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  There, her kitchen was set up. Her apartment was taking shape. She blew out a sigh, thinking she should have a sense of satisfaction, even happiness. But she didn’t.

  “I’ve got this,” she said, trying to give herself a pep talk. “No reason to be upset.” Inside, she wondered when she’d stop missing Kenton quite so much.

  The timer beeped, and she put the macaroni and cheese on the counter to cool a little. She was setting the table when a knock sounded on her door. Hope flooded her. Maybe the universe was sending her Kenton.

  Without looking through the peephole, Mia opened the door and felt the smile on her face freeze. Three men shoved their way into her apartment, the lead one immediately clamping a hand over her mouth to prevent her from screaming.

  “Yell for help,” a low voice threatened, “and I shall cut you first and then start on your nieces.” He showed her the switchblade he held in his other hand. His tone of voice alone would have convinced her to comply. She nodded, and the pressure on her mouth relented.

  “Mia Kingston.” The man who had come through the door last spoke, and Mia shifted her eyes to him. He was clearly in charge, dressed better than the others, and there was something inherently dangerous about him. Perhaps it was his narrow, hawklike face or the sneer on his lips, but it gave her shivers.

  “Who are you?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

  “Let us sit,” the man commanded. “I want to explain to you what is going to happen to you and your nieces.”

  The man who held her shoved her toward the couch. While she was moving, she slipped her hand into her hoodie’s pocket. Anderson was the last person she’d spoken to, making his number her most recent contact. She tapped the screen, hoping she was hitting the send button. Perhaps he’d pick up and hear what was going on. It was the only thing she could think to do.

  She could hear the movie playing in her bedroom and knew it was getting close to the final scene. The girls would seek her out when it ended. These men knew the girls were in the apartment, but she wanted to spare them as long as she could.

  “Who are you?” she repeated. “Why did you burst into my apartment?” She tried to make her words clear, praying that Anderson was listening.

  “My name is Marcus Ocampa,” the man said with a certain level of pride in his voice.

  Her breath hitched. She recognized that name. He was the man Kenton had failed to capture on his last SEAL mission.

  “I see you’ve heard of me.” Ocampa smiled, seemingly pleased.

  “Yes,” she was forced to admit, since she hadn’t controlled her response. “You’re infamous.”

  “Only among a small circle. Not many know my name. I believe Kenton Fitzpatrick must have told you about me.”

  “A little,” she admitted.

  “You are quite friendly with him.” The word “friendly” had never sounded so sleazy.

  “Not really.” She forced herself to give a casual shrug. “We stayed at his house when we had nowhere else to go. That’s my only connection to him.”

  “You lie so prettily.” The smile stayed on Ocampa’s thin lips. “You were his lover. Perhaps you still are. And he cared for your nieces as if they were his own. There is much more of a connection than you say.”

  “If that were true,” she said, “I’d still be living with him.”

  “A lovers’ spat?” This time she controlled her reaction to Ocampa’s suggestion. “No matter. He’ll figure out how much you mean to him when you’re missing.”

  “Missing?” she repeated.

  “Fitzpatrick led the team that crippled my enterprise and sent me into hiding. Making you and your little nieces go missing is my way of… how shall I say it? Taking revenge. Letting him know that I am better than he.”

  “What will you do with us?” she asked to keep him talking. The two men with Ocampa exchanged a knowing look that chilled her.

  “Sell you to the highest bidders, of course.” Ocampa seemed to relish his words. “Identical twin girls are very valuable commodities in my business.”

  “You’re disgusting,” she declared, her fury making its way through her fear. Her mind was going in a thousand directions, trying to figure out how to defend herself and the girls. She still had the whistle Kenton had given her stuffed in her jeans pocket, but could she pull it out and blow it before they took it from her? And if she did, would anyone realize it was a call for help?

  “Fitzpatrick’s life will never be the same,” Ocampa said, his smile becoming more smug. “He will forever wonder what has happened to you. It will drive him mad.”

  “He won’t care,” she said. “He didn’t want us.” The sad thing was that her statement was true. He didn’t appear to want them. He’d made no effort to communicate with her, not even responding to her text about the key. But he would help her if she was in trouble. And, oh lord, was she in trouble now.

  How long would Ocampa be willing to chat? Once he got them into a vehicle, there would be no chance of rescue. If Anderson wasn’t hearing this conversation, how long would it be before anyone noticed they were gone? The neighbors were busy moving into their own apartments. When she didn’t pick up Eliot from the groomer’s later, the woman would wonder what happened to her, but how long would it be before the groomer reported her missing?

  From the bedroom, Mia heard the final song of the princess movie. The girls would come to find her any second. She had to act now. That thought was in her head when her door burst open, slamming back against the wall. Kenton bolted through, knocking one of her captors to the ground with a punch to the throat. The other raised a gun, but Kenton never stopped moving. A shot went off, echoing loudly in the room.

  She blinked hard at the sound. When her eyes focused again, Kenton was on the ground with the gunman. Was he shot? She leaped up, but Ocampa clamped a hand just below her elbow. Mia lifted her arm immediately, raising it high and twisting to break his grip as Kenton had shown her. When Ocampa came at her again, she kicked him hard on the inside of his knee, making his leg buckle.

  She was moving backward, away from Ocampa, when Kenton stepped between them and smashed a punch into Ocampa’s face. The man crumpled and went down, striking his head on the coffee table before hitting the floor.

  Strong arms came around her again, but she knew it was Kenton. She let herself collapse against his chest. He was breathing hard, his heart beating rapidly, but all she cared about was being with him.

  “Shit, Kenton,” a voice said from behind her. “You could have left us something to do.”

  She lifted her head enough to see Patrick and Anderson. They each had a man pinned to the ground, and Ocampa lay still near her couch.

  “Are you shot?” She ran her hands over Kenton, suddenly remembering the gun firing.

  “The shot went into the ceiling,” he said. “I’m fine.”

  “Aunt Mia!” A cry came from her bedroom.

  “The girls!” Mia lurched away from Kenton and ran to her bedroom. The girls were huddled together on her bed. “It’s okay.” She joined them in the bed and hugged them tight to her. “Nothing’s going to hurt you.”

  The bed shifted, and she realized Kenton was next to her. His arms went around the three of them, and he placed kisses on the girls’ foreheads. When he was done, he looked up, meeting her eyes, and she didn’t know what to say.

  He was opening his mouth to speak when they heard police sirens approaching. With a nod, he went back to her living room, leaving her to cuddle with the girls.

  19

  “Thank you,” Mia said to Margaret as she yanked a sweatshirt over Emma’s head in the parking lot of her apartment building. The girls had calmed down remarkably quickly, probably due to Kenton’s presence. They’d heard the shot but had been spared listening to Ocampa’s words.

  “Not a problem,” Margaret assured her. “I love having company. I think we’ll do some painting. Does that sound fun, girls?” She got nods from both of them.

  “And th
anks for picking up Eliot from the groomer, too. I’m asking so much of you. I’m sorry.”

  “Stop that talk.” The older woman took Mia’s hand. “I’m happy to help.”

  That had been true in the past. Margaret had freely given Mia assistance after the fire, but she felt bad about imposing again. Kenton hadn’t given her much choice, though. He’d called his mother and made the arrangements after explaining to Mia that she would be tied up with interviews and such for the evening.

  “Let me know if you want them to stay over at my house. I can arrange that lickety-split.” Margaret helped Mia buckle the kids in the car. When they pulled away, Mia stood in the parking lot among the police cars and waved goodbye to the girls. She rubbed her hands on her arms, trying to make sense of what had happened, but it was too much to process.

  “Ready?” Kenton was suddenly beside her. “We need to get to the police station. Ride with me.”

  Since he didn’t give her much choice and she felt too shaky to drive anyway, she got in his truck. They were both silent on the way to the station located behind the courthouse in downtown Hartsville. Before they got out of the truck, he turned to her.

  “Just tell them exactly what happened,” he said. “They’ll ask you what seems like the same questions over and over, but that’s how this works. I’m sorry you have to go through it, Mia.”

  “It’s okay. I’m just glad he’s been captured.” She waited with her hand on the door handle, hoping Kenton would say more, but he didn’t, so she got out of the truck and followed him inside.

  The next hours were as he’d said. Police detectives interviewed her, asking questions and taking statements. Every detail of the moments that she was with Ocampa had to be discussed at length. Fortunately, Anderson’s phone had recorded much of it, but they would need her statement as well for court.

  When that was done, they were taken to another room where they spoke with Kenton’s CO over a secure video link. She responded to the same questions once again and listened to Kenton elaborate on his actions and knowledge. Anderson explained about receiving the call and alerting Patrick and Kenton.

  The men seemed unfazed by it all. It must be routine for them, but Mia was exhausted. When her phone glowed with a message, she excused herself to check it since she appeared to be done. It was Margaret letting her know that the girls had eaten dinner, painted with watercolors, and were now asleep in her guest room. She was not to come claim them until the morning.

  “Everything okay?” Kenton asked as he came from the interview room to join her in the hall.

  “Seems to be. Your mom says the girls are fine and staying the night at her house. I owe her.” Mia would have to bake something special for Kenton’s parents.

  “She won’t expect anything from you,” he said. He was standing close to her, and Mia wanted to press herself against him and get lost in his warm hug. But he was treating her with polite distance. “We can go now. I’ll drive you home.”

  “Thanks,” Mia said. She was done in. She’d had no idea that answering questions could be so tiring, and the emotional strain of being so near Kenton and not touching him was almost more than she could endure after the day she’d had.

  They walked outside with Patrick and Anderson before splitting off to head for Kenton’s truck. An autumn chill was in the air, and the sun had set, leaving just a glimmer of light in the western sky. The coolness refreshed her, helped her find a sense of calm in the chaos of the day, but she didn’t like the idea of going back to her apartment alone.

  But that’s what would happen. Kenton would drop her off, say his final farewell, and head out of her life. This time, though, she would try to say the right words to him before getting out of his truck. She’d thank him for allowing her to live in his house and for his kindness to her nieces. For herself, there wouldn’t be any words. She couldn’t express what he meant to her, and it was best not to try. She would say thank you and goodbye.

  Kenton drove in silence through the downtown streets. As they passed the bakery, she saw cutouts of pumpkins and orange lights decorating the front windows. Other businesses were the same, everyone ready for the change in season. When Main Street intersected with South Street, Kenton should have turned left, but he kept on going straight.

  “Kenton?” she said softly. “That was my turn.” Was he on autopilot and not thinking?

  “Like I said, I’m taking you home.” He didn’t turn to look at her until he pulled into a parking space and shut off the engine. It was dim in the cab, but she could see his face. He looked serious, maybe even nervous, and she wondered what could be coming next.

  When he reached for her hand, she hesitated a moment. They were over, weren’t they? The mission was done, the bad guy captured, her apartment habitable again. There was no reason for them to be together. No material reason. And yet he seemed to want something from her.

  She placed her hand in his large, warm one, and his fingers tightened around hers.

  “I’m taking you home, because you made the house I bought a home. It wasn’t, before you came. It was beautiful, and I was proud to be its owner, but you… you made me want to walk through the door. You and the girls brought the house to life. Without you, it’s just a house.”

  She bit her lower lip, trying to control her emotions. Was he saying that he wanted her in his life?

  “I love you, Mia, with all my heart,” he continued, “and I don’t want to be without you. Will you come home and be with me?”

  “You mean for tonight?” she asked. Did he only want her in his bed, or was this something more?

  “I mean for every night for the rest of my life.” He gave her a tentative smile. “Did you hear me say that I love you?”

  “I heard you, but, Kenton, what about your plans?” She didn’t want to ask, but she had to. “The girls and I aren’t part of those.”

  “To hell with the plans. I don’t have to wait and plan for the perfect wife and family. They showed up in my house. It’s not what I expected to have happen, but I couldn’t wish for more. Stay with me, Mia.” He put his other hand over where theirs were joined. “Marry me.”

  “What?” She felt off balance, as if the world had tipped on its side. Had he just asked her to marry him? “You want me to…”

  “Marry me. Be my wife, my lover, my friend. Will you?”

  “Yes,” she said, because there was only one answer to that question when he was asking her.

  He pulled her closer, meeting her partway for a kiss. It wasn’t a long one, but it was special, different somehow. When they parted, his face was serious again. What now?

  “Will it clip your wings too much to stay in one place?” he asked.

  “I like having new experiences,” she said. “Being spontaneous and having fun. I can still find a way to do that.” She could live in the lovely Victorian home with him and still be who she was.

  “Spontaneous and fun?” He started the truck’s engine and pulled back onto the street. “We’re alone tonight. Mom has the girls, right?”

  She laughed. “What are you suggesting, Kenton?”

  “It wouldn’t be spontaneous if we decided in advance, but I think it’s safe to say we’re not going to get much sleep tonight.”

  She watched his profile as he drove, and his grin was obvious. “That I can live with.”

  They turned onto their street, and she let out a sigh as they pulled into the garage. This was going to be her home. By itself, the house was beautiful, but with Kenton and the girls, Mia’s life would be magical.

  “What’s that?” she asked when the truck’s headlights illuminated a box in the corner of the garage. “Is that a playhouse?”

  “Yeah, one of those big plastic ones. I ordered it a week ago. I thought the girls would like it.”

  “They’ll love it. Oh, Kenton, you…” She couldn’t find the words to express how she felt. When they went into the house together, she no longer needed words. Only actions mattered as Kenton showed
her how much he loved her.

  20

  Kenton peered out the window at his front yard. An early December snowfall covered the lawn, setting the stage for the Christmas decorations that he and Mia had shopped for. They’d wanted just the right items, a mix between fun for the girls and elegance that matched the home. After much shopping and discussion, they’d decided on white lights and fresh greenery with candy cane and lollipop decorations along the sidewalk that led to the front door.

  “Out, out.” His mother flapped her hands at him in a shooing motion. “You can’t see the bride before the wedding. Take the girls to the church, and we’ll be ten minutes behind you.”

  Since Mia had no family, his parents had stepped in to help with the event. And his mother had loved every minute of it. She’d gone with Mia to the bridal boutique, helped pick out the cake, and was now making everyone snap to attention.

  “Okay, okay. Am I allowed to see the girls, then?” he teased.

  “Of course. Ava, Emma,” Margaret called, “come on downstairs.” The twins appeared at the top of the steps in matching white dresses with red ribbons tied around their waists and red headbands in their hair. “Slowly now, so you don’t trip. Oh, aren’t you both adorable?”

  Kenton smiled. His mother was relishing the role of grandmother, too. He hoped that was still true in ten days when he and Mia returned from their honeymoon. Secretly, he suspected that they’d have to wrestle the girls away from his parents.

  His dad came from the living room, dressed in a dark suit. Kenton had considered choosing a suit as well, but Mia had insisted he wear his uniform. He was glad now that she had. It felt right.