Page 58 of Ghost Among Lies

"They refused to see it that way. They were sick in the head, and honestly, it made me wonder about their own bloodlines." I shook my head and tried to dislodge the rabbit hole my brain wanted to go down. "Either way, I have Hawk looking into the other families. They have to be people the Astors spent time with. They were vain enough to keep a small circle, so with any luck, it won't take long."

"In the meantime," Anita jumped in. "We're going on lockdown. Sloane advised Hawk we won't be taking jobs for the foreseeable future. I refuse to leave Krista and Benny vulnerable while those families are still out there."

Anita cleared her throat. "However, we will have someone joining us during that time."

"I thought you just said we were going into lockdown. Isn't letting a stranger in the opposite of that?"

"He's not a stranger. It's Nova's brother, Jett, and I think he can help Sloane, Hayes, and Benny as they navigate their new life."

I felt Hayes step up behind me a moment before his arm wrapped around my belly, and he pulled me back against his chest. We haven't had a moment alone since we left to learn what we could about The Givers. And now that Benny was with us, life was about to get infinitely more complicated. In a good way though.

"Excuse us for a minute." Hayes didn't care if my team disagreed with his statement. He kept me firmly planted in his arms as we shuffled awkwardly out of the room.

"You know you didn't need to keep me trapped." I laughed. "I would've gladly followed you on my own."

"I couldn't be sure." As soon as we crossed the threshold into our bedroom, Hayes pushed me against the wall and buried his face into my neck. "I've been dying to get you alone to make sure you're all right."

I ran my nails along the back of his head just as he liked. "I'm fine. The Astors didn't hurt me."

"Maybe not physically but I saw the haunted look in your eyes when you walked into the safe house. They rattled you."

They certainly did, but they were gone now. My team and I would ensure Benny was safe from the other families. We wouldn't stop until The Givers were wiped from the earth.

"I don't want to focus on them right now. I want to take the time to get to know Benny and for the three of us to be a family."

Hayes shifted so our foreheads rested together and our breaths intermingled. "I want that too. So damn much. I thought seeing him the first time changed my life, but seeing the two of you together sealed my fate. I don't want a life where the two of you aren't in it."

"Then I guess it's a good thing we're stuck here together for a while. It will give you the chance to change your mind." I snickered.

Hayes grabbed my ass and picked me up. Immediately, my legs wrapped around his waist. "Never. But I guess if you need the reminder of who you belong to, I can gladly show you."

Boy did he show me.

By the second orgasm, I was ready to say screw it and let the whole house know I was Hayes', but thankfully, he had enough sense to cover my screams with his mouth. The last thing I needed to do was traumatize our son the first night in the house.

I would have plenty of time to do that in the future after he learned what Hayes and I did for a living.

I knew one thing for sure. Benny would have a better life than Hayes or I had growing up because, already, he was loved and that was steps above what we had.

EPILOGUE

LILITH

"Who are you?" a small boy around six years old asked.

I looked around for his parents but didn't see anyone. We were on the compound, so the boy had to belong to Jett even though I had yet to see the man. Supposedly, he arrived earlier today, but I had been too busy with Krista to meet him. And honestly, I was okay if I never did. The fewer men in my life, the better.

"Lilith, and what's your name?" I squatted down so I was more on his level rather than towering over him.

"Tommy." He beamed and then looked thoughtful. "You have a funny name. Why did your parents name you Lullith?"

I chuckled at the mispronunciation of my name. Most people got it wrong until I corrected them. They wanted to use the short i sound instead of a double e. But this was the first time someone substituted a u instead.

"It's Lee-lith but you can call me LeeLee if it's easier. That's what my parents used to call me."

I couldn't believe I gave him my old nickname. No one had used it since my parents passed away. I don't even remember ever telling anyone about it. My parents had only ever used it when we were home alone.

"LeeLee. I like that." The boy showed off his toothless grin. Both of his two front top teeth were missing. "My father tells me I'm not supposed to talk to strangers, but how can they be strangers if I know their name?"