When Max didn’t answer, I felt a twinge of disappointment in Wyatt—something I’d thought was no longer possible. “You think it’s a possibility.”
“I’d like to say no, but I have no idea where his loyalty lies. If pressed, I’d say Wyatt’s loyal to himself.”
“That sounds about right,” I said, my tone a touch more bitter than I’d like.
“Why was he all fired up last night?”
“My friends in Arkansas must have orchestrated a big sting, because the crime syndicate is in ashes. It happened a week ago, but Marco only found out yesterday. Wyatt must have heard too, because he confronted me about it last night. Wanted to know when I plan on leaving Drum. He was pissed I was still here.”
He rested his forearm on the table. “You mean he thinks it’s safe for you to become Caroline Blakely again?”
“I guess? The thing is, my father isn’t going to let this go. He sees me as a liability, and now that he no longer needs me alive to marry Jake, he can flat out kill me. If anything, I’m in more danger than before, and Wyatt’s lack of discretion is making me more vulnerable.”
He frowned. “So you plannin’ to stay here forever?”
My heart twisted. “Honestly? I don’t know what I’m going to do. But I do know that I love Hank and Marco. Hank’s been more of a father to me than my own father ever saw fit to be. I can’t just walk away from them. I can’t just walk away from you either. You’ve always had my back and protected me from the dangers in Drum. I don’t take that lightly, Max. Which is why I’ve hated keeping so much from you.”
He scooped up rice in his spoon. “Don’t you be worryin’ about my hurt feelin’s, because there aren’t any. You did exactly the right thing.” He took a bite, his expression serious and thoughtful, then asked, “So Marco knows everything?”
“Yeah.”
He smiled. “Marco Roland is a good man, Carly.” The smile wobbled into a look of uncertainty. “I know that’s not your real name, but I’m not sure it’s safe to call you Caroline.”
“Carly’s fine. My mother used to call me Carly, so Jed—that’s my friend in Arkansas—he tried to find me an alias that would work with Carly.”
“Charlene,” he said, his head bobbing in affirmation as he scooped up more rice.
“Yep.” I hesitated. “You asked if I was staying in Drum, and I can’t answer that. But I do know that I’ll never be Caroline Blakely again. At least not as she was before. She was too trusting. Too naïve. I’m not that woman anymore.”
“But you had a whole lot more money,” he said with a laugh. “And here I put you in the Alpine Inn that first night. You were probably used to the Waldorf Astoria.”
It was my turn to laugh. “No. My father had pretty much cut me off from everything, not that I wanted his money. I supported myself.” My smile softened. “As a third-grade teacher.”
His eyes widened with the realization. “Tutoring Club.”
“I loved being a teacher, but my new identity didn’t come with an advanced degree. Charlene’s dossier said she’d lived in Atlanta and worked in retail after moving there from Michigan.”
“Where did you really live before all this?” he asked.
“Dallas.”
He sank into the silence for a long moment. “I’m nearly a year too late, but I’m sorry this happened to you. And while I understand why you kept it from me, part of me wishes I’d known so I could have tried to make things easier for you.”
“You did help, even if you didn’t realize it.” It was my turn to pause. “Marco has missed you. I’m glad you two are getting closer again.”
He glanced down at the table. “Yeah. I’ve got some things to sort out, but I’m workin’ on it.” He waited a beat. “Why did my mom come to see you?”
“She brought me some of Jerry’s belongings.”
“Really?”
“She said she thought I should have them. Apparently your dad was getting ready to throw it all away.” I held his gaze. “I noticed you didn’t respond when I said I didn’t know where you stood with your father.”
He tapped the table with one finger, growing agitated. “It’s complicated.” Then he raised his head to look at me, his eyes filled with intensity. “But know this…I won’t betray you, and I’ll protect you as best I can.” A crooked grin twisted his mouth. “You’re my employee, which makes you family, Carly Moore. Doubly so since Marco loves you.”
Tears stung my eyes. “Thank you, Max.”
He scooped up the last of his rice, then downed it with his water. “You look beat. Why don’t you go to bed, and I’ll stretch out here on the sofa until Marco comes home?”
“I hate that we’re putting you out.”
“You’re not,” he said, getting to his feet. “Marco’s been there for me more times than I can count. It’s only right for me to be there for him when he needs me.” Then he added good-naturedly, “It’s pure bonus that I’m doing it for you.”
I got up and gave him a hug, squeezing him tight.
He kissed my forehead. “Go to bed, Charlene.”
I laughed and released him. “Feel free to watch TV if you want.” I waggled my eyebrows. “Marco has a satellite dish.”
Chapter Twenty
I was asleep when Marco came home. I felt his arm wrap around me and pull me close, enveloping me in a cocoon of love and protection.
His lips brushed my cheek, and I released a contented sigh as I rolled over to face him.
“I didn’t mean to wake you,” he murmured. “Go back to sleep.”
I gave him a soft kiss as I cradled his cheek. “Is Franklin okay?”
“Just shaken up. His truck’s totaled, and I suspect he got five or six stitches on his forehead.”
“The deputy scared Ruth half to death.”
I felt his cheek shift beneath my hand as he grinned. “Yeah, Max gave me an earful. I’ll be sure to talk to him. He’s a bit green.”
“Was it really a hit-and-run?”
He hesitated. “Deputy Weaver never should have said all of that. This is an active investigation.”
“You don’t think it was the same person who ran Jerry off the road, do you?” I asked.
“No.” He gave me a reassuring kiss and stroked my hair. “No, Care. I really don’t. Don’t worry about it, okay?”
Could it really be a coincidence that two people connected to me had been run off the road within a week of each other? Sure, Franklin wasn’t a close friend, but Ruth was a different story. Still, I knew he wouldn’t knowingly lie to me.
“All right,” I muttered.
He held me quietly for a few moments before he said, “I heard about your run-in with Bingham. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, just the usual butting of heads.”
“Sounded more serious than that.”
“Max probably made too big a deal out of it.” I sighed deeply. “I forgot to ask Bingham about Bruce Abernathy.”