Page 5 of Cole

“He’s making a face?” Andrew asked from where he sat beside a desk facing one of the monitors. “I couldn’t tell.”

Annie flashed him a quick smile as Dawn chuckled.

“If you think that’s going to distract me, young lady, you’re wrong.”

Annie sighed. “I don’t like carrying the gun when I’m going to places where we know the people.”

“And you can guarantee me that you’ll know everyone there?” Jude asked.

“No, but it’s no different than a basketball game, and you let me leave my gun at home then.”

“That’s because Dawn and Andrew can be in the gym during those games, andtheyhave guns.”

“C’mon,” Dawn said with a wave of her hand. “Let’s get you armed.”

Resigned, Annie followed Dawn into another room, where she unlocked a gun safe and pulled out a weapon. Though Annie wanted to complain to her bodyguard, she knew that in matters of security, Dawn always sided with Jude.

“The alternative is that Andrew and I come inside,” Dawn said as she grabbed a holster.

“It’s a casual get together, so you’ll stand out too much.”

“Then you’re going to need to strap this on,” Dawn told her as she held out the ankle holster.

Annie supposed she should be glad that Dawn wasn’t insisting on a shoulder holster. She’d practiced retrieving the gun using every style of clothing she preferred to wear, so even though the full skirt of her dress was a bit cumbersome, she didn’t doubt her ability to pull the gun out if necessary.

Once she had the gun in place, the three of them left the building. Benji was already waiting in the front seat of her car. As Annie slid behind the wheel, Dawn and Andrew got into a second non-descript vehicle.

Her own car was the highest safety rated SUV that she could drive around in without drawing attention to herself. Benji didn’t have his own vehicle yet, even though he was chomping at the bit to drive. He would probably be lucky and get to drive sooner than her dad had let her.

“So Jude didn’t give you a long lecture?” Benji asked as she steered the vehicle down the driveway to the front gate.

It opened as she approached it, and soon they were on the road, heading into Serenity. Dawn drove the car behind them, staying a reasonable distance back.

Though she’d never attended Serenity High School, Annie had been there for all of Benji’s games, so she knew where to go. After she’d parked, they got out of the vehicle. As they headed for the doors leading into the building, Annie glanced around, looking for the other car.

She spotted them parked in a far corner, Dawn having backed the car in. She knew they wouldn’t both stay in the car the whole time she and Benji were in the building, but at least one of them would be there.

“We’re late,” Benji said when the sound of a whistle pierced the air.

“Go ahead,” Annie told him with a wave of her hand. “I’ll catch up.”

His stride lengthened as he broke into a jog. Annie didn’t even attempt to catch up with him. She only ran when Dawn insisted she put in some time on the treadmill. It was among her least favorite things to do.

When she reached the doorway, she paused, allowing her gaze to sweep the area and categorize what she saw, starting with the people gathered on the bleachers. She recognized a few people there, but as her gaze went to the players on the court, her eyes widened.

Cole Halverson was there.Cole Halverson.

Moving slowly, she approached the nearest set of bleachers and climbed up a couple of rows before turning and sitting down on the hard surface. She crossed her legs, being careful to keep her dress over her ankle.

Leaning forward, she took in the game, and when her gaze caught Benji’s, he gave her a beaming grin. He’d been excited to come play ball with some of his friends, but to arrive and find out that Cole Halverson was there? He had to be over the moon ecstatic.

Benji was a huge, huge Cole Halverson fan. Of course, part of that was because the man was from the area, but it was also because Cole was Coach Jay’s younger brother.

Annie knew a great deal about Cole Halverson because she’d listened to Benji talk about him a whole lot over the past couple of years. Ever since he’d started playing basketball.

Benji had been on the junior varsity team for two years, and at the end of the previous season, the coach had let him know he wanted him on the varsity team the next season. That had thrilled Benji because he’d worked hard to improve his skills, making good use of the basketball court her dad had built in their recreation center.

If nothing else came of all that practice, getting to play with Cole Halverson would have made it all worthwhile. She knew that without Benji having to say anything.

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