Free Kade by Delores Fossen Page A

pack some things.”
    That gave Bree something else to be frustrated about. The monster after her had now managed to disrupt the entire Ryland family. Now, all of them were in possible danger, and that included Kade’s nephews and niece.
    Kade ducked down a little so that they were eye to eye. “I think it’s a good idea if Leah goes with Darcy and the others.”
    “No,” flew out of her mouth before Bree could stop it. But she immediately hated her response and hated even more that she might have to take it back.
    “I’m just getting to know her,” Bree mumbled, and she kissed Leah’s cheek as she’d seen Kade do. Each kiss, each moment was a gift that she didn’t deserve but would take, anyway.
    Bree pulled in a long breath and tried to push away the ache. But no, it was still there. It hurt her to the core to think of her daughter being whisked away when she’d only had a few real moments with her. It hurt even more though to know that Leah was in danger and would continue to be until Kade and she put an end to it.
    “Whoever killed Cummings could hire someone else,” Bree said, more to herself than Kade. She had to make her heart understand what her brain and instincts already knew. Her training and experience forced her to see scenarios and outcomes that ripped away at her.
    “Just where exactly is this safe place that the others and Leah could go?” she asked.
    “My other sister-in-law, Kayla, has a house in San Antonio. It’s an estate with a high wrought-iron fence and security system surrounding the entire grounds and house. SAPD will provide additional protection. Plus, Dade and Nate would be with them.”
    It sounded like a fortress. Ideal for keeping her baby safe. But Bree knew that bad guys might still try to get through all those security measures.
    “You could go, too,” Kade quietly added.
    “No.” And this time, Bree wouldn’t take back her response. Just the opposite. It was the only answer that made sense. “Wherever I go, the danger will follow. I’m the one this person wants dead, and I don’t want Leah anywhere around if and when he hires another hit man to come after me.”
    Kade didn’t argue. Because he knew it was the truth. The more distance between her baby and her, the better.
    Still, that didn’t ease the ache that was quickly turning into a raw, throbbing pain.
    “This is much harder than I thought it would be,” Bree whispered.
    Kade only nodded, and she could see the agony in his icy gray eyes. So much emotion that it prompted Bree to touch her fingertips to his arm. She wasn’t big on providing comfort, and her job had required her not to sympathize with anything or anybody, but she and Kade shared this heartbreak.
    “When would Leah have to go to Kayla’s house?” she asked.
    Kade lifted his shoulder and sank down on the sofa. “Soon. This morning,” he clarified. “But maybe it wouldn’t be for long.”
    Maybe.
    And maybe it would be far longer than Bree’s heart could handle.
    An uncomfortable silence settled between them, and Bree eased down on the sofa right next to him. She waited. Hoping. And it wasn’t long before Kade sighed and placed the baby in her arms.
    It was far better than anything else he could have done.
    It soothed her. And frightened her. It filled her with a hundred emotions that she didn’t understand. But even that seemed trivial.
    She was holding her baby.
    And it was breaking her into pieces.
    Until this moment she hadn’t realized she could love someone this much. Or hurt this much because she might lose her, even for only a day or two.
    “What are we going to do?” Bree said under her breath.
    When Kade didn’t answer, she looked at him and saw his jaw muscles set in iron.
    Handsome iron, she amended.
    Because his good looks weren’t diminished by a surly expression or the possible impending danger. Again, she blamed it on their shared situation. And on the close contact between them. After all, they were arm to arm.