ll cancel.”
    Dell threw his hands in the air. “Hallelujah.”
    She rounded on her brother. “But the only one assigned to me and Wyatt will be you.”
    “Why?”
    She gave him her most wicked smile. “Because I intend to
make your life miserable for your overprotective, Neanderthal attitude. I’m not
helpless, you know. I can take care of myself.”
    Graham kissed the back of her hand and smiled. “We know,
honey. Believe me. But that doesn’t mean we don’t worry about you.”
    She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Apology accepted. Now
if you’ll excuse me.” She stood.
    Her brother sat taller. “Where do you think you’re going?”
    “Home, to cancel my spa date and take a shower. Unless you
want me ripening up the air in your stationhouse.”
    Dell reached for his phone. “Fine. I can’t go with you, but
Todd