Love Inspired Suspense May 2015 #2 by Debra Cowan, Susan Sleeman, Mary Ellen Porter Page A

shrugged. “I don’t know how to separate the two, I guess.”
    Brady frowned. “You better figure it out, man, and stay away from her if it’s just an attraction thing, or Skyler will have your head on a platter.”
    Cash respected Skyler—they were good friends—and he would never do anything to interfere in her investigation, unless lives were on the line. That was true of all of his teammates, and Brady needed to recognize that. “So you’re saying if a woman you found attractive could be in danger, you’d climb into bed, sleep soundly and forget all about her?”
    â€œYou know none of us would do that with anyone—attractive or not. Not if we had some proof that they were in danger. You have proof?”
    Cash shook his head.
    Brady made strong eye contact. “Ever consider this thing has more to do with losing your team than with anything else? You know...thinking it’s up to you to stop anything else bad from happening to the people around you?”
    â€œMaybe,” Cash said, avoiding a more detailed answer.
    â€œHey, I get it.” Brady clapped a hand on Cash’s shoulder. “You can’t stand the thought that someone else could die on your watch. But you can’t extend that watch to everyone you come in contact with. You’ll burn out and won’t be good to anyone.”
    â€œI know that.”
    â€œBut?”
    â€œKrista and Otto are different somehow. And before you say it’s because I’ve got a thing for Krista, it’s not that.”
    â€œThen what?’
    Cash shrugged.
    Brady eyed him. “Like I said, figure it out, or you could burn out and that won’t help Krista.” Brady turned and strode back to the kitchen.
    Cash shrugged into his jacket and went to his car. He tried to concentrate on driving but couldn’t get Brady’s words out of his head. Brady was right. After losing his team, Cash hated the thought of anyone getting hurt on his watch. He’d done the right thing in requesting the bomb strike in Afghanistan. They’d come under fire, were pinned down, and a strike offered the best chance of saving lives. Cash couldn’t have predicted the stupid thing would go astray and he’d be the only team member to survive.
    Leaving him to wonder why he’d made it. To question God for eighteen months and not receive a clear answer. Cash usually didn’t dwell on things he couldn’t change, but he just couldn’t shake this. Staying busy was the only way to keep the questions out of his head.
    He cranked up the radio. Old favorites on a country station blared through the car until he arrived at Otto’s house. Cutting off the headlights, he coasted to a stop well out of view of the rustic place.
    Dark and quiet inside, a dim light flashed, then quickly cut off. Suspicious? Maybe. It could be a night-light of some sort, but he wouldn’t take any chances.
    He tugged his collar up against the cold April wind and strode down the driveway toward the A-frame home, a light drizzle dampening his face. The moon, only a sliver tonight, hid behind dense cloud cover.
    He swept his flashlight over the shrubbery abutting the front porch. All clear. He turned the corner heading for the back side overlooking the river swollen from heavy spring rains.
    All was quiet. Serene, even.
    He’d let his fears make him overreact. Nothing new there. Status quo since he’d left Delta. He turned to go.
    A hair-raising scream pierced the air, echoing through the trees.
    His blood ran cold.
    A second scream split the quiet. Both cries came from inside. A woman.
    It was Krista! She was in danger.
    Serious danger.

SEVEN
    K rista fought hard. Her fists. Her elbows. Punching. Pummeling. Striking anywhere she could. She connected, catching the masked intruder by surprise and shoving him away. Scrambling, she dropped to the floor. Shadows clung to the wood. She groped around. Frantic,