“Your mom?”
“She’ll have a harder time. But she’d do the same for Dad and he’d do the same for her.” His gaze skittered to me and he grinned. “I get to see Theo and Charlie today.”
“It’ll be a few days. We have to fly to Phoenix, in case we’re followed. We can’t lead them to Charleston. We’re all going to have to start over.”
We stared at each other for a few seconds, an entire silent conversation spoken between us. Ashton was rethinking this, not for himself, but because it meant my family would have to move again. But I wouldn’t go back without him. And he wouldn’t let me leave again without coming.
“They’ll be all right,” I said. “Brianna might be mad for a while.” I shrugged. “But when isn’t Bri mad? Mom will understand, and the kids will be so happy you’re with us that they’llbe over it the minute they see you.” I was more worried about Special Agent Moore’s reaction than anything else.
Another few seconds of silence passed between us.
“Yeah. Okay.” He finished up and put the clippers back under the counter. We’d get new ones wherever we ended up. He walked into the bedroom and gave it one last look before hefting the duffel strap over his shoulder.
When he went to slip his phone in his pocket, I stopped him. “You have to leave it.”
“Oh. Yeah. Is it okay if I send my family a quick text goodbye?”
“Probably not.” I smiled. “But we’re breaking all the rules. Tell them I love them.”
Ashton: Tally came back. I’m going with her. I won’t be able to contact you. Wish I could hug you goodbye but we have to hurry. We both love you. All of you. Never forget that.
Then he sent a PS.
Ashton: I’m going to be a dad! Tally’s pregnant with a baby girl!
I wrapped my arms around him and kissed him for too long. “I’ll make it up to you.” There’s no way I could possibly do that but I was going to try.
“Being with you will be enough.”
He dropped the phone on the bed, reached for my hand, and together we walked to the front door. We stepped out into the cold December air.
“Want me to drive?” he asked as we locked up the house.
“Sure.” I handed him the car key. He walked me to the passenger side and reached for the handle.
And that’s when I heard the hammer of a pistol being cocked.
My blood ran cold as Ashton gasped.
“Hailey,” Trevor hissed behind us and my legs threatened to give out. “If you come with me quietly, I won’t killyour husband.”Those two words came out in a jealous rage.
Every warning Special Agent Moore had drilled into me came crashing into my mind.Breaking the rules is suicide. It doesn’t just affect you, it affects everyone you love. Once you leave our protection it’s like a game of dominos. You can’t control where the tiles fall.
My head turned and I was greeted by the face that had haunted me for years. The source of every nightmare. Dark hair, green eyes, and a tiny scar over his right eyebrow. Trevor was deceptively handsome. Like evil wearing its Sunday best. It was the face I’d grown to hate more than any other.
My heart exploded in my chest, causing baby girl to flail wildly. Ashton’s hand tightened around my waist, warning me not to go.
But I didn’t have a choice. I had to keep him safe.
“Okay,” I breathed. “If you promise to leave him alone.” But I couldn’t move. My muscles were locked with terror.
“Don’t do it,” Ashton whispered desperately.
“Shut up!” Trevor screamed. “She’s not yours. Not anymore.”
“It’s okay.” I squeezed Ashton’s hand one last time. Then I carefully slid around his back, putting myself between him and Trevor.
Trevor’s face was granite. His eyes burned with a possessive madness that made my skin crawl. Sweat beaded on his upper lip as he sneered, gun still aimed at Ashton’s head. “You're mine,” he snarled, his free hand clenching and unclenching spasmodically. "You've always been mine!”
