Page 21 of Without Fail

“Hi, Daddy!”

“Hi, baby, are you being a good boy?”

“Yep, Owen is a bad boy,” Colin said, accusing his quieter twin.

“I see. Well, you be sure to be a good boy for Grandma and share your toys.”

“I wanna talk to Daddy!” Owen’s voice wavered in the background, sounding like he was going to cry.

“Put Owen on the phone.”

There was some tug-o-war going on, Marshal was sure of it, but eventually, Owen’s voice filled the speakers.

“I love you, Daddy.”

“I love you too, baby, be good for Grandma, okay?”

“Okay!” Owen assured him.

“Hey, sweetie,” his mom said, coming back on the line.

“I’ll see you on Thursday,” he assured her and they talked a few more minutes before ending the call.

Even if it was only for the day, he needed to make it home.

He rubbed a tired hand over his face and drove onto the street where Ryker had last been seen.

He recognized the area immediately and knew exactly where Ryker was going.

Fuck.

Ryker slowed as he took another left and drove into one of Denver’s affluent neighborhoods. Reaching the Baldwin estate, he gave his ID to the guard at the gate and pulled through the open gate when he was given the okay.

Hailey waved at him from the front walkway and Ryker parked his sports car in the wide driveway. This was only one of the homes that the Baldwins owned and Ryker knew it was the one Hailey hoped they would live in after their marriage.

“Hi! Your call was so unexpected, but I’m thrilled,” she said, smiling and coming forward. When she reached him, she hugged him tight.

“Hi back,” he said as he hugged her. She had always smelled so good to him, but now the soapy scent of Marshal took over.

“How long can you stay?”

“Not long, but I need to talk with you about something.” He followed her into the house, kicking off his shoes in the large foyer before walking in socks to the den. He loved this room because it felt homey. It was a room he’d relaxed in many times since his return from Switzerland.

Hailey disappeared and came back with two sparkling waters, handing him one.

“So, what’s up?” she asked, twisting the lid from her water and dropping down on the sofa next to him. She hitched a leg on the cushion and turned toward him.

He really did feel comfortable around her and she’d become a good friend over the past year. Perhaps that was why he hadn’t put up too much of a fuss when his dad suggested the engagement.

However, he now had hope for him and Marshal and unfortunately, any feelings he had had for Hailey paled in comparison.

“There was a threat against us,” he told her.

“Again?” She frowned worriedly.

“Yeah.” He opened his own water and took a sip. “Until the threat is neutralized, you can’t come over and I can’t come here.”

“But you’re here now…and without bodyguards,” she pointed out.

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