He was gone without another word.
Chapter Sixteen
Bree had to get out.Out of Risk Peak, out of the entire state of Colorado.
She was currently inside Cheryl and Dan’s office.Both babies were asleep—completely unharmed, thank God—in the playpen Cheryl and Dan had set up weeks ago.
Bree tried to think through the panic that seemed to surround her like a haze.The Organization had found her.If she stayed here any longer, she’d be putting everyone in danger.Herself.The babies.The Andrewses.Tanner.
Tanner.He’d gone running back toward the danger hours ago, and she hadn’t heard from him.He’d thought he was dealing with a run-of-the-mill break-in, when the Organization was so much more dangerous than that.They wouldn’t hesitate to kill him if it suited their purposes.
She paced back and forth across the office like she had dozens of times already tonight.
Was Tanner hurt?She should’ve told him more, done what she could to prepare him for what he would be up against, rather than send him in blind thinking he was just dealing with some burglars.She opened the door to the office, even knowing she would be too late to help him.She had to try.
Cheryl and Dan were sitting, bleary-eyed, at the booth closest to the kitchen, sipping coffee.Deputy Ronnie was at the counter, pouring himself a cup.She hadn’t even realized he was here.
“I need to go help Tanner.He might be in danger.”
Ronnie shook his head.“Nobody was at your place by the time we got there.They must’ve gotten spooked.”
“And nobody was hurt?Tanner is all right?”
Ronnie nodded.“Yep.He’s at the station now questioning a suspect.He wanted me to stay here and make sure you...”He trailed off.
“Make sure Bree and the kids were safe?”Cheryl finished for him.
Ronnie looked a little sheepish.“Yeah.Make sure they were safe.”
But that was obviously not what he’d intended to say.
“Who’s the suspect Tanner is questioning?”Dan asked.
Ronnie took a sip of his coffee and rubbed the back of his neck.“Come on now, Mr.A.You know I can’t talk about that sort of stuff.”
“Is it somebody from around here?It must be someone we know if you’re keeping his identity a secret,” Cheryl argued.“We just want to make sure Bree is safe.Why don’t you just give us a little information while I make you some breakfast, Ronnie.You look hungry.”
Watching the middle-aged man be so skillfully manipulated would’ve been entertaining to Bree if she wasn’t so desperate to hear who was being questioned.
“I definitely wouldn’t say no to some of your pancakes, Mrs.A.And honestly, I don’t know the guy’s name.Truly.”He raised an eyebrow.“Although I will say he could definitely use some of your cooking.”
Dan’s and Cheryl’s eyes flew to Bree’s.
Creepy, thin man.
Damn it, she’d known he was watching her.She didn’t know why he’d waited so long to make his move—maybe he’d been trying to confirm her identity before he did anything.It didn’t matter, and it didn’t matter that Tanner had arrested him.The Organization would get him out almost immediately, or they would just send someone else to come after her.
Bree had to leavenow.
Without another word, she spun back toward the kitchen and the office.
She was grabbing everything that had accumulated in here over the past few weeks.The room looked less like an office and more like a day care.Bree’s heart clenched.Cheryl and Dan had changed so much of their lives to make room for her and the babies.And now Bree had to run.
She was stuffing diapers everywhere she could—not unlike what she’d been doing when she first showed up in Risk Peak—when Cheryl appeared in the doorway.“I’ve tried my best not to ask you questions you might not want to answer.I know those children aren’t yours, but I know you love them and want what’s best for them.”
Bree tried to swallow past the lump in her throat.She knew she wouldn’t be able to get words out, so she just nodded.
“I know you think you need to run, but why don’t you stay?Let us help.Me, Dan, Tanner—hell, most of Risk Peak would fight for you and them kids.Whoever your creepy guy is, or whoever decides to come after you, we can face them together.”
