Melissa couldn’t stop Michael Jeter.
But Bree could.
She lifted her face to the low-lying sun, breathing in the air pungent with life.These porch steps, in less than a week, had made her feel more like she had a home—a place in the world—than her apartment in Kansas City ever had.And definitely more than any place she’d shared with her mom for a few months at a time.
But it wasn’t her place.And it never would be—she would never be able to live with herself—if she didn’t do what she could to help Melissa.
To ensure Christian and Beth had their mother around to raise them.
She heard Tanner pulling up long before his car parked in front of the house.He’d worked all night again to protect her, or hopefully caught a few hours’ sleep at his place in town.
As Tanner’s SUV door shut, a sharp whistle came from the trees on the other side of the property near the back of the house, and Corfu got up and trotted off.
“I guess Noah’s babysitting duties are over for the day since you’re home.”
Tanner sat beside her.He was wearing his civilian clothes, including that cowboy hat that set her heart beating faster than it should.He didn’t look too tired.
“He doesn’t mind.”He knocked her knee with his.“You okay?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
His browed furrowed together.“What happened?”
She wrapped both arms around her knees and pulled them to her chest.“I tried to pick up both Christian and Beth yesterday evening at the same time.They lunged for each other, and I nearly dropped them both.”
He muttered a curse.“Did one of them get hurt?Hell, didyouget hurt?Those kids weigh a ton now.And they’re more active than ever.”
She leaned her head on her arms and studied him.“No, I got them under control and put one of them down.But you’ve just made my point.They’re so big.They’re growing more every day.”
“Um, I think babies are supposed to do that.”
She looked out at the horses again.“But they’re notmybabies.Every day that I get to hold them and feed them and play with them is another their mother misses out on.”
“But I thought Melissa wanted you to keep them safe while she did whatever is needed to take down these people she works for.”
Bree shook her head, hugging her legs tighter.It was time for complete honesty with Tanner.
Way past time.
“Melissa can’t do it.Whatever she’s doing is not going to be enough to stop them.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I know who she’s up against.I was part of that group before my mom got me away from them when I was thirteen.”
“The Organization?That same group that you said was dangerous and would kill us all?”
She nodded.
Tanner ran a hand over his face.“I need you to tell me exactly what is going on.Exactly how you’re involved and exactly what needs to be done to keep you and the kids safe.”
“It’s not an easy story to believe.”
“Try me.Trust me.”
She stared out into the gathering dawn.“I never went to college.Never really went to school at all actually, after I turned thirteen.That’s not to say I never had an education, just that I never went to the buildings like most other people did.”
“You were homeschooled?”
