Page 59 of Kill Me Sweetly

Four was still there, staring at me. His brows furrowed.

“Everything okay, Four?”

“They took the girls to a good house?”

Sighing, I inched closer to him and sat. “I hope what Harper said was true, but Mason and I will find out soon.”

“I hope they went to a nice home.”

“Me too. Come on, I’ll get your pill so you can sleep. Everything will look better in the morning.”

“It will?” Four tilted his head.

“I don’t actually know; my mom always said that.”

“I’ll meet you in our room.” Shep smiled and left me and Four to our nighttime ritual.

He took his pill, then went about brushing his teeth and changing while I waited for him in his room. After he was in bed, he looked at me.

“No one ever tucked me in. I mean maybe they did, but I don’t remember. I know I’m not a baby, I’m grown, but it’s nice when you do it.”

Grinning, I leaned close and he let me hug him. “I’m glad I found you that day, Four.” I sat up.

“Even if it kills you?”

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. Sleep tight.”

I shut the door and headed to the bedroom, where I found Shep already lightly snoring in bed.

I got ready for bed and slid under the covers. Shep automatically turned and pulled me to him, humming happily once he had me close.

Sleep didn’t find me very easily. I kept replaying what Four had asked me. Was it worth finding him that day if it meant it could get me killed? I realized it didn’t matter because I wouldn’t have been able to walk away from anyone in that condition.

Shep’s phone buzzed on his nightstand, and I ignored it. I closed my eyes only to hear it buzz two more times; followed by my own.

I was able to reach mine and read the text.

I can’t reach Shep, he must be sleeping. Something weird happened and I need some advice. Can one of you call me in the morning?

The text was from Lizzy. I texted back.

Shep’s asleep, is it an emergency?

No. It can wait. Have him call in the morn. Night.

It was probably an issue with the shop but I trusted Lizzy that it wasn’t a big deal, so I put my phone on the charging mat and nestled into Shep’s warm embrace, sleep finally claiming me.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

SHEP

Morning came,and it was chaos from the second I opened my eyes. Maxwell was arguing with Gabe and Angel in the kitchen when I walked in.

“My ex-wife said men came to the rehab facility looking for me. She said they claimed to be FBI, but I think we all know that’s not true.”

“It’s not, Max, and that’s why you need to stay right here,” Gabe growled. “They aren’t going to risk exposure by hurting your ex and your daughter. They knew she’d call you and hoped it would drag you out.”

I left them to that mess and promptly exited the kitchen with my coffee in hand. In the living room, Four was watching some rom-com with Mason, who rolled his eyes at me the moment Angel’s loud voice echoed through the house.

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