“I know.” Denver leaned in. “Paperwork has been submitted from both you and Tina at your jobs that you’ve gone on vacation. It’s up to you if you want to back that up with phone calls or not. If you don’t, then you’re putting a lot of people in danger.” He turned toward Franny and Verna. “I’ll keep them safe, and we’ll see you soon. I promise.”
All of the men except one jumped into the van. The remaining guy shut the door.
Denver’s head dropped. “Thank you.”
Jory Dean lifted his face mask. “Ryker called and arranged all of this. On your orders?”
“Yes,” Denver said. “Please try to keep from killing Malloy.”
Jory grinned. “No promises. The blue sedan over in the corner is for you. Take it.”
Man, Ry had thought of everything. “We’ll be along as soon as possible,” Denver said.
“I have a copter waiting. We’ll be in Montana within an hour,” Jory said, his voice low and dark. “I could stay with you.”
“No.” Denver grinned at this new family he’d met just recently. “Get them safe, and we’ll plan our next move.”
“Fine, brother.” Jory grabbed him for a hard hug.
Denver returned it, ignoring his fat suit. They weren’t brothers, not really, but who the fuck cared? Why the hell not?
“Noni is pretty,” Jory whispered.
Jesus. “I know.” Denver released him. “Stay safe . . . brother.”
An hour after the most bizarre kidnapping in history, Noni yanked the brush through her wet hair in a hotel on the edge of the Idaho-Montana border, more than an hour away from Coeur d’Alene. They had a small bedroom and larger living area. “I still think you made a big mistake in forcing Malloy to go with Jory.” She wanted to understand, but her temper had just kept getting stronger and stronger ever since it had happened. She bit her lip to keep from swearing.
Denver nodded from where he sat on the bed, rocking the baby after having fed her a bottle. He’d already showered, and his wet hair still curled over his collar. “I had to get him out of town. Anybody who knows us could be used as bait right now.”
She tried for reason, but her hold on the brush tightened. If she hit him across his stubborn head, would he understand? “You don’t have the right to make that decision for everyone else.”
He blinked. “I had no choice.”
“No, you definitely had a choice.” Sure, she would’ve preferred Franny and Verna go somewhere safe, but she never would’ve forced them to do so.
“This is my mess, Noni.” He had no right to look so sexily adorable while rocking a sleeping baby.
Yep. She was going to have to hit him. Hard. After he put down her daughter. “But it’s their lives. My life. You can’t just tuck me away somewhere safe until you’re ready to deal with me.”
He stood and walked to a corner of the living area to place the sleeping baby in the portable crib. “I’m getting the feeling that you’re pissed.”
Oh, he did not just get sarcastic with her.
She ignored him and moved over to cover Talia with a blanket, running a finger down the baby’s smooth cheek. How was it possible to love anything this much? Turning, she tried to hold on to that strong feeling. It was just as strong with him.
Denver crossed his arms, pure stubbornness firming his angled jaw.
Nope. Strong feeling gone. “You are such a dick,” she whispered, keeping her voice low.
“Name calling?” His biceps flexed. “I did what I thought was right.”
“You had a cop kidnapped,” Noni hissed.
Talia snuffled.
Denver pressed his lips together and drew Noni toward the bedroom. She stumbled and looked over her shoulder at the baby. “She’s fine,” Denver whispered. “We can hear if she makes a peep.”
Noni glanced toward the triple-locked door. Denver had taken back roads the entire way there, and he was sure they hadn’t been followed. “Fine.” It was time they had it out anyway.
