“I’m sorry, man. Tell me how I can help.”

  “Nothing you can do. Whoever has my sister seems to have a sixth sense about who we’ll call and where we’ll look next. It’s fucking frustrating.”

  Zy smiled at Tessa when she got into her little sedan safely and drove away with a wave. “If you think of something I can do—”

  “Make progress on finding our mole. Anything new?”

  Renewing the argument that neither Trees nor Tessa would sell them out would fall on deaf ears. “I’m working on it. I need more than a day.”

  Hunter sighed again. “Yeah, but we don’t have a lot of time. Hear anything new from Trees? He tried to call me earlier. I missed it.”

  “I talked to him this morning. Last I heard, he and Kane had come up with a plan to separate. They’ll each bring one of the sisters to Louisiana because anyone looking for Valeria is probably looking for two women with a toddler, so changing the optics should help.”

  “If that’s the plan, then tell Kane that he takes Valeria and no communicating with Trees about location. End of conversation.”

  Because, according to Hunter, Trees might still be guilty. Ugh… “Okay. But they’re having trouble connecting with Laila. She’s reluctant to leave the shelter, and Valeria refuses to leave the state without her son.”

  “It’s a shitty fucking time to get stubborn, but it’s her kid. I get it.”

  Zy knew Hunter meant that. He would do anything for his son, Phoenix.

  “I know what my assignment is.” Even if it was bullshit. “Anything you want me to get One-Mile working on?”

  “Not yet. Until we know who the fuck we’re dealing with, there’s no one to shoot. But tell him to stay ready. If this is going where I fear, he may be taking another trip to Mexico.”

  No surprise there. “You got it.”

  Zy almost told Hunter about the asshole in the parking lot, but his boss didn’t need more on his plate. He’d already tasked One-Mile with helping to track down Tessa’s stranger. If Hunter needed the sniper’s services to rescue Kimber, Zy would have him back-burner this mess. But he didn’t like this thug threatening and rattling Tessa.

  “Thanks.”

  “You all need anything else? Tessa volunteered earlier to come cook for everyone and play with the kids again if—”

  “Tell her I appreciate it, but they’re all in hiding now. Dad, Logan, and I are staying visible. Everyone else these motherfuckers could use against us is somewhere safe.” He sighed again. “I just realized they’re in the safe house we prepared for Valeria and her family. Shit.”

  Yeah, shit. “I know Trees and Kane were hoping to pull out tonight.”

  “Which would put them back in town tomorrow. Fuck. I can’t think of any place—”

  “Don’t worry about it now. I’ll talk to Trees later. We’ll put our heads together and come up with something.”

  “If there’s any chance he’s guilty, I don’t want him involved in that decision.”

  “He isn’t. I would swear my life on that.”

  Hunter hesitated, then cursed. “We’ll talk about it later. I gotta go. Dad thinks he might have something new.”

  “Keep me posted.”

  “You got it.”

  Zy ended the call with a sigh. He hoped something broke for the Edgington family soon. Kimber was the glue that held the family together with laughter and love. The colonel and the bosses would all be devastated if they lost her for good.

  Fuck that. It was early days, and no one was giving up. Instead, Zy pocketed his phone and headed inside, making his way around the maze of walls, desks, and equipment. Finally, he maneuvered his way to One-Mile’s corner of the world.

  “What’s up?” the sniper asked.

  “You see anything in those parking lot cam images? That guy look familiar?”

  Walker shook his head. “No. I even zeroed in. He positioned himself just right to—”

  “Avoid our cameras. I know.” Zy cursed.

  “And she has no idea what he wanted?”

  “That’s what she said.”

  The bosses would probably point out that’s what someone with something to hide would say, but Zy knew Tessa. If she didn’t know, she didn’t know.

  “Thanks for trying, man.”

  “Sorry I couldn’t do more. You need anything else before I head out?”

  Zy shook his head. “Just talked to Hunter. They’ve got nothing new. I’ll keep you posted. But don’t go far. You never know when we’ll have to bounce.”

  “Nothing new about that.” The sniper stood and grabbed his keys. “But unless the world is fucking ending, I’m not available on Valentine’s Day.”

  It seemed totally unlike One-Mile to be sentimental. “Because it will be your first with Brea?”

  “It will, but no.” He gave a wry smile. “That’s when we’re getting married. I let her pick the date.”

  “And that’s the one she chose?” Zy snickered. “It’s kinda cute.”

  Walker laughed with him. “Yeah. What are you gonna do? Happy wife, happy life.”

  Only because Brea made him a very happy man in return. “Her father warming up to you?”

  “A little better every day. At least I think he’s convinced now that I’m not going to bust into his house and tear up the joint before I beat the shit out of him.” He shrugged. “It’s progress.”

  Zy wasn’t shocked. Walker looked like a mean, tattooed motherfucker. “Congrats.”

  “Thanks. And now I have to get the hell out of here. Brea and I have another birth class tonight.”

  “That’s cool. You must be excited.” It was crazy that the sniper would be a father by late spring.

  “Try terrified.”

  Zy raised a brow. “You, afraid? Seriously?”

  He scoffed. “Once you’ve rolled around on the floor with a bunch of pregnant, hormonal women, talking about everything that could go wrong during birth, tell me how confident you feel about your balls staying attached.”

  Then, with a tip of his head, the sniper was gone, leaving Zy alone.

  Since they all had keys to the office, he could secure the place just fine…but it would be absolutely weird to lock up because all the bosses were gone. This business wasn’t just their livelihood. They’d all put their hundred percent into it, and the fact they weren’t around was another indicator of the gravity of the situation.

  With a shake of his head, Zy shut down his laptop, locked up, and headed out to Tessa’s place. He arrived a few minutes later and entertained Hallie while she tossed together some tacos, beans, and salad. After he set the table, they sat, Tessa feeding Hallie before he took over for a bit to spell her.

  Like the first time he’d stayed with these two, being here felt natural. They fell into a family rhythm, and he imagined being with them every night, every weekend, enjoying life together. He’d already called a jeweler this morning about rings. He had an appointment tomorrow afternoon. After that, he’d hopefully have something to put on her finger.

  Once she agreed to move in with him—and he wouldn’t rest until she did—how long before he should pop the question? How long before she’d be ready to say yes?

  Fucking soon, he prayed. He wanted this. He wanted her and Hallie and to expand their family. And he wanted it right now.

  “You okay?” she asked.

  “Yeah.” He’d love to tell her what was on his mind, but she wasn’t ready to hear it.

  “What did Hunter say? Any progress?”

  “No, but they’re trying everything they can.”

  Tessa frowned with worry. “They must be frantic.”

  Zy had heard the fear in Hunter’s voice, but he didn’t want to alarm her any more. “Of course they’re concerned, but they’re doing what they always do, following clues and working angles. Something will turn up.”

  “Do they need more help with food or supplies? What about the kids? I could take them off their hands for a bit.”

  He shook his head. “They’ve got everyone on lockdown at an undisclosed location, just in case. The fewer people who know where the better.”

  “Ah, that makes sense.” Tessa shook her head and forked in another bite of salad. “Hey, I wonder if that guy who accosted me in the parking lot this morning wanted information about where they’re hiding.”

  “Maybe.” It had crossed his mind, too. “If that guy shows up again, you let me know. I’ll make it clear that he needs to leave you the fu—the F alone.”

  Tessa smiled and followed his stare over to the baby, chewing happily on tortillas, carrots, and teeny bites of chicken. “She doesn’t understand you yet.”

  “But she will. Easier to clean up the language now. It gives me time to get it right since I’m bound to…F it up.”

  “You’re so cute.”

  That’s why you love me, he almost said. But did she?

  Zy wasn’t entirely sure, and it bothered him more than he wanted to admit.

  “I’m glad you think so,” he said instead. “Do you remember anything else that guy said?”

  She paused, seeming to mentally replay the conversation. “It all happened so fast, I’m trying to remember everything he said. He told me they had ways of making me comply, so that was unnerving.”

  Hell yeah, it was. “It’s basically a threat.”

  “That’s how I took it, too.”

  “But he didn’t say what they would do if you refused to cooperate?”

  Tessa shook her head. “He just indicated they were trying to be ‘nice’ in offering me money for the information they sought. The whole conversation was maybe thirty seconds. By the time I realized what he was saying, you came out and broke it up.”

  Damn it. Zy wished like hell he’d stayed out of it long enough for Tessa to hear the stranger’s whole spiel, but he’d seen what seemed like a player with swagger trying to horn in on his woman—and he’d lost his shit.

  “Don’t give it another thought. If he’s smart, he won’t be back.”

  “I hope you’re right. It was weird.”

  She’d obviously been unsettled by the encounter, so Zy took her hand. “I’ll look out for you, baby. I promise.”

  “I know.” She sent him a soft smile. “Thanks.”

  Suddenly, Hallie shrieked and pounded her palms on the tray of the high chair.

  Tessa laughed. “That’s her way of saying she’s done with dinner and wants attention now.”

  “Yeah? How about I do the dishes so you can play with her?”

  “Actually, she needs a bath. We’re running a little behind schedule tonight.” Tessa stood and lifted Hallie from her high chair. “I want to get her into bed. Because someone didn’t fall asleep on time last night and was a bit fussier than usual this morning.”

  She kissed the little girl’s head and headed to the bathroom, flipping on the light and talking to her daughter in a happy singsong tone that earned her a baby giggle. Listening, Zy smiled as he started clearing the table.

  Twenty minutes later, they met back in the living room. Tessa carried a clean Hallie, looking flushed and tousled from wrestling her rambunctious toddler in the steamy water.

  “You’re looking very pretty, young lady,” he said to the girl whose wet brown curls framed her pink-cheeked face.

  She smiled, her big green eyes lighting up.

  “She’s so happy,” he remarked to Tessa. “You’ve done great with her.”

  “There were days I wasn’t sure I had it in me, but I’m happy now. Even with all the Cash drama, I don’t regret anything about her coming into my life. And I can’t believe she’s going to be one in just over a week.”

  Time had flown.

  “Think she’d let me hold her?” He hadn’t pushed the issue because she’d always been a little leery of men, but if he was going to be any sort of father figure, he needed to start now.

  “Worth a try. If you can rock her a little, maybe read to her some, that will give me a chance to boot up my laptop and send Joaquin some paperwork he asked for.”

  Zy frowned. In the middle of helping to locate his stepsister, Muñoz wanted some shit from the office? It didn’t make sense, but then again nothing about this situation did. “Sure.”

  Ten minutes later, Tessa strolled in as he stood to settle Hallie in her crib.

  With an indulgent smile, she reached for her baby. Zy handed her over, his heart flipping when she kissed the little girl’s forehead. “I love you, Hallie-bean. Sleep good.”

  The baby’s eyes fluttered open for a moment, then she sighed and fell asleep.

  A smile of motherly tenderness softened Tessa’s face as she set the girl in her crib and backed away. “She’s exhausted. She’ll sleep straight through the night, I’ll bet.”

  “Good.” He wrapped an arm around Tessa’s waist and led her out of the girl’s bedroom.

  “Yeah. I’m exhausted, too. Someone kept me up last night.” She gave him a playful poke in the ribs.

  “I’m not apologizing for that.”

  “I didn’t ask you to.”

  “Nice to know.” He took her in his arms, settling her against his body. “Because I’d like to keep you up again tonight.”

  “Oh?” Her smile turned flirty. “What if I don’t want to be up?”

  “Too bad.” He grinned, then pressed his hard cock against her softness. “I’m…up.”

  She sucked in a breath. “Clearly, you are.”

  “Wanna see more?”

  She bit her lip. “I think I do.”

  “Excellent.” He dipped his head, angling his lips over hers. “I’ve missed you like hell all day.”

  Then he covered her mouth with a groan as he took her pale curls in his fists and tugged. She sighed into the kiss and gave herself over to him in the span of a heartbeat. She talked about not being sure she could trust him with her heart? Bullshit. The way she dropped all defenses as he kissed her took trust. And when he delved into her mouth, seeking out the darkest, sweetest depths, she offered no resistance. She gave him everything he asked for and surrendered even more.

  She had feelings for him, maybe even deep ones. But something—probably a need to be completely sure before she committed—held her back. He could be patient. Tomorrow, he’d have her engagement ring and he’d wait for her to be ready.

  Until then, he had no problem telling her he loved her…and using his body to show her just how much.

  Zy broke their kiss long enough to strip off his shirt as he walked her into the bedroom. He caressed her under the cozy sweatshirt and found her braless. Excitement splintered through his system as he cupped her mounds and thumbed her nipples, finding them hard and waiting.

  Fuck yes. He was never going to get enough of this woman—but he’d happily die trying.

  He reached for the hem of her top. Zy had told himself that he’d go slow tonight, savor her, show her that he could make it all about her until she squealed and begged and cried. But damn if he wasn’t sweating and fevered, needing all of her the second he touched her.

  Then his phone rang.

  Cursing, Zy hoped like hell it was spam when he pulled the device from his pocket. A quick glance told him he wasn’t that lucky. “It’s Trees. If he’s calling me now, there’s a problem.”

  “You two usually talk every day. Why would today be different?”

  He was having trouble stringing an answer together when the too-big sweatshirt slid off her shoulder to reveal her pale skin that gleamed everywhere the soft lamplight hit it. But if he wanted to prove she wasn’t their mole, he had to keep a lid on Trees’s whereabouts. That way, when this shit went south—and he feared it would—he could tell those assholes they worked for that she wasn’t the problem.

  “He should be in the middle of something a lot more urgent than talking to me right now.” He pressed the button to take the call. “Hey, man.”

  In front of him, Tessa frowned as if she didn’t appreciate his answer, but she didn’t say anything, just cocked her head silently, seemingly waiting for him.

  “Hey,” his buddy said over the phone. “Since you’re in charge, I figured I’d check in with you.”

  “Yeah.” He looked Tessa’s way. “Give me five?”

  “Sure.” She disappeared into the bathroom, flipped on the light, and grabbed her hairbrush.

  That seemed like a waste. He was just going to mess it up…but he’d have fun doing it.

  “You talking to me?” Trees asked.

  “Sorry. Talking to Tessa.” Reluctantly, he jogged out of the bedroom, through the living room, then stepped onto the back patio to be enveloped by the chilly winter night. “What’s up?”

  “Did you finally take her to bed?”

  “If I had, why would I tell a nosy prick like you?” He laughed.

  Trees joined in. “So that’s a yes. Was it everything you thought it would be?”

  “Let’s put it this way: I have an appointment to look at engagement rings tomorrow.”

  “You’re that sure?”

  “One hundred percent.”

  “Wow. Congratulations, man. That’s awesome.”

  “Well, even if I buy a ring tomorrow, she’s not going to say yes right then.”

  “A little gun-shy?” Trees asked.

  “Yeah, that’s what she says. And I get it.” He just didn’t like it. “But you didn’t call to ask about us. What’s up? You and Kane get everything worked out with the sisters?”

  “Finally.” He sighed. “It was a fucking long, scary-ass day. But yeah, we’re on the road now. And I need to talk to you.”

  It sounded serious, and Zy’s gut seized. “What’s up?”

  “Kane and I connected with Valeria, and she got her son back. They left a few hours ago in a minivan. He plans to drive straight through. But I got word that the safe house they had for Valeria isn’t available anymore, so where do you want us to go?”

  Good question.

  “I’d ask one of the bosses,” Trees continued, “but with everything they have going on, I didn’t want to come to them with more problems.”