Protector (Copper Mesa Eagles Book 3) Read Online Free PDF

around in the drawer but came up empty.
    “What was in there?” Garrett asked.
    “The flash drive you gave me,” Ellie said.
    “What else is missing?” he asked.
    Ellie shrugged.
    “I have no idea,” she said. “Besides my computer, at least. I didn’t really have the contents of my desk neatly categorized, you know.”
    She pulled open the wide middle drawer and then froze.
    Inside was nothing but a single sheet of paper.  
    Someone had scrawled on it with a sharpie.

    STAY AWAY FROM THE MONSONS

    Garrett’s breath caught in his throat again, and he curled his hands into fists at his sides. He stalked away, stepping on pens and papers and paperclips and a stapler.
    This is my fault , he thought. They did this to her because of me .
    He took a deep breath, staring out the window, then turned around.
    “I’m withdrawing my case,” he said, arms crossed in front of him. “I don’t want you looking into it any more. I’ll pay for everything that got destroyed.”
    Ellie stood behind the desk with her hands on her hips, and she frowned at Garrett.
    “No,” she said.
    “What do you mean, no ?”
    “I mean I’m working this case,” she said. “Frankly, at this point, I’m going to do it whether you want me to or not.”
    “Are you crazy?” he said, and gestured at her office. “Someone broke in, smashed the place up, and went at your desk with a hatchet. Next time it’ll be you , Ellie.”
    “I can take care of myself,” she said. “And I’m not about to let some bully push me around in my own office .”
    “These people are dangerous , Ellie,” Garrett said, his voice slowly raising. “If this is step one, what do you think step two is?”
    Ellie looked at him, her jaw working.
    “Do you know who did this?” she asked, her voice suddenly soft.
    “No,” he said.
    “Are you lying to me?” she asked, her voice still soft but dangerous .
    Kind of , he thought.
    “No,” he said.
    “Well, this isn’t step one,” she said. “I think this is step two.”
    Anger flared in Garrett again, wild and unpredictable. He nearly snarled.
    “What else did they do?” he asked.
    “No,” she said. “You know something, and I know you know something. You’re going to tell me before I go any further.”
    Garrett glanced at the closet.
    I could lock her in there , he thought. Leave, call the police, and she’d be fine in ten minutes and I’d be out of here. I could keep her safe and away from me .
    He looked back at Ellie, her eyes flashing, her jaw set.
    Could I, though?  
    He had the feeling that no one told Ellie what to do, and that included him.
    “What if I say no?” he asked.
    “Then it takes me that much longer to figure out who did this,” she said.
    “What would convince you to drop this?” he asked.
    Ellie just snorted.
    Even her stubbornness is kinda hot , Garrett thought.
    “Okay,” he said. “Not here, though. Come with me and do exactly as I say.”
    “Exactly?” asked Ellie.  
    “Exactly,” Garrett said.
    He wanted to say let me kiss you , but he didn’t. Instead, he turned and left her office.
    At the door, Ellie paused for a moment and looked back through the shattered glass.
    “You forget something?” Garrett asked.
    “No,” she said. “I just had the weird feeling I wasn’t going to see it again.”
    “You’ll be back in business before you know it,” Garrett said. “Promise.”

Chapter Four

    Ellie
    Halfway down the stairs, Garrett stopped and turned to face Ellie, his face serious.
    “Do you trust me?” he asked.
    Yes, she thought. Even though I have no reason to.
    “Kind of,” Ellie said.
    He tapped a finger on the bannister and thought for a moment.
    “Would you believe me if I told you I was wrapped up in something strange, and I think that we might be followed once we leave your office?” he asked.
    “That I can do,” she said.
    “Well, that’s all true,” he said. “Stick with me, and act like we’re going to get coffee, or