to give Brandon back. “Sign the credit slip first.”
As Erin wrote her signature, Hunter couldn’t take his gaze away from Brandon’s every feature. The baby’s nose was like Erin’s, but his mouth was like Hunter’s mother’s.
Odd. Hunter hadn’t thought of his mother in ages. He’d pushed aside his memories of his less-than-stellar childhood years ago, and yet she was here in the face of his son.
He held up a finger, and Brandon grinned and grabbed it, trying to stuff Hunter’s large knuckle in his mouth.
Erin held out her arms. “He’s mine.”
Her words sent a flash flood of cold water across Hunter’s emotions. Erin was right. He couldn’t let himself get attached. Yet, as he placed Brandon in Erin’s arms, Hunter knew he’d already made that mistake.
He’d fallen in love with his child. First through the photos and often-grainy surveillance videos he’d managed to procure over the past year, and now that Hunter had held his son...
God, he was a fool.
With a heavy sigh, Hunter led Erin to the exit and paused. After a few moments of scanning the exterior, he nodded for Erin to move. They quickly crossed the parking lot. Once they reached the black Hummer, Hunter opened the back end and pulled out the duffel bag he’d planned to use during the operation.
After her reaction to his lifestyle already, he doubted she’d appreciate the weapons and equipment inside. He hadn’t had time to get passports with new names for her and Brandon. She’d have freaked for sure, seeing those.
He and Leona had designed dozens of more dangerous missions than this, but never had more been at stake. He hadn’t planned his overwhelming reaction to Erin—or his son.
While Erin changed Brandon’s diaper, he whined and reached for the cheddar-flavored crackers again. She disinfected her hands and gave him a few. “He’s hungry. It’s dinnertime.”
“What can he eat?”
“He’s teething. I bought some soft baby food I can feed him in the car. His favorite is mac and cheese, though. He loves it.”
“So do I,” Hunter said.
Erin sent him a sidelong glance. “I didn’t know that.”
“My mom would make it as a special treat when she was working.” He made room for the diapers in the duffel. “I haven’t thought of that in a long time.”
With efficient movements, Erin had Brandon settled in his car seat, then handed him a soft ball that he stuffed into his mouth and gnawed on happily.
“You’re quick,” Hunter said.
“Practice.”
Something he’d never have. Hunter closed down his emotions. In moments, he’d packed the remaining items, including Erin’s laptop, in the duffel and closed it carefully, making sure the fastenings created an airtight, waterproof seal.
He scanned the parking lot again. “We’ve got to go now. That credit card swipe started a stopwatch.”
Hunter slipped into the front seat and tapped his earpiece to contact Leona. “We’re done. We’re heading to the marina. Start the electronic bread crumbs. Once our friends ping the credit card and find us, I want all transactions to disappear. We can’t leave the cops a trail that they can easily follow.”
“Got it,” Leona said. “How long a lead time do you need?”
Erin got in beside him and buckled up.
A minute later, he pulled out of the parking lot. “The traffic’s heavy. Give me at least fifteen minutes. They need to see everything for this to work.”
Leona sighed. “Are you certain you want to do this?”
Hunter looked at Erin and Brandon. “I have no choice,” he said quietly and ended the connection.
Erin and Brandon Jamison had to die. Today.
* * *
ERIN FIDGETED IN THE FRONT seat, battling urges to jump out of the car or give Clay the trust he asked for. Brandon was in the backseat, so she knew she was staying put for now. Clay seemed to care about Brandon, and she couldn’t deny those men had broken into her house, shot the place up and torched it. She’d almost been hit by more than one bullet.
“This is crazy,” she muttered. “I can’t believe I’m letting you take us to the Gulf of Mexico. I barely know you and what I do know scares the pants off me.”
“Excuse me while I savor that image,” Clay said. “I’m saving your life. You know I’m right.”
“I don’t know anything anymore.” Her temper frayed, her emotions in turmoil, she hated that somewhere in the deepest recesses of her mind she’d dreamed of Clay coming back to her, pulling her into his arms. He’d convince her that he hadn’t lied, that she hadn’t been wrong about falling