“Yeah,” Denver said.
Ryker tugged on the vest. “Nice.”
Denver nodded. “Borrowed it.” He turned, his step lighter than it had been in days. His brothers finally got to meet Noni. Suddenly, oddly, his palms started sweating. His palms never sweat. What if she didn’t like them? How could she not like them? They were amazing men.
“You’re thinking awfully hard,” Ryker murmured, walking alongside him toward the door. “Are you worried about the gang and the baby exchange?”
Denver pushed open the door. “Yes.”
Malloy was waiting, standing by the fridge on one leg, his gun pointed at Denver. “Damn it,” he muttered, although his gaze showed relief. “You guys promised you’d stay out of Snowville.”
Ryker stepped past Denver and strode for the cop, quickly shaking hands. Without seeming to, he somehow got Malloy to sit back down and get off that leg. “It’s good to see you again.”
Malloy frowned.
Heath shut the door behind them. “How’s the leg?”
“Fine,” Malloy snapped. “It appears your enemies are now my enemies.”
Denver winced. “I told you we were sorry about that.”
Ryker wiped snow off his jet black hair. “You have a standing invite from the brothers in Montana to relocate there. Something about a sheriff’s position opening up.”
Malloy’s chin lowered. “You think I want to be a country fucking sheriff?”
Denver grinned. “Why not?”
The bedroom door opened, and Noni poked her head out. “Denver?” she asked, her face pale.
He straightened and moved for her, gently taking her hand and leading her out. His shoulders stiffened. “Noni? These are my brothers, Ryker and Heath.” He brought her over to them, feeling like he’d brought a girl home for dinner for the first time.
Her eyes widened and then she shook hands with both. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Ryker smiled, all charm. “You too.”
Heath grinned as well, his gaze searching. “What you’re doing to find the baby, to save her, that’s brave.”
She shuffled her feet. “I don’t feel brave. Just determined.”
“Even better,” Ryker said.
Heath grasped a manila file from beneath his jacket and handed it over to Denver. “I did some research, and if at all possible, get Richie to sign this. We’ve already had it, ah, notarized. It’ll hold up in court, I promise.”
Noni blinked. “You know about Richie?”
Heath stretched his wrist. “Yes. He’s listed as the birth father on the certificate, so he’ll need parental rights terminated in order for your rights, per the will, to be followed. This is the easiest path but not the only one.”
“Heath is a lawyer,” Denver explained. Although Heath didn’t like practicing law, it sure had come in handy once in a while.
“Oh,” she said, glancing at the papers. “We have to get Talia first.”
Denver’s chest settled. For the first time he thought he might actually have a chance of surviving this. “All right. Let me explain the plan to you guys.” Hopefully they wouldn’t think he was crazy.
The plan was crazy.
Noni slowly sipped her coffee as Denver and his brothers went over it detail by detail. Malloy, Heath, Tina, and Denver sat at the table, looking at maps, while Ryker stood behind Heath.
As they talked, she took a moment to study them. She’d felt the scars when they’d shaken hands. Their blood brothers scars.
