Page 21 of Ransom for His Secret Son

But what caught Remi’s attention were the small signs that didn’t belong. A colorful stacking ring sat abandoned in the corner, a soft baby blanket draped over the arm of an otherwise pristine chair. A quiet reminder that Grace’s baby was here, growing up with her aunt as guardian.

And that was guardian in more ways than one.

Remi spotted the sensors of what had to be a security system, and there were tiny cameras positioned at every window she could see. Obviously, Christina was worried about Tarrant coming after her. Or the baby. Either way, it was smart to have that security in place.

Christina motioned them into a sitting room that managed to be both beautiful and sterile, like something ripped from a magazine. She didn’t bother offering them seats before pulling out her phone.

“I got this text,” Christina said, her voice clipped but still edged with nerves. She handed the phone to Brody. Remi leaned in, reading the message over his shoulder.

Sheriff Brody Walker and Remi are hunting for Tarrant. When they find him, they’ll exchange him for the sheriff’s missing son. Give them all the help you can, and we’ll both get what we want—Tarrant’s head on a silver platter.

No sender. Just those words. Simple. Direct. And enough to make Remi’s stomach twist.

Brody’s jaw tightened as he read it again, then he glanced up at Christina. “Who sent this?”

Christina shrugged, taking the phone back. “No idea. It came from an unknown number about an hour ago.”

Remi bit back a groan, and she was betting Brody had to do that same. “Who could have sent it?” Brody amended, the anger swirling over each word.

“I don’t know,” she said with no hesitation.

But Remi thought that was a lie. The woman had lived with hating Tarrant for a long time. With looking for him. With that need to have him pay for what he’d done. So yeah, a lie.

“I don’t believe you,” Remi said directly.

Christina’s lips curved into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “Believe what you want. All I know is whoever sent it knew you’d come knocking. And let’s be honest. You’re here because you think I’m involved.”

No denial. No defensiveness. Like the text, it sounded matter-of-fact.

Christina’s gaze shifted back to Remi. “You were probably included in this fresh hunt because you’re the one who found Grace’s baby. You came closer to finding Tarrant than the cops ever did.”

The words hit harder than they should have. Remi knew it was true. She’d been closer than anyone, and still Tarrant had slipped through her fingers.

But this wasn’t about her. This was about the newborn safe at Brody’s ranch. About the other baby still out there. And she’d be damned if she let Christina Turner get in the way of finding him.

“Is what’s happening to your son similar to what went on with my niece?” Christina asked, the question cutting through Remi’s thoughts. “Was he born from a stolen embryo?”

“A stolen embryo,” Brody confirmed, his stare turning into a glare. “Most people would have assumed he’d been abducted when they saw missing son in that text.”

Christina lifted her shoulder. “Obviously, I’m not like most people. I’ve lived through the hell storm that Tarrant can create.” She paused. “But he probably didn’t put this together. No. Someone else would have done that. Someone like me,” she added in a mutter.

“Someone like you,” Brody affirmed.

“But I didn’t do this,” Christina calmly replied.

Remi silently cursed and wished she had psychic powers so she knew if the woman were lying.

“Who would send this text?” Brody snapped out again, his words like angry lashes from a bullwhip. “And this time give me names, or I’ll have you arrested for obstruction of justice. I don’t have time to deal with you wanting to protect people who are members of the We Hate Tarrant Club. Give me names. Now.”

That drained some of the color from Christina’s face, and she gave a tight nod. “These won’t be a surprise,” she said, looking at Remi. “But Eloise Davenport and Dr. Langley.”

She was right. No surprise there. “Who else?” Remi asked. “And why would this person send you that text? Why involve you in this?” Because the answer to that could lead them to who was responsible.

Christina slipped her phone back into her pocket and straightened, her gaze flicking between Remi and Brody. “Follow me,” she said, her tone brisk, as if she was used to giving orders and having them followed without question.

Remi exchanged a glance with Brody before they trailed after Christina down a long hallway. The polished floors and sleek decor gave way to something different as Christina opened a door near the end.

A room that felt nothing like the rest of the house.