Page 49 of Mine to Protect

He kissed her forehead. “Sleep. You need it.”

“I think you’re right about that.” She closed her eyes and sighed. “Promise me that you’ll wake me if something happens.”

“I will.”

She felt the bed shift. She couldn’t tell if he rolled over or got out, but her eyelids were too heavy to lift.

Before tonight, she could only dream of what it would be like to have a life with Rhett.

Now that she’d had a little taste, she never wanted to let go.

CHAPTERELEVEN

Rhett was startled awake. His cell buzzed. It didn’t ring, just vibrated on the nightstand. He blinked and stretched as he reached for his phone.

Five in the morning.

Shit.

He hadn’t meant to sleep all night. He glanced to his right and smiled. Shelby was still tangled up in his sheets, purring like a kitten. As quietly as he could, he slipped from the bed, found his jeans, and hiked them up to his hips. He snagged his cell and padded out to the kitchen to make a pot of coffee.

He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw that he had a bunch of messages from Miles, and one from his mother.

Miles:Chris and Jackie are in a camper at the state park. Her uncle, father, and mother are also in a camper at the park.

Well, shit. That was a twist. The mother was also alive.

Also interesting that they are all together.

Miles:I haven’t approached yet. I took up residence with my friend Annie a few sites away.

Rhett quickly swiped to the right, checking the timestamp of this message.

One in the morning.

Miles:I’ll text you if we see anything strange. For now, we’re just going to watch and learn. But everything we think we know is upside down.

Miles:If you haven’t heard, Mom made a huge bust around eleven tonight. She’s got Cole Laurita in custody. You’re going to want to talk to her.

Miles:This isn’t urgent. But I’ve been made. I’m going to go talk with Chris now.

Fuck.

Rhett needed caffeine before he dealt with any of this. It was a lot to take in. He also had two more texts to read. His mother’s, which looked as though it’d come in around four in the morning, and the last one from Miles, which appeared to have been the one that woke him.

He’d start with Miles’.

Miles:Chris wants you to come up here and talk. He won’t tell me shit, and he doesn’t want you to bring his sister. Let me know when you’re on your way. He seems agitated. Something big is happening. He’s scared but only wants to deal with you. Have you talked to Mom? Call her if you haven’t and then get your ass up here.

Rhett took his mug and a bagel and headed outside, sitting under his tiki hut.

Rhett:Calling Mom now. I’ll be at the park within the hour. Send me the code to get in.

Bubbles appeared.

Miles:8056. Come to the west side campgrounds. Site 86.

Setting his cell on the bar, he tapped his mom’s contact information. It rang once.

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