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never forget that moment, but the problem was, she couldn’t afford to dwell on that. To wish for something more with him.
    “Carlos Santino is the head of a far-reaching gang and Jay told me the guy who pushed him over had a specific tattoo—it is the tattoo worn by those gang members.”
    There. She’d told him everything. Almost. Tracy stood to put space between them and went to the fireplace.
    Behind her, she heard nothing at all from David. Maybe he was absorbing it all, which she understood. That could take some time. Or maybe he was contemplating the quickest escape from her and her problems. She wouldn’t blame him for that. She wouldn’t blame him if she heard the door shutting behind her, but she realized that probably wouldn’t happen. If she knew anything about David, it was that he was a solid, trustworthy sort of guy.
    Tracy turned to face him then. He was right behind her and she hadn’t realized he’d moved from the sofa.
    “Listen,” she said, “I didn’t mean to drag you into this. I won’t hold it against you if you bail.”
    “Are you in the witness protection program, Tracy? Is that even your real name?”
    A sardonic laugh escaped. “No, I’m not. And, yes, Tracy Murray is my real name. What does it matter? Did you hear anything I just said?”
    “Why aren’t you in WITSEC?”
    “I chose not to run and hide—well, other than to Alaska.”
    “If this guy is so dangerous I think you need to get help and disappear. Let the Marshals office assist you with that.”
    Seeing the concern in his eyes, Tracy couldn’t help but smile. “You know, we’re only just getting to know each other and you’re already trying to get rid of me.”
    Oh, please, she did not just say that.
    He cracked a smile, though only half his face responded.
    She liked that look on him.
    “I’ll be up-front with you,” he said. “I’d like to get to know you better, but not at the risk of your life. I’m sorry it took me this long to say more than two words to you, but that doesn’t matter anymore. You need to disappear. Where’s the number? I’ll call them and tell them what happened and how important it is to keep you safe.”
    David was definitely a take-charge kind of guy, thinking his words would move Jennifer to take action. And his words confirmed to her why she loved Mountain Cove so much. The sense of community here. People cared. She couldn’t afford for them to care for her, but still, she didn’t want to leave. Didn’t want to run again.
    “I’ve called my contact. Left a message. Until she calls me back there’s nothing more that I can do.” There was nothing he could do, either.
    “Sure there is. You can get out of here.”
    “And go where?” She almost yelled the question at him. She moved away from him, which was increasingly difficult to do in this cottage that seemed to grow smaller by the minute.
    At the kitchen sink, Tracy washed out the cups and the coffeepot. She doubted either of them would drink the rest.
    “Anywhere would be safer than staying here.”
    “I’m in the middle of nowhere, practically, David. People can’t even drive here. You know that. If someone can find me here, they can find me anywhere. So...no.” Well, that was it, then. She had made up her mind, thanks to David. “I’m not leaving. I refuse to have someone else control my life anymore. I won’t be forced out of a life I love, a town I love. I’m just like my father after all.”
    David took the cup from her and placed it in the cabinet. “Your father?”
    “Yeah, when I first agreed to testify, I told my family that we could all go into WITSEC. He refused to go into the program with me. He has a successful business he doesn’t want to leave behind. He can’t start his life over. I couldn’t leave my family behind like that, never to see them again. I’d already lost so much.” Lost someone she loved. “So instead of entering the program, I dropped off the map on my own. And I love my