Page 387 of Rangers Unexpected Return

“Hey, sweetheart.”

She presses against Claire’s leg.

I don't blame her.

“You're Cole,” she whispers.

My heart damn near stops.

“Yeah.”

“Daddy's friend Cole?”

I can't breathe.

Claire closes her eyes.

I straighten slowly.

“What does she mean?”

Claire reaches into the backpack again.

This time she pulls out an envelope.

Old.

Creased.

My name is written across the front in Nathan's handwriting.

COLE BARRETT.

I stare at it.

The room goes silent.

“Nathan gave this to me three weeks before he died,” Claire says.

My eyes lift to hers.

“He told me if anything happened to him, I was supposed to take our daughter and go somewhere safe.”

My gaze moves to Doc.

Then back to Claire.

“He told me to find Colin Shaw.”

Doc goes completely still.

Claire holds the envelope toward me.

“And he told me if Cole Barrett was there…”

Her voice breaks.

I take one step closer.