A Callahan Outlaw's Twins

They all glanced at each other, surprised.

“It’s a lot of people to uproot,” Sloan said, “much to change. The children’s education, their friends.” He didn’t know why he was speaking up. The chief’s plan was clear and concise, his preeminent goal to get the children and women out of the line of fire. Sloan got it—the plan was wise, strategic. Still, he understood how hard this would be on the families.

As a military operative, he’d lived alone for many years. Loneliness was part of the deal. But not for children.

“It’s true,” the chief said. “But there is no other way. There were no women, no children, before, but now there are many targets. I would not lose any of my family. Or my friends.”

The chief meant Kendall. Sloan felt himself tense.

“Well,” Jonas said, “there are two silver linings here. We have places to go, fortunately, because the Hilton would get expensive for as many of us as there are.”

His brothers laughed, the tension lightening just a bit. There was, of course, no Hilton in Diablo, New Mexico.

“And thankfully, we have backup,” he added, looking at Sloan.

After a long moment, Sloan nodded. For him, the mission had not changed all that much.

But it had become more personal than before.

* * *

KENDALL EYED SLOAN when he entered her room upstairs in the main house. “I have no makeup on,” she said, “and I’m just vain enough that it matters. Plus I haven’t showered. And I’m sulking because I’m stuck in here. So you’ve been warned.” Her leg was atop a pillow, and she wore a tiny tank top and some heart-dotted shorts for comfort.

Sloan thought she looked sexy as hell.

He sat in the wingback chair next to the window. Not too close. “You got lucky.”

“I guess.” She winced, not wanting to dwell on the attack. “Anyway, just for the record, I knew you did something to put me to sleep. Don’t do it again. I’m no fainting female who needs to be protected from the scary monsters.”

He considered her. “You’re very brave.”

“It has nothing to do with bravery,” Kendall said, “which is the part that scares me. I just reacted. But what if I’d frozen?”

She’d be dead or kidnapped. Sloan didn’t mention that. Kendall would figure it out in time.

“So what was the meeting about? I heard a lot of footsteps on the stairs.”

He thought her blond hair, which was pulled up into a ponytail, would probably be soft as a bird’s wing if he ever got to touch it. “Jonas should probably be the one to tell you.”

“You go ahead and tell me, soldier. My curiosity is killing me.”

She was just the type of woman who would always want to have all the information. “Not my job, beautiful.”

She stared at him. “Are you patronizing me?”

“Stating a fact. You are beautiful. The truth should not be an intimidating thing.”

“Oh.” She considered him for a moment. “That was pretty smooth for a guy who’s supposed to be a loner.”

He shrugged.

“Anyway, back to the subject matter,” Kendall said. “What happened in the meeting?”

“I think,” Sloan said, “change is in the wind.”

“Because of what happened to me.”

He inclined his head.

“Great.” She sighed. “Sloan, I never got a good look at whatever it was. I feel kind of silly, if everybody’s going to get upset about what happened, when it could have been...” She didn’t know how to finish. It had been huge, and intending harm. New Mexico was fairly new to her, though she’d learned a lot about it in the year she’d worked for Jonas. “My mind keeps stupidly thinking bear, and yet I know it wasn’t that. There are none around here.”

“It was a human,” Sloan said, “and the intent was to take you, hold you for information. Your subconsciousness recognizes this.”

Kendall blinked. “I don’t have any information. Personal family stuff is never discussed with me.”

“Ransom,” Sloan offered. “Information for your freedom.”

That made sense. She hated it, though, hated being party to someone—something—that threatened the Callahans. “So now what?”

“Everyone will move. Decamp to other places.” He stood. “Can I get you a book? Cookies? Fiona is baking chocolate chip cookies, and I’m going to grab some on my way out.”

She frowned at him. “What the hell does ‘decamp’ mean? You mean the whole family?”

“Right. To your compound, and to Dark Diablo. I believe my cousins have gone home to instruct their wives to pack up the children.”

“Well, I did offer the compound to the chief when he told me he needed a vacation home for the clan,” Kendall said, “but I didn’t realize he meant no one would be here. That means me, too?”

He nodded. “Probably you especially.”

“And you?” Her gaze met his.

“I’ll likely sleep in your bed,” Sloan teased, trying to get into her space just a little, to bedevil her, get her mind off the danger the Callahans—and her own family—were in.

And to get his mind off her, too.

“This bed.” She sniffed. “If you like lace and flowers.”

“I’ll sleep very well.”

A reluctant smile touched her lips. “Somehow I don’t think you’re a lace and flowers kind of guy.”

He shrugged. “It isn’t forever.”

Could be forever. There was no way of knowing.

“Take care of yourself,” he added.

“What does that mean? You sound like we’re moving out immediately.”