Free Touch of Fate (Bennett Sisters Book 2) by Kate Allenton

Testosterone filled the room. Damn men thought they were the bosses of her.
    “She can’t go back there. It isn’t safe. He knows where she lives now. I’m taking her with me. I have just the place to keep her safe.”
    Her sisters let out a joint gasp. Butch stepped up, putting his hand against Sam’s chest. “Like hell, buddy. We don’t know you; she can stay with me. I’ll protect her.”
    Her face felt red as she repositioned herself on the bed, adamant they were so not having this conversation without her. Oh, hell no . “I’m not going anywhere without John. He’s not staying in that house until we find this asshole.”
    Emma repositioned the pillow behind Abby’s back to make it more comfortable. It wasn’t so long ago that she and Jake had been in this hospital. “You guys can come to the beach house with us, and you can stay at our house until we leave. You’ll both be safe there, and we have plenty of room.” She smiled, obviously trying to appease everyone and kill the mounting tension that soured the room. Emma glanced back at her new husband, who gave her a nod and placed his hand on her shoulder. The simple gesture loosened some of Abby’s pent-up stress.
    “John’s going to stay with you.” She took Emma’s hand. “I need to help catch this guy so we can go home again, and Sam is the only one that can help me. He’s been tracking this guy for a long time and knows his habits. I’m going to need his knowledge.” She wouldn’t be able to concentrate if John was in danger. That wasn’t going to be an option.
    “We’ll take care of John.” Emma leaned over and hugged her sister. I promise,” Emma whispered in her ear as everyone in the room watched in silence.
    Claire leaned over and hugged her too. She whispered in her other ear, “If you need me, I’m just a phone call away, and I’ll come find you. I’ve got enough connections in this town, it wouldn’t be hard. There aren’t many places he can hide you. I can’t get a read on him with so many people in the room, but I will, if you need me to.”
    Mike burst back in the room with the doctor trailing behind him. Her lips were swollen, and her hair a bit mused. She lifted her hand to her lips without taking her eyes off Mike. “What did I miss?” he asked as he searched the silent faces for clues.
    Abby rolled her eyes, and Emma mumbled, “Everything,” as she grabbed John’s hand, pulling him behind her and Jake.
     
     
    ****
     
     
     
    He arrived at the hospital after ditching the SUV and stealing another car. He hadn’t meant to hurt the little spitfire, well, at least not yet. He’d just wanted to scare her. He had plans for her, and it didn’t include killing her just yet. He sauntered into the lobby, about to ask for a room number when a younger version of Ryan/now Sam was exiting with another couple. Well, well, well, what do we have here? It seemed Sam had been a very naughty boy and had produced an offspring. The young man was the spitting image of Ryan, when the little bastard had witnessed his crime eighteen years before. His direction changed, and he followed them out. This just keeps getting better and better. This small town is just full of surprises, first the girl and now the kid. He hadn’t expected the bonus of both the spitfire and an offspring. Now it was just a choice of which would help him get to Sam.
    He contemplated a new plan as he got in the car and followed the vehicle with the young man to a gated house. He hid his vehicle in the nearby brush to get a better look around the area.
    “This place is going to be a problem,” he mumbled as he avoided the security cameras placed strategically around the perimeter. He wasn’t a security expert, but he could tell by the high tech equipment that he wouldn’t be gaining entrance. There were a few high trees and surrounding brush that might help him clear the height of the fence, but there was no way he could go in undetected. He would have to