Page 66 of Night Moves
“Thanks, Pete. And thanks for acting before this guy made his way inside.” Drake ended the call and shoved his phone into his pocket.
He turned to find Natalie with her arms wrapped around her stomach. He brought her up to speed on the situation, wishing he didn’t have to tell her and could just whisk her upstairs to safety.
Her face paled. “Do you think it was Kirk?”
“He’d have to have connected you to us. Only way is through Malone, and if he discovered the connection to her, he could’ve been coming for her. In any event, if he knows about me, he could know about the cabin.” Drake dug out his phone. “We need to find an alternate safe site with zero ties to any of us. Then move the kids.”
“You really think moving them is necessary?”
“Better to be cautious and wrong than blow this off and someone gets hurt.” He worked hard not to grimace. “I hate to split our focus right now, but I also need to protect my extended family. Everyone, including my brothers’ significant others could be in danger.”
She grabbed his hands. “Your whole family?”
“You know Gentry. Do you think he’s the sort of guy who’d take one of them hostage if he thought he could get them to talk?”
“Yes. You’re right. I’m sorry to bring this mess to your family.”
“We can handle it,” Drake said, trying to sound like he believed it.
But honestly, if Gentry made the connection to them, Drake wasn’t sure they could protect everyone from a man who’d successfully escaped arrest after committing several heinous murders.
He dialed Aiden and instructed him to move everyone as soon as possible.
“Okay, we’re out of here.” Aiden remained calm.
“Make sure Mom rides with the kids. She’ll keep them calm and know what to do if one of them freaks out at the quick departure.”
“Got it.”
“And don’t call me back on this phone. I’ll contact you via email.”
“Roger that.”
Drake hung up and looked at Natalie.
Her eyes were dark with worry. “Can Aiden get them out of there on time?”
He wanted to say yes. Of course. His brothers could do anything, but they weren’t invincible. No one was. “We’ll just have to pray that he does.”
In the morning, Drake let the water from the shower beat down on his back, the sharp hot beads pinging against knots formed in solid ridges. He’d gotten very little sleep again, what with spending time emailing with his brothers as they found a new safe house. Natalie slept in his bedroom, and he’d taken the couch, a comfy piece of furniture and one he’d fallen asleep on dozens of times. Not last night. But then he hadn’t had a woman in the other room who he couldn’t get out of his brain. A woman he’d kissed. And a woman who was in danger. Serious danger.
He slammed a fist against the gray tiles. Thankfully, Hunter guarded the hallway. Probably not necessary, but Drake would rather be safe than sorry, and he didn’t want to pull anyone off the kids’ detail. They were compromised until they were moved. His brothers had found a place and were getting everyone ready to go now.
He shut off the shower and dried off to get ready for the day. By the time he got into the kitchen, Natalie was there, and the nutty scent of coffee filled the air. She’d put on her suit and heels again for the interviews. It really wasn’t necessary, but she’d told him she felt more in charge when she was dressed right. He guessed it was a lingering feeling from her childhood, but he couldn’t be sure.
She looked up from pouring the rich brown liquid into a mug. “Want some? I tried to make it strong.”
“Please.” He grabbed a mug and held it out. “You sleep okay?”
She tipped the pot over his cup. “I was surprised that I did, and I’m pumped about interviewing Faye. Maybe she’ll turn out to be a good lead for us.”
Drake nodded then blew on his coffee and took a sip. “Good.”
She nodded. “Guess we’re coffee compatible.”
“Well, then. What else is there?” He laughed, loving how it felt to have her in his home first thing in the morning, no matter the circumstances. He glanced at his watch. “We have time for breakfast. I could rustle up some eggs and toast.”
“That would be great.” She slid onto a counter stool.
