Under Threat by B.J. Daniels (reading the story of the .TXT) 📕

felt at that moment. Her heart was beating as if she’d just run a mile. Dillon was more than wild. She could see that he could be dangerous—more dangerous than she was interested in.

Chance had been parked down the street, waiting for Mary to return home. He needed to talk to her about earlier. Since getting the box his mother had left for him, he’d been so focused on finding his father that he wanted to apologize. She’d offered to help. He wanted to get it over with as soon as possible since he’d managed to narrow it down to three names.

It wasn’t until he saw the pickup stop in front of her building that he realized she had been on a date with that deputy.

He growled under his breath. There was something about that guy that he didn’t like. And it wasn’t just that he was going out with Mary, he told himself.

Now he mentally kicked himself for sitting down the street watching her place. If she saw him, she’d think he was spying on her. He reached to key the ignition and leave when he saw the passenger door of the deputy’s rig open. From where he sat, he couldn’t miss the deputy grabbing Mary as she tried to get out. What the hell?

He was already opening his door and heading toward her building when he saw Dillon get out and go after her. He could tell by her body language that she wasn’t happy. What had the deputy done to upset her?

Chase saw that Dillon had pinned her against the side of her building. Mary appeared to be trying to get her keys out and go inside.

“Let her go!” he yelled as he advanced on the man.

Both Mary and Dillon turned at the sound of his voice. Both looked surprised, then angry.

“This is none of your business,” the two almost said in unison.

“Let go of her,” he said again to the deputy.

Mary pushed free of Dillon’s arms and, keys palmed, turned to face Chase as he approached. “What are you doing here?”

“I needed to talk to you, but I’m glad I was here to run interference for you. If he’s giving you trouble—”

“I can handle this,” she said.

Chase could see how upset she was at Dillon and now him. “Date’s over. You should go,” he said to the deputy.

Dillon started to come at him. Chase was ready, knowing he could take him in a fair fight. He just doubted the man had ever fought fair. Dillon threw the first punch and charged. Chase took only a glancing blow before he slugged the deputy square in the face, driving him back, but only for a moment.

The man charged again, leading with a right and then a quick left that caught Chase on the cheek. He hit Dillon hard in the stomach, doubling him over before shoving him back. The deputy sprawled on the ground, but was scrambling to his feet reaching for something in his boot when Chase heard Mary screaming for them to stop.

“Stop it!” Mary cried. “Both of you need to leave. Now.”

Dillon slowly slide the knife back into its scabbard, but not before Chase had seen it. He realized how quickly the fight could have gotten ugly if Mary hadn’t stopped it when she did.

The deputy got up from the ground, cussing and spitting out blood. His lip was cut and bleeding. Chase’s jaw and cheek were tender. He suspected he’d have a black eye by morning.

The look Dillon gave him made it clear that this wasn’t over. The next time they saw each other, if Mary wasn’t around, they would settle things. At least now Chase knew what he would be facing. A man who carried a blade in his boot.

“Leave now,” Mary repeated.

“We’ll finish our discussion some other time,” Dillon said to her pointedly, making Chase wish he knew what had been said before Mary had gotten upset and tried to go inside. Now, she said nothing as Dillon started toward his pickup.

“That man is dangerous, Mary. If he—”

She spun on him. “Are you spying on me, Chase?”

“No, I needed to talk to you. I was just waiting...” He knew he sounded lame. It had been weak to wait down the street for her.

She didn’t cut him any slack. “I’m sure whatever you need to talk to me about can wait until tomorrow.” She turned to open her door.

“I’m sorry,” he said behind her, glad he’d been here, even though he’d made her angry. He hated to think what could have happened if he hadn’t intervened.

Mary didn’t answer as she went inside and closed the door.

As he walked back to his pickup, he knew he had only himself to blame for all of this. He’d made so many mistakes, and he could add tonight’s to the list.

Still, he worried. Mary thought she could handle Dillon. But the deputy didn’t seem like a man who would take no for an answer.

Torn between anger and fear, Mary closed and locked the door behind her with trembling fingers. What was wrong with her? Tears burned her eyes. She hadn’t wanted to go out with Dillon tonight. So why had she let him persuade her into it?

And Chase. Parked down the street watching her, spying on her? She shook her head. If he thought he could come back after all this time and just walk in and start—

“Is everything okay?” asked a voice behind her, making her jump. “I didn’t mean to startle you,” Lucy said, coming up beside her in the hallway of her building.

Mary was actually glad to see Lucy. She’d had it with men tonight. She wiped her eyes, angry at herself on so many levels, but especially for shedding more tears over Chase. Her life had felt empty without him, before Dillon, but now she missed that simple world.

Even as she told herself that, she knew she was lying. Chase was back. She loved him. She wanted him. So why did