Page 51 of Mine to Protect

“I need to wake Shelby and let her know what’s going on.”

“You’re not going to leave her there alone, are you?”

“Nope. Mom is coming to get her and will bring her back to the big beach house.”

Miles laughed. Loudly.

“I’m so glad you find that amusing.” Rhett tried to remember how long it’d taken for him and his brothers to stop razzing Jamison when he’d fallen in love with Bryn, or Emmett when he went bonkers for Trinity.

Rhett would never hear the end of this. And, oddly, he didn’t give a shit.

“She’s going to be safer there, and I’ll feel better if she’s with Mom while I’m having a little chat with Chris.” Rhett swallowed. Shelby would be alone with his mother, who not only enjoyed playing twenty questions as she always did in cop-mode, but also tended to embarrass the hell out of her boys with all the crazy stories about them as toddlers. It made him nervous.

Especially if she got into Rhett and his inability to potty train.

He pounded his chest as if that made him a man.

“Your text mentioned that Chris was agitated. Any idea why?”

“No. He won’t talk to anyone but you.”

“What about Albert and Joe Staub? How are they acting?”

“Like two brothers who haven’t seen each other in years but are terrified. Whatever is going on, it’s not what we first thought,” Miles said. “What did Mom have to say? Is she going to insert herself in all of this? Because they will run if they see cops.”

“No. She’s giving me a lot of room, but that’s because Cole is cutting a deal with the feds and, long story short, he’s the one who was in the hotel room.”

“He’s always been a hired goon.”

“Yup. But he’s singing like a canary,” Rhett said. “I wish I knew more about what was going on with that before this meeting with Chris, but at least we have Mom on our side.”

“That’s always a good thing.”

“I’d better go. I’ll see you soon.” Rhett took his cell and put it in his back pocket. He stuffed the rest of his bagel into his mouth, jumped from the stool, and made his way toward the master bedroom. The center of his chest filled with the kind of thick emotion that could only be described as love.

True love.

He wanted to protect Shelby from everything in life that could hurt her, including the truth, but he knew he had to be honest with her or he’d lose her in a flash. Protecting someone didn’t mean you lied to them about what was going on. However, he couldn’t tell her everything because he didn’t have the dots connected, and he didn’t know how they affected her and her brother.

He stepped over the threshold.

Shelby turned and blinked open her eyes. She smiled. “Is it morning?” She pushed herself to a sitting position.

He set his mug on the nightstand and sat on the edge. “It is.” He kissed her temple.

“Have you heard from Miles? My brother? Anyone?”

“I have.” He took her hand between his palms. He didn’t want to scare her, but he needed her to understand that things were getting tricky. “My mom is on her way over to pick you up.”

“Where am I going, and why am I doing it with your mother?” She lowered her chin and gave him a pointed stare.

He swallowed.

“Chris wants to talk to me.”

“Then I’m going with you.” She swung her legs to the side of the bed.”

“No. I’m sorry. You’re not.”

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