Trigger took a long pull on the beer bottle, hit the speed dial for his brother Caden, and tried to think things through and decide what needed to be done first.

“Are you okay?” Caden asked, concerned. He had reason to be. Trigger’s injuries might be healing, but his emotional and mental state hadn’t gotten any better. Look at the crazy thing he had done, bringing Ashley and Adam here instead of calling the cops and dumping what was sure to be a mess on someone else.

Still, not even a hello from his brother, so he got to the point, too. “I need your help.”

“What’s wrong?” Mia asked in the background.

“Is it Guzman?” Caden worried the drug dealer had discovered Beck’s true identity.

“Not this time.”

“Are you hurt? Did you take too many pain meds?” Caden’s increasing concern touched and irritated Trigger.

“No,” Trigger bit out. “But thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“If you talked to me more often, I wouldn’t be so worried.”

Fine. Working undercover meant he sometimes had to do things he didn’t like, things that he hated, including using the product he tried to take off the streets. He did it to stay alive, but every once in a while it became less about that and more of an escape. But Trigger loved his misery, so kept those escapes short-lived. Another reason he needed this break and time to get his head straight.

“Whatever. Listen, I found a woman and child on my property tonight.”

“Did their car break down? We’ve got to have at least a foot of snow already.”

Probably two out here where he lived. “Shut up and listen. She’s in trouble. It’s safer to keep her here, but I need you and Mia to bring me some supplies, including some clothes for her and the kid.”

“Um . . .” Yeah, Caden never expected that.

“Have you seen the news about that actress who went missing a year ago?”

Caden swore. “Are you telling me you found Ashley Swan? The Ashley Swan. The actress. And she has a child with her?”

“Yes. But I have no idea who the kid is.”

“You have Ashley Swan in your house?” The disbelief and surprise in Caden’s voice annoyed him as much as his asking the question again.

“Yes. You can’t tell anyone. I’m still trying to figure out what happened and how the hell she ended up walking onto my property.”

“Wait. What? Your property is miles from anything. You sure she didn’t have a car?”

“I’m telling you she walked. Or ran might be more accurate. Listen, I don’t have all the answers right now, but I plan to get them before I let the world know she’s alive. So can you help me, or not?”

“Yeah. Anything you need. You know that.”

“Thanks, man.” The relief in his ragged voice alerted Caden.

“Is she okay?”

“No.” The single syllable held a wealth of worry, desperation, and fear.

“Beck, do you need me and Mia to come over now?”

“No. I’ve got them settled for the night.” He hoped Ashley got the sleep she needed to erase the dark circles under her eyes and put some color back in her hollow cheeks. “I don’t want anyone else out in this storm. I need groceries and clothes for her and a very skinny little boy.”

“Okay. I’m sure Mia can help me with that. We’ll be there tomorrow, or as soon as we can get there with the snow.”

“Thanks, man.” Pure relief infused Beck’s voice.

“I’ve got your back. Always.”

“I know you do. Call me tomorrow. I should have a list of supplies by then. This stays between us. Tell Mia, too. I need you to trust me on this, Caden. No one can know she’s here. Please,” he added, the desperation coming back into his voice and racing through his veins.

“You got it.”

“Okay. Thanks. Oh, did you ask Mia to marry you yet?”

“How did you—”

“I know you. Soon as you figured out you loved her, it was only a matter of time. You like things all tied up nice and neat. I’m happy for you guys.” Beck really was happy his brother had found a friend and partner to share his life, a woman who stole his heart and made him smile.

A spurt of jealousy hit Trigger by surprise. He wanted the best for Caden. And wished for a bit of that kind of easy happiness in his own life.

“Tell her I said welcome to the family.”

“Thank you, Beck,” Mia called out, overhearing their conversation.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Caden never stopped worrying.

“I got this.” If Trigger didn’t sound absolutely sure, he couldn’t help it. He needed answers. But those would have to wait until Ashley woke up and gave them to him. The storm would pass; he’d get her to someone who could help her. He barely took care of himself these days. Ashley and Adam needed more than he could give.

Trigger hung up without a goodbye, downed the rest of his beer, and lay back in the chair with his forearm over his eyes. He let the quiet settle around him and listened to the occasional spark and pop in the fireplace. The storm made its own monotonous sound outside the huge windows. He moved his arm and stared at the white haze outside—like watching static on an old TV.

It took a long time to settle the disturbing thoughts in his mind and give in to sleep. Instead of waking from his own nightmare, Adam woke him with his. The boy shot bolt upright, breathing heavily; his mouth opened to scream, but the sound never came. Adam barely spoke to him. Trigger didn’t want to think about how he’d been taught to be quiet as a mouse.

Adam’s gaze collided with his. Beck didn’t move. He didn’t want to startle the poor child, but Adam’s tears tore at Trigger.

“It’s kind of scary being in a new place, right?”

Adam wiped at his eyes and nodded.

Trigger took a shot at getting some answers. “Do you miss home?”

Adam’s eyes grew wide with fright. He shook his head back and forth faster than a bobblehead in an earthquake.

He definitely didn’t want to go home.

Ashley had taken him with good reason judging by the bruises on him and the nightmare that made Adam groan and whimper in his sleep.

Adam yawned and laid his forehead on his up-drawn knees, then looked up and shot his gaze toward the bedroom door.

“It’s open. You can go see her if you want.”

Adam eyed him, then rose and tiptoed over to the door and stared in at Ashley. Satisfied she hadn’t left him and was safe and sound, Adam came back, but stopped at the edge of the carpet and shifted from one foot to the other.

Trigger got the message and pointed to the door behind Adam. “Bathroom is right there, little man.”

Adam dashed off, flipped on the light in the room, and pushed the door shut, locking it. Trigger shook his head. The kid didn’t speak, had nightmares, and locked doors. The kid took just about as much caution as Trigger.

The door opened with barely a sound. Adam tiptoed back to the living room without taking his sharp gaze off Trigger. He dropped back onto his blanket bed and glanced all around the room, the uncertainty and fear evident in his puppy dog big blue eyes. The boy didn’t want to go back to sleep, knowing the only things awaiting him were more nightmares.

Trigger felt the same way. “Hey little man, you want to come sleep up here with me?”

He practically bolted up from the floor and ran over, his arms up for Trigger to pick him up and settle him next to him in the lounge chair. Squeezed up to Trigger’s side, Adam snuggled in under Trigger’s arm and against his chest, staring out the window at the snow. Adam pointed one finger toward the window.

“It’s coming down pretty good. Supposed to last a couple of days. Ever made a snowman?”

Adam shook his head, a forlorn look coming back into his eyes.

“Well, we’ll have to do that once the snow stops.”

Anticipation filled his big eyes. Adam settled and gave in to the exhaustion still showing in the dark circles under his very expressive eyes.

Trigger held the boy close, letting him know he was safe and protected with no one and nothing to worry about tonight. The snow fell, Trigger lost himself in the nature show, the rise and fall of Adam’s small chest tucked against Trigger’s side, the pop and crackle of the fire, and fell into a deep sleep he hadn’t enjoyed in too long to remember.

Adam startled awake with a piercing scream. This time, Trigger woke with a gun in his hand pointed at the last person he wanted to shoot.