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“Look, I know this seems sudden to you, but we’re used to doing things like this. We’re always ready, always prepared. Hence, my ‘go-bag,’” he grinned.

“I don’t know what that means, but I don’t want anyone to get hurt because of me,” she said. “I can always try the legal route.” Even as she said it, she didn’t believe it. He would rake her over the coals and take the child from her permanently.

“You know that won’t work. This will. Trust us.”

“I do trust you, Ian,” she said, pulling on his sleeve as he attempted to leave. “I want my baby back, but I don’t want you all to be harmed. You’ve been very good to me through all of this.”

“Look,” he said, setting his bag on the floor. He settled his hands on her shoulders, just letting them gently sit, not squeezing, not making her feel trapped. “We’ve had to do things like this before. But the urgency is the man you named. Chappo Ruiz. He’s a known baby trafficker. It seemed strange to me that Hanz waited five months before taking the baby. I think he knew where you were the entire time.”

“Oh, God,” she whispered, shaking beneath his fingers. He pulled her toward him, wrapping her in a hug.

“Hey, it’s going to be okay,” he whispered against her hair. “I’m going to bring your son back, and we’re going to keep you both safe here.”

“What if it’s a trap, Ian? What if he knows you’re going to try and take the baby?”

“We’ve made plans for that,” he smiled. “Don’t worry about us. We know what we’re doing. I’ll be back by morning with a baby in my arms. Mom and the others are coming over to help you set up the baby’s room. You do your thing, and I’ll do mine.”

Dylan stared up at him with those gorgeous eyes and his thick dark hair. His shoulders were so broad she wondered if he could actually fit in a normal-sized coat. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she seemed to have lost her voice.

“I-Ian,” she whispered.

Ian stared into her glowing green eyes, shoving back the jet-black hair from her face. His huge hand cupped her cheek, and he bent, brushing his lips against hers. He didn’t try to open her mouth. He didn’t attempt to go further. He just sat like that for a long moment, his lips pressed to hers.

“I hope that was okay,” he asked, staring down at her.

“Y-yes. It was perfect,” she said, nodding.

“I guess I should have asked this, but do you or did you have a boyfriend? Before all this?”

“Oh, no, not really. I dated someone in culinary school while I was in France, but it didn’t last long. I was always too busy, and no one understood my schedule.” He smiled at her, his face lighting up. “What about you? A g-girlfriend?”

“No,” he grinned. “For a lot of the same reasons. I don’t have time while serving with the SEALs.”

“Oh, that’s right,” she frowned. “You have to go back.”

“Actually, I have six days left to make my decision. But I can tell you it’s definitely leaning toward retirement.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

Tailor and Alec set up the crib, laughing every step of the way as the women read them the directions. Directions? Directions were for amateurs. They were pros. Didn’t they know that?

Lena brought a basket with all the baby necessities in case little Joey got sick, while Kate and Erin brought boxes of baby boy clothes.

“Where did you get all this?” asked Dylan in shock.

“We are masters at online shopping,” smiled Erin. Kate nodded at her mother-in-law, then looked at the fearful expression on Dylan’s face.

“Honey, what’s wrong?” she asked.

“I just don’t understand how you can all be so calm when they’re out there doing something so dangerous. I mean, I know what a cruel person Hanz can be. That terrifies me for them,” she said innocently. She heard Tailor and Alec snicker and abruptly turned toward them. “Is that funny? Have I said something hysterical?”

“Oh, uh, no,” said Tailor, looking down at his feet. Lena had her hands on her hips, frowning at him. “I’m sorry, Dylan, it’s just that you need to understand our men are literally the best in the world. Almost every man here has served in the Special Forces community or security community.”

She was still staring at him when Alec walked toward her. He took her hand and led her out to the kitchen. He pointed to a seat and then handed her a bottle of water.

“Dylan, Hanz is a dangerous man. One that we’ve encountered before. You heard him talking to those men about destroying us or who we believe is us. There’s a reason for that. The men that he’s affiliated with are all criminals. Not just rob a convenience store criminal, they’re all murderers, drug dealers, traffickers, and r…”

“Rapists,” she whispered.

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