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“But I don’t know anything. I didn’t sit in on his business dealings, and when I was surrounded by him and his thugs, I was usually… drugged.” Rainy dropped her head. “I don’t know anything more than I already told you guys.”
“They don’t know that. Hell…” Killion gritted his teeth. “Most of them probably don’t even realize you were there against your will.”
“I can assure you I was never a willing participant.” Her voice quaked.
“Again, they don’t know that. You’re the best shot they have at climbing the food chain,” Killion said. “We need to make sure we have plenty of resources rounding up those assholes too.”
“This will spread us pretty thin,” Cane said, looking at his phone screen. “Mercy just sent a message… ranch is ready for whoever we need to send to protect, and Ransom has offered up whatever resources we need. His guy Kroy is our contact and will set it all up. Let’s put them on Lindstrom’s crew out in the wild. We’ll work Killion’s case.”
Finn passed the group. “Headed out to meet up with Coy and Gannon. We’re getting the families ready and moving them to their new living quarters for the foreseeable future. I’ll let everyone know who’s here in the building and who is headed to the Wyatt Ranch in Montana as soon as we’re done. Mercy’s headed to the ranch with a team now to prepare.”
“Wow.” Rainy’s brow furrowed. “That was fast.”
“It’s how we roll, darlin’,” Finn said, taking his nephew from Wit and kissing him on the head before handing him back to Rainy. “Wit, Hen… you’re with me. If anyone else is free for the next few hours, fall in… we need you. Except you, Killion. You stay here, where you’re safe.”
The room began to disburse as they all had a role to fill and orders to follow. Their operation was smooth and swift. Everyone knew their role and played it well. They were a machine, ready for battle, and a battle it would be. Once again, they were hunting a ghost, and this time, the stakes were higher than they’d ever been, and it left them their most vulnerable.
“What do we do now?” Rainy looked around the nearly empty room before turning to Killion wide eyed with surprise.
He rubbed the back of their son’s head, cradled on her shoulder. “We wait.”
11
“There you go, big guy,” Killion said, laying his son down in his crib. “Nap time’s a little late today.”
Rainy followed suit with their daughter, giving her a gentle kiss on the forehead before laying her down. “They’re doing so good for being so off schedule today.”
“Schedules are important, but so is flexibility. I read that somewhere. I guess today was an example of that,” he replied.
Rainy turned on a sound machine that put out soft, barely-there outdoor sounds and sat in one of the chairs in the space. Killion stopped in the doorway, noting she wasn’t following him out.
“You okay?” Concern filled his words and crossed his expression as he quickly returned to her, took a knee at her feet, and looked her over.
“I’m fine. I just didn’t want to leave them. At least not yet.” She lowered her voice to a near whisper. “I hate being away from them and want every second I can get, even if they’re sleeping. Is that strange?”
She let out an awkward chuckle, unable to look Killion in the eye.
“I don’t think it’s strange. Circumstances outside your control have limited your time with them. I suppose it’s a reasonable response to want to stay close now that you can. You know this is forever now, right?”
Her eyes quickly met him and twinkled with something he didn’t recognize. “Forever?”
“Yeah. No more hospital. No more rehab facility. You’re with them for good now,” Killion clarified. “Nobody is going to take that away from you.”
“Oh.” Her head dropped in disappointment. “I know. I’m sure I’ll get used to it, but for now, I want every bit of them I can get. I want to know how they sleep, the funny sounds they make, all the things.”
She giggled awkwardly. “I’d sleep in here if I could. Just so they’re nearby.”
Killion looked toward the door, then back to her. “You don’t like your room? I can move a bed in here if you’d like. Ashlyn set up your room and kept it simple so you could add your own touches, but if you want to be in here…”
“No.” Rainy reached for his arm. “I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. I love my room. It’s lovely. Exactly how I would have put it together. Really, it’s stunning. I was being… facetious, not literal. The babies need their own space, and I certainly don’t need to sleep next to them. I was only trying to explain how I feel. I’m sure the newness of everything will wear off along with all the worry and I’ll settle into the routine.”
“That’s why I gave you the room right next to them. I figured you would want to be close,” he said.
“Thank you. It’s very thoughtful of you,” she shared. “You know me well.”
“I hoped…”
“Killion…”
