Page 32 of Single Mom's Firemen

My knees quiver. Yet again, Marie has figured out a way to save my sorry ass. I stare at the keys in my hand while Sammy and Luna zip up their bags and load them onto their backs.

“Thank you so much, Marie. You’re amazing. I’ll reimburse you for the gas and—”

“No. What you will do is get these babies home safely and tell my sons about this,” she cuts me off with a stern look on her face. I’m guessing this is the “Angry Mom look” that the guys have mentioned more than once. “If your ex is hovering around looking for a way in, then Eric, Chase, and Wyatt need to know about it. They need to know everything you can tell them about the guy, because otherwise you’re also putting them in danger. I’m deeply fond of you and your children, Halle, but my sons are my sons. They have a right to know about this.”

She is absolutely correct, and she has every reason to be protective over her sons. Marie is a mother, just like me. I would do everything in my power to protect my children, too, regardless of their age and stage in life.

I nod slowly, feeling my cheeks burn. This was more of a reprimand, not necessarily a request and definitely not advice. “You are absolutely right, Marie. Your sons deserve better,” I say, my throat closing up. I keep my smile on and march forward. “I’ll take the kids home and let the guys know what’s going on.”

“Thank you, honey,” Marie replies, softening a little. “I’ll keep an eye out the window. Where is that bastard?”

“Parked in front of the main entrance,” I sigh with embarrassment. “Dark green Jag.”

“Alright. You run along, kids, I’ll see y’all tomorrow,” Marie says with a smile, planting a kiss on top of Luna and Sammy’s heads before taking her spot by the window. “Remember, Halle, the truth is always better, no matter how unpleasant.”

I nod. “Have a good night, Marie. Thank you for everything,” I reply and take my kids’ hands. “Ready to go?” I ask them.

With a resounding yes from both, I give Marie one last weak smile of gratitude then sneak my kids through the daycare’s back door.

A heavy weight of sadness overcomes me because I know I’m never going to see her again.

Come morning, I’m going to pack our bags and leave the Danson brothers’ house. Their mother is on point when she says that they don’t deserve to be kept in the dark. But they’re in more danger if I tell them, and I can’t bring myself to stick around and risk Colby finding us. What I can do is quietly extract myself from their proximity.

I buckle my kids into the car seats, shut the doors, and get behind the wheel, turning the key in the ignition while nervously looking around to make sure Colby isn’t anywhere in sight. He’s probably still out front, waiting for us to come out.

My stomach churns.

Following Marie’s instructions, I head out of the parking lot and down the service alley, farther away from the daycare. Farther away from Colby.

The demon has returned and I need to find out how he traced us here. This wasn’t by accident. He’s been looking for me and the realization hits me like a hammer to the gut—the man is a predator.

I am his prey.

Which is why I need to get myself and my children out of here and away from the Danson brothers.

10

Halle

I’m relieved that neither Sammy nor Luna picked up on my frazzled state of mind last night. Although eager to get back to the house, I knew my kids were hungry so I swung through Mickey D’s for Happy Meals on the way home, always checking my rear and side view mirrors to make sure we weren’t being followed.

By the time we got back to the house the kids were fast asleep. I carefully carried each of them inside, grateful the Danson brothers had already retired to their rooms for the evening.

I got a few hours of sleep at most, packing our bags last night after I tucked them in.

“Okay, are you two ready?”

They might still be half-asleep, but they’re dressed and ready to go.

“Yeah,” Luna mutters, her voice quiet and groggy. “Where are we going again?”

“We’re going to take a small vacation, just the three of us. Remember to be quiet, the guys are still sleeping,” I whisper, glancing at their respective bedroom doors.

We go quietly down the stairs and head straight for the door.

“You’re up early,” Wyatt’s voice comes in from the living room, causing me to scream and freeze on the spot. “Whoa, whoa,” he laughs lightly. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Luna and Sammy are wide awake now and suddenly confused. “What’s wrong, Mama?” Sammy asks with a concerned frown.

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