The world was starting to spin, the dark sky closing in on her.How was she going to do this?How would she keep the twins fed if she was on the run?Where else was going to allow her to work while good people helped look after them?
It would never happen.She wouldn’t make it.What was she going to do?
Her throat was closing up, and she couldn’t breathe.She began to scratch at it frantically, trying to get oxygen into her system.
Then suddenly Tanner’s face was right in front of hers.His hand wrapped around the back of her head, his fingers digging into her hair.It wasn’t painful, but there was definitely no ignoring it.
“Bree.Listen to me.I am not going to let anything happen to you.Not to you or the kids.”As she stared into his brown eyes, so serious and authoritative, she couldn’t help but believe him.Her throat loosened enough to let in some air.
“You’re not in this alone anymore.”His fingers rubbed at the back of her neck.“Not alone.Got it?”
She could only stare, couldn’t quite formulate words.So Tanner moved her head in a nodding motion.
“You’re going to stay here at the diner with Dan and Cheryl until I get back.”
She realized she could see him so well because they’d made it back to the Sunrise.A few moments later, Cheryl and Dan pulled up in their car.Cheryl took Beth from Tanner, and Dan wrapped an arm around Bree.
Tanner reached over and kissed her forehead.“Not.Alone.Okay?”
He waited until she nodded, this time of her own accord, then took off running into the night.
Chapter Fourteen
Making sure Bree and the kids were safe had been the right priority, but damn if Tanner hadn’t wanted to go straight to her apartment.Find those bastards who had put the normally reserved Bree into such a panic.
Even worse, if he hadn’t received a message on his personal phone from an unknown number about the situation, he never would’ve been there to help her in the first place.
A three-man team?It definitely wasn’t a burglary.There was nothing worth taking in an apartment that size.
When Tanner arrived back near the outside of Bree’s place, Ronnie was cuffing a man.
Bree’s creepy, thin guy.He was bleeding from a wound near his mouth and looked like the sleeve of his shirt had been torn.
“You read him his rights?”he asked Ronnie.
“Yep.Guy hasn’t said a word.”
Tanner got up in his face.“Where are your other two friends?Are they still around?”
The man just stared.“I’m not the person you’re looking for.But yes, I would assume those three men are still nearby.Although what they’re looking for isn’t in reach, so they probably won’t make themselves known.”
“Oh, yeah?”Ronnie pushed the guy a little forward toward the police vehicle.“What exactly are they looking for?Bree doesn’t have much cash or anything of value.”
Tanner already knew what the men had been looking for.They’d been here to take Bree and the kids.
“Do you work for the people after her?”Tanner asked.
The guy looked surprised for a split second before covering it.“Believe me, I hate them more than anyone.”
“What are we talking about?”Ronnie asked.
Tanner ignored his colleague.“Are you the one who sent me the message?”
“What message?”Ronnie asked, louder this time.But the man didn’t respond.
Tanner turned to Ronnie.“Take him to holding then meet me back here to process the scene.”
Tanner waited to see if the guy would protest his innocence or demand to be set free, but he didn’t.Just silently watched what was happening around him, taking in everything.
