Page 129 of Twins for Three Bad Boys

He emerges triumphantly with absolutely nothing, looking pleased with himself.

“He thinks all snacks are his,” Rex explains.

I shake my head, smiling despite everything.

“Here.” Rex hands me his phone. “Her number will be in here, if you want to give Naomi a try.”

I scroll until I find Naomi Keller’s number.

“You’re okay,” Rex murmurs. “You’re safe.”

The words wrap around me.

I press call.

It rings twice.

“Naomi Keller,” a sharp, efficient voice answers.

I glance at Rex.

He nods once.

“Hi,” I say, steadier than I feel. “My name is June Hartley. I think I need some advice.”

As I start explaining, Bolt rests his head more firmly on my thigh, warm and solid.

The truck hums beneath us.

Rex’s presence is calming at my side.

And thankfully, I don’t feel like I’m facing the dark alone.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Rex

I believe her.

Not in the vague, polite way people do when they’re still leaving room for doubt. I believe her the way you believe the sky is still there even when clouds roll in.

I watch her while she talks to the lawyer, curled slightly into the passenger seat, phone pressed to her ear as if it’s heavier than it should be. She’s steadier now than when I picked her up, but I can still see the tremor under it. The kind that comes from holding yourself upright when you’d really rather fold.

Bolt lets out a low huff and shoves his nose between the seats, right into June’s side, as if reminding her she’s not alone.

She smiles down at him without breaking the call, fingers threading through his fur.

Yeah. That checks.

I keep my hands loose on the wheel and my mouth shut. This isn’t my moment to fill space. This is my moment to be solid.

When she finally ends the call, she exhales as if she’s been underwater.

“How’d it go?” I ask gently.

She nods. “She wants screenshots. Timelines. She thinks… she thinks there might be something there.”

“Good,” I say. “That’s good.”