Denver frowned. Were there other babies Madison had taken? “What you said—about babies. What was that?”
She chuckled then, and the sound skidded over his skin like a razor blade. “Oh. You haven’t put it all together.” Her chuckle turned into a giggle that was freakishly odd considering her age. “Funny.”
He looked at Ryker, who shook his head. “What? What have I missed?”
Madison sighed. “I’m sure the news of your parentage has caught you a little off guard. But Denver? I have a daughter. Audrey.”
Denver’s vision went black at the edges. He’d totally forgotten. Nate Dean, the second-oldest Gray brother, had married Audrey, who was Isobel Madison’s daughter. And now she was also pregnant. They were safe up in Montana right now. “I forgot,” he said, his voice so low even he could barely hear it. He had a sister. A vulnerable, pregnant, delicate sister who was still hiding from their mother.
His chest filled. Oh, he had a duty, and he’d meet it. Nobody would harm Audrey or that baby.
“Yes, well. You’re going to be an uncle. Congratulations.” Madison clicked something in the background. “After you come home, we’ll create a plan for Audrey and the baby to live with us. I really must study that child.”
Denver jolted upright.
Ryker shook his head and motioned for him to calm down.
Adrenaline flooded Denver’s veins, and his focus narrowed as his emotions finally shut down. “Let me know when you want to do the swap. Me for Talia.” His voice didn’t even sound like him.
“Good night, Denver,” she purred. “I’m looking forward to the future.” She clicked off.
He stared at a satellite feed of Boise, Idaho. She was somewhere in that vicinity, and he was gonna find her. “Oh. That’s going to be sooner than you think,” he murmured softly. He had not only Noni and Talia to protect but his sister too. A pregnant sister he hadn’t even known he had.
Yeah. It was time.
CHAPTER
33
An hour before they reached Boise, after a surprisingly excellent burger from a mom-and-pop joint, Noni settled back in the passenger seat of a truck Denver had borrowed. Okay. Stole. It was about ten years old but in good shape, and it very much needed snow tires. Heath and Anya drove a SUV while Ryker and Zara followed in another truck. Three vehicles, all stolen from the north so they hopefully wouldn’t be discovered too soon in the south.
Ryker had done some switching of plates that looked way too smooth to have been his first time boosting vehicles. Plus, they’d stored all their gear—guns, knives, bulletproof vests, baby stuff, and food. Once they hit Boise, which was turning out to be a nine-hour drive from Coeur d’Alene because of the heavy snowfall, they were going off the grid.
Noni cleared her throat as the white world sped by outside. “Did I ever tell you that I have Aunt Verna’s smile?”
He cut her a look. “You’re biologically related to Franny, not Verna.”
“Not by blood, no.” She rolled her neck, wanting so badly to help him. His mouth was drawn, and from where she sat, his shoulders looked tense. “But I have her smile. She raised me, and somehow I mimic her.”
He kept driving, his gaze forward. “Okay.”
“You and Heath move the same way. Across a room.”
He slightly tilted his head. “We do?”
“Yes.” She warmed to the subject. “And you and Ryker, somehow you have the same laugh.” It was slightly off-key, actually.
Denver looked her way and smiled.
Her heart stuttered.
“Thank you,” he said softly before concentrating on the road again.
She relaxed. “You haven’t told me about your discussion with Dr. Madison last night.”
He shook his head. “She’s too smart to manipulate.”
Yeah. Noni had figured. “Did she say anything about Talia?” Just saying her baby’s name made her heart squeeze.
