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“I hope that means that you’ll stay Not asrent and noin your rooht”

I watch her closely as she absorbs my words Her eyes ith tears, and she shakes her head “I never thought I would find soht I would lay low until he had a chance to forget about me and move on with my life I didn’t expect to meet a little boy who stole my heart I couldn’t love him more if he were my own” She whispers her confession

“I love that about you I love how good you are with him How much you care That’s all I could ask for Someone ill be there for both of us” It’s true I’ve never really thoughta , and leaving the Arhten the load, it was a lot to take on in a short a in love, that wasn’t even on my radar

“They say that you find love when you least expect it”

“I didn’t expect you,” I whisper Leaning in, I press ether, and I promise you that I won’t let him near you”

“Milo” My son’s name is said with so much reverence

“It’s all going to work out” I say the words and will them to be true I do have soh? We don’t even know this guy’s naeneral location, and that he’s on the force We’re going to have to lure hier written all over it Maybe I’, maybe there is another way

She nods “I love you too So much that if I think for one minute that you or that precious little boy is in harm’s way, I’ll leave I would never risk either of you”

“Hey, now None of that You said that you trusted me”

“I do trust you, Colt I also know that if soive myself”

“It’s not going to come to that,” I assure her

“So, what do we do now?”

“It’s late We should get to bed Milo will be up bright and early, and we need to get some sleep Tomorrow, I’ll take what I know and make some calls We’ll see where that leads us and take it fro, I smile as she climbs off my lap, and I follow her In rabs a T-shirt froether, we cliles up to my side

“I love you,” I say, kissing the top of her head It feels good to say those words to her I’ve never felt this way about a wo to take her away from me

“I love you too,” she says over a yawn

I hold her until her breathing changes, and I know she’s asleep before I let myself drift off tooIt’s been four days since Hollis told me her story Four days since I told her I was in love with her Four days of restless nights as I analyze every angle and every option to keep her safe I made a few calls to a fewfor theh this weekend So, really all we can do is wait I want to go to the local police, but this is Missouri, not California, and so far, there have been no real threats made I’ve replayed the story over and over in my mind, and I don’t understand why they didn’t have so the shelter They obviously knew she slept there that night So up Do they knohere she is? Is he just trying to scare her to keep her away? Are they just biding their ti sure the alarht e sleep, and all the doors and s are secure Not that I didn’t do that before, but I’

“You know, you don’t have to do this,” I tell Hollis as she puts on her coat

“Do what? Spend the day with Milo, Gabby, and your mom? That’s not exactly a hardship, Colton”

“I know, but you could come with me Both of you”