longer legs. “I’ve known you awhile now. I can tell you got it bad for this young lady. But like I said earlier, I know when someone’s running. Is she in danger?” Jennie continued staring out at the garden, not even looking at Beau as she asked. He sighed.
“It’s not my story to tell Jennie. I will say, that as long as I’m around, she’s going to be safe.” The older woman nodded.
“Ok, if you need me, let me know. For anything. I been on my own a lot of years now. I can shoot better than any of my brothers and if necessary she could always hide out. You let me know.”
“I appreciate that. Just, keep an ear out. I know you don’t gossip, but if you hear about anyone asking around for someone new, see any suspicious men in town, let me know?” he asked her. She nodded.
“So it’s bad?” Jennie took his silence as an affirmation. “I’m here, you know. No matter what.”
“Thank you. I’m here too,” he chuckled but it lacked humor. They silently swung, staring off at nothing. Beau had known Jennie awhile. But they were never close.
“I was attacked by an ex boyfriend who didn’t understand that being married, meant he wasn’t the one for me. Even after he got out of jail, he followed us. My husband moved us all over, running. I was always looking over my shoulder. I get it, she’s scared. I recognize the look of fear.” Beau obviously had never known this about her, but was surprised that she shared. He grabbed her hand, squeezing it and nothing more was said. Finally, she set her ice tea on the table and looked at him.
“Let me know, I’m here if you need anything.” She patted his leg, getting up and shouting goodbye to Mara. Per Mara’s request, he wouldn’t tell Jennie and put her in danger, but it was good to know that if they needed, he could secret Mara away with her. Beau continued rocking as he watched her walk around the side of the house and disappear. He continued swinging, wondering how else he could keep Mara safe, but help Agent Parker find his guy. They had to get Ciminelli behind bars. That was the only way to protect her. Once he was behind bars, someone else would take his place in the family and hopefully forget about her. Hell, who was he kidding? Someone would always be after her. There was never going to be safety unless she either didn’t testify, or the whole family went down. Or he made a deal. Beau pulled out his phone, emailing Agent Parker quickly.
Can we try to draw out Ciminelli by getting Paulie in a position where he thinks we have her? Can we find out who takes over if they both go down and make a deal? They get the family business and leave her alone?
He pressed send and anxiously hoped to get a quick response. The sooner this was resolved, the better.
He kept rocking, with Bear sleeping at his feet, until Mara reemerged from the bedroom. Her skin was sun kissed and glowing, her damp hair hung around her shoulders. Her white sundress made her look like she belonged here. Like she had grown up in small town living, a good southern woman. She slid onto his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. He could smell the citrus from her wash.
“So, hair first, then dinner?”
“What made you change your mind about the hair?” he asked her.
“If you’re willing to put yourself at risk to save me, the least I can do is follow your advice. To an extent. I’m not ready to marry you though.” He nodded, biting his tongue to keep from laughing. He had only been half serious when he had mentioned it to her before. Beau leaned in to nuzzle Mara’s neck. As he placed a kiss on her nape, her stomach rumbled loudly. They looked at each other laughing.
“Maybe dinner first,” he joked.
“Sally will be open late today, it’s the beginning of the month and all the senior ladies come in, Jennie told me all about it.”
“Let’s do the hair first,” he shook his head. “This way, when I introduce you to the people in the town, they see a
“It’s not my story to tell Jennie. I will say, that as long as I’m around, she’s going to be safe.” The older woman nodded.
“Ok, if you need me, let me know. For anything. I been on my own a lot of years now. I can shoot better than any of my brothers and if necessary she could always hide out. You let me know.”
“I appreciate that. Just, keep an ear out. I know you don’t gossip, but if you hear about anyone asking around for someone new, see any suspicious men in town, let me know?” he asked her. She nodded.
“So it’s bad?” Jennie took his silence as an affirmation. “I’m here, you know. No matter what.”
“Thank you. I’m here too,” he chuckled but it lacked humor. They silently swung, staring off at nothing. Beau had known Jennie awhile. But they were never close.
“I was attacked by an ex boyfriend who didn’t understand that being married, meant he wasn’t the one for me. Even after he got out of jail, he followed us. My husband moved us all over, running. I was always looking over my shoulder. I get it, she’s scared. I recognize the look of fear.” Beau obviously had never known this about her, but was surprised that she shared. He grabbed her hand, squeezing it and nothing more was said. Finally, she set her ice tea on the table and looked at him.
“Let me know, I’m here if you need anything.” She patted his leg, getting up and shouting goodbye to Mara. Per Mara’s request, he wouldn’t tell Jennie and put her in danger, but it was good to know that if they needed, he could secret Mara away with her. Beau continued rocking as he watched her walk around the side of the house and disappear. He continued swinging, wondering how else he could keep Mara safe, but help Agent Parker find his guy. They had to get Ciminelli behind bars. That was the only way to protect her. Once he was behind bars, someone else would take his place in the family and hopefully forget about her. Hell, who was he kidding? Someone would always be after her. There was never going to be safety unless she either didn’t testify, or the whole family went down. Or he made a deal. Beau pulled out his phone, emailing Agent Parker quickly.
Can we try to draw out Ciminelli by getting Paulie in a position where he thinks we have her? Can we find out who takes over if they both go down and make a deal? They get the family business and leave her alone?
He pressed send and anxiously hoped to get a quick response. The sooner this was resolved, the better.
He kept rocking, with Bear sleeping at his feet, until Mara reemerged from the bedroom. Her skin was sun kissed and glowing, her damp hair hung around her shoulders. Her white sundress made her look like she belonged here. Like she had grown up in small town living, a good southern woman. She slid onto his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. He could smell the citrus from her wash.
“So, hair first, then dinner?”
“What made you change your mind about the hair?” he asked her.
“If you’re willing to put yourself at risk to save me, the least I can do is follow your advice. To an extent. I’m not ready to marry you though.” He nodded, biting his tongue to keep from laughing. He had only been half serious when he had mentioned it to her before. Beau leaned in to nuzzle Mara’s neck. As he placed a kiss on her nape, her stomach rumbled loudly. They looked at each other laughing.
“Maybe dinner first,” he joked.
“Sally will be open late today, it’s the beginning of the month and all the senior ladies come in, Jennie told me all about it.”
“Let’s do the hair first,” he shook his head. “This way, when I introduce you to the people in the town, they see a
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