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rear door. Billy made a beeline to check on Lucky.
    Rose had a cut on her forehead, partially hidden by her dark curls. She dabbed at it with a man’s handkerchief, but it kept oozing.
    “Thank you,” she said to Jared.
    “Jared Wright, this is Rose Prospero,” KC made introductions.
    “I remember,” Jared said. “We met when I was taking care of Chase Westin’s little brother, Jay.”
    KC smiled at that. Jay was nineteen and as tall as Chase—he’d hate being referred to as a little brother who needed “taking care” of. But the kid had been in over his head, caught up in one of the Preacher’s arms deals. Without Jay needing her help, she would've never been there to meet Chase—or to save his life.
    “Look,” Jared continued, puffing up as anger overwhelmed him. “I don’t like being kept out of the loop when it comes to one of my cases. I didn’t like it back in December, and I sure as hell don’t like it now, not when there are kids’ lives at stake and bombs going off and guys with goofy tiger masks that I have to shoot dead.”
    KC stepped back from the Marshal’s vitriol, but Rose stood and took it. She seemed to understand it was best to let the man say his piece. Finally, he wound down, his color returning to normal.
    “Again, thanks for the assist, Jared,” Rose said, offering her hand to the US Marshal. “I’m sorry things took a turn for the worse out there today.”
    “You going to stop these wackos before they can blow up more school buses and kids?”
    “That’s exactly what I intend to do.” Rose’s smile was twisted. “Might have to bend the rules a bit.”
    “Not by using my witness as bait.” There was an edge of warning to his voice.
    “No, sir. I wouldn’t dream of it. Take good care of Lucky and Vinnie, okay? They’re special people.”
    His gaze met Rose’s, and he nodded his understanding. He touched his forehead as if saluting. “Yes, ma’am. You can count on me.”
    Billy closed the car door on Lucky, double tapping it with his fist. They watched Jared and Lucky drive away.
    KC turned to Rose. “I called Chase, told him I’m picking him up early from the hospital. Only question is, are we bugging out to a safe house or heading into the office, pretending it’s business as usual?”
    Rose blew her breath out, and KC knew the question had been weighing heavily on her. KC had only been working with the Team for a little more than a month, and it killed her to think that one of their own could have betrayed them to the Preacher’s group. How must Rose feel after building the Team from scratch, in essence, creating a family?
    “Take the day off,” Rose finally said. “Billy and I can take care of business while you take care of Chase. But I’d be prepared for anything.”
    “Always am,” KC said with an enthusiasm she didn’t feel. Her gaze followed the trail of black smoke clearly visible against the pale winter sky. “We’re in a whole new ball game now, aren’t we?”
    Rose nodded and said nothing for a long moment. “KC, watch over Chase—and his brother, Jay, as well. The Preacher’s people have made it clear. It’s personal now. No one is off limits.”
    “Roger that.”
     

Chapter 5
     
     
    Billy watched as KC took off and the Marshal drove away with Lucky, leaving him with Rose and a shitload of complications. First things first. “We’ll go to my place,” he told her. “It’s just a few blocks away, and we can get you cleaned up, figure out our next step.”
    She was silent, her gaze fixed on the spot where the taillights on the Marshal’s car had vanished. Now that they were alone, her shoulders sagged and mouth dragged down in a frown, eyes narrowed in thought.
    Did she realize that she never let down her guard like that for anyone else except him? Not that he’d ever tell her—knowing Rose, she’d tighten her emotional defenses rather than admit to any vulnerability. But after two years of working with her, it was a step