Shattered

“You mean they’re going to be allowed to socialize with other human beings,” Kate said sarcastically. “I thought we were going to be hiding behind high stone walls.”

“Now you’re being absurd.”

Kate fought the tears that threatened. She gripped her hands together to keep him from seeing how badly they were trembling. “I’m happy living here. I don’t want to move.”

“You can’t stay here,” Wyatt said flatly. “It’s not safe. Your Texas Ranger friend isn’t going to be any help to you. He’s proved his loyalty to my father.”

Kate wondered what Jack had done to prove his loyalty to the mob boss. It didn’t bear thinking about. “I can hire protection,” she said.

“It won’t be enough.”

“Who says?”

“You don’t even have a garage for your car. It would be easy to put a bomb in it.”

Kate felt gooseflesh rise on her arms. “Who would do such a thing?”

He didn’t answer her, just lifted a brow and let her imagine the worst. Which she easily did.

Kate was startled by a hard knock on the door. Her heart leapt with the hope that Jack had returned. His name was already on her lips, when the door swung open with a bang.

A giant with the face of a gargoyle stepped inside.

“Oh, God!” Kate cried. She turned to run toward the bedroom, where the boys were playing, but Shaw grabbed her around the waist and yanked her back tight against his chest. His other hand came up to cover her mouth but never closed over it.

“Don’t scream,” he warned.

Kate whimpered, but she didn’t scream. She wasn’t sure she could have, because all the air had been frightened out of her lungs. She remained silent because she didn’t want to draw Lucky and Chance into the living room to witness her death.

“If you’re going to kill me,” she said in a shaky voice, “I’d rather you didn’t do it in front of my sons.”

“Boss?” the big man said, his scarred brow furrowing.

“It’s all right, Bruce,” Shaw said. “I think Mrs. Pendleton thought my father sent you to take care of both of us.” He angled Kate’s chin so she could see his face and said, “I asked Bruce to join us.”

Kate sagged in Wyatt’s arms and put a hand to her mouth to hold back a sob of relief. Tears brimmed in her eyes and she blinked them back. “Why?” she gasped.

“What?”

“Why did he burst in here like that?”

“Bruce was waiting outside in the limo with my driver. I told him to give me fifteen minutes and join us.”

“It’s all right, ma’am,” Bruce said. “I’m here to protect you. Actually, I’m going to be keeping an eye on the Boss’s kids.” He glanced at Shaw, smiled crookedly and said, “I think the Boss is going to be keeping an eye on you himself.”

A polite giant. Who knew?

Kate would have laughed, except her throat was still choked with leftover terror.

“Can you stand if I let you go?” Shaw asked, easing her feet back onto the ground.

Kate’s legs were limp noodles. The instant Shaw set her down, she stumbled away from him and turned to face both men. “You had this planned from the beginning,” she said bitterly. “I never had any choice in the matter, did I?”

“No.”

“What if I refuse to go with you?”

“You can stay. But the boys are coming with me.”

Kate was horrified. “They won’t leave the house without me, not without a fight.”

“Whatever it takes, they’re coming with me.”

Kate realized what he was saying. “You’d use force on your own sons?”

“I’d rather not,” he admitted.

But he would. He’d obviously brought the big man in to help him manhandle the twins, if that became necessary. Kate felt panicked. She glanced toward the landline in the living room, but knew she wouldn’t have time to dial 911 before Shaw stopped her. Maybe she could call for help when she was in her bedroom supposedly packing.

“Don’t even think it,” Shaw said.

“What?”

“Don’t think about calling the police. Or anyone else. I promise you, you’ll regret it.”

It was a threat that left everything to her imagination. Which was working overtime.

“Call the twins back in here,” Shaw said. “We need to tell them what’s going on. Then Bruce will help them pack.”

“What about me?”

“Are you coming?”

Her mind was racing, trying to think of a way out of the trap Shaw had sprung. But she—and her sons—were well and truly caught. “What’s to keep me from calling the police later? I mean, if I’m going to be allowed to work, I’m not always going to be stuck behind high stone walls.”

He didn’t even dignify her question with an answer.

He would have an explanation ready that would satisfy the police. And he had a secret weapon. He was the twins’ father. He could prove it, if need be. He might seek joint custody or, if she became too troublesome, sole custody of the twins.

And he had the money to make it all happen.

Her family was wealthy, and she knew both her grandfathers would be happy to fight Shaw. But a nasty legal fight like that was bound to impact her sons’ lives. And not in a good way.

She met Wyatt’s implacable gaze and said, “Suppose I go with you willingly and give Lucky and Chance a reason for this visit that will keep them from hating your guts. When is this forced imprisonment going to end? When is it going to be safe for my sons to come back home?”

His answer was blunt and uncompromising. “From now on, their home will be with me.”

6