Last chance to buy your way out.
Wire transfer $25M or you lose it all.
A growl shot out from the back of his throat. “One shot,” he bit out. “All I need is one shot to take him out.”
“You can’t kill him.”
“Why the fuck not? He can’t hurt us if he’s dead.” He shoved the letter and photo back into the envelope.
“We have to stick with our plan.” She caressed his shoulder. “Let’s take Sammy and Miranda to your black site.”
“She won’t feel comfortable staying there without me, especially since she doesn’t know your mom and dad.”
“Miranda will be there. Could Sin and Evangeline spend a day or two with her?”
“We’ll do it your way, but I still say, I can end this tonight.”
Together, they hurried up the stairs. Providence tapped on the partially open guest room door. “Miranda, it’s Providence.”
Dakota strode into Sammy’s room. His angel slept peacefully, unaware of the danger that lurked beyond these walls. For her sake, he would play this Providence’s way. He packed her clothes, then hurried into the family room and packed two large bags with toys.
Providence and Miranda hurried into the kitchen. “I’ll load the truck, but I won’t open the garage door,” Providence said.
“I’m sorry, Miranda,” Dakota said.
“No apology necessary,” she replied.
Taking the stairs two at a time, Dakota hoofed it into Sammy’s room and sat by her bed. “Hey, punkin.” He didn’t want to scare her, so he gave her a second. Her eyes fluttered open and she gave him the most adorable sleepy smile. “Is it time for school?”
“I have a special surprise for you. We’re going somewhere fun for a couple of days.”
She bolted upright. “Okay.”
“I packed some of your dolls, including Miss Lady. You don’t need to get dressed. Providence and I are driving you and Mrs. Morris there now.”
He lifted her out of bed, this time remembering her security blanket. Once he buckled her into her car seat, he set the house alarm and drove out of the garage. Within minutes, Sammy had fallen back to sleep.
They drove in silence while Providence kept a watchful eye out the back. Once there, Dakota carried Sammy inside and Miranda followed, while Providence went to alert her sleeping parents.
Dakota brought them into a bedroom with two double beds. Never did he think he’d be bringing his daughter to this location. Yet, there he was, holding his precious child in his arms.
He would do whatever it took to keep her safe.
As he tucked Sammy into the bed, she woke. “Are we here?”
He smiled. “We sure are.”
“Yay.” Sammy slid her thumb into her mouth and closed her eyes.
The bass drum pounding in his head subsided. She was well protected and unaware of the imminent danger. That was all that mattered. In that moment, he understood why his dad had kept his secret from him, and why Luther had, too. They were trying to protect him, like he was now, for his own child.
“Are you staying tonight?” Miranda asked him.
“Yeah. I’m going to ask Sin or Maverick Hott to come out here for additional protection.”
Providence tapped on the doorframe. “We’re staying tonight, right?”
He loved how in sync they were. How he didn’t need to explain. She just knew. “Yeah, we’re staying.”
