Page 146 of Coff

“We need to find out who is after her and take them down,” I say.

Ozzie nods.

“I don’t think that’s possible.” I take a deep breath. “Brian said this is bringing out all my dad’s old enemies. I don’t know how many he had, but I’m guessing it’s a large number.”

Ozzie holds up his hand. “I want to help you out, but Coff, we don’t have the resources or manpower to take on what could be every criminal in California.”

“Nor are you going to do that,” Delaney says. “Brian is working on another plan.”

When she doesn’t elaborate, I take her hands in mine. “What plan?”

She avoids my eyes. “He says he might be able to get me another identity and location. He’s not sure, though.”

My heart sinks as I realize I will lose her again. The next few hours or days might be our last. That isn’t enough time for me to figure out another way out of this.

“I’ll be right back.” I manage to step outside and around the side of the cabin. I want to punch something, but there’s nothing to punch. Why did she come back into my life if she’s going to be ripped out again?

I stare at my phone. I want to call my brother and find out the odds of him getting her back into witness protection. But if he says they’re good, I’ll lose it. Instead, I send a message.

Me:Is she going back into witness protection?

I close my eyes and lean against the wall. If Brian would tell me the names of everyone who is after her, I could take care of them myself. Maybe he will.

I go to send another message as his reply comes up.

Brian:Yes. Working out the details now.

Me:Give me the names of the men after her.

Brian:You know I can’t do that. Besides, I don’t have a complete list.

I sink down to the ground. This can’t be how it ends.

“Hey.”

I turn and spot Ozzie standing a few feet away.

“You okay?”

I shake my head.

He sits down next to me. “Yeah, the situation is pretty shitty.”

“I asked my brother for the names of the men going after her. He said no.”

Ozzie nods. “You want to take them out?”

“Of course I do.”

Ozzie tilts his head. “Okay, let’s say you do that. What’s to stop their friends from coming after you or to blame her for it, and then you have more people going after her?”

I turn and stare at him. “So, what? I’m supposed to do nothing?”

Ozzie sighs. “Maybe for now. At some point, these guys will give up and move on to someone else.”

I rub my eyes. “We don’t know they will.”

“Maybe not all of them, but enough of them that maybe you two can work something out.”

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