Every single kilometre of the journey home is hard. The farther I get from Drew, the more I hate it. I love Copper Creek, and what it’s meant for my life, but right now I don’t want to be there.

I want to be with the man I love.

The sooner the better.

There are a couple of cars parked near my place as I pull into my driveway. The neighbours are quiet and rarely have visitors, so it’s something that catches my eye. I shrug and grab my bag from the back seat, getting out of the car.

I’ll miss my little house. There’s always been something quite special about it. It’s the perfect size for one person, one person who wants to be alone. Now, I look forward to the space of Drew’s house. That’s a real family home.

I’m so wrapped up in my little world, I don’t hear anyone behind me at first.

“Hayley.”

My blood runs cold as I recognise the voice, and my hand shakes as I try and slide the key in the lock. I lose my grip on the key and it drops onto the doormat with a dull thud. “What do you want?”

“I just need to speak to you.”

By the time I’ve turned, he’s on the doorstep behind me. There’s no way out. I take a step back, as far as I can get.

“I want to know if you’ve considered my offer.”

“What offer?”

“To come and be our community midwife.”

I swallow, clasping my hands together to stop them shaking. He hasn’t spoken to me since I got away from him, and he seems to be pretending nothing happened. “You need to leave.”

“Not until I’ve got an answer.”

I swallow. “You already had one.”

He leans over, taking me in with the cool blue of his eyes. “I don’t think you really want to say no. We’d have a good life, Hayley. I’d give up the other women for you. You must be lonely here. I can help you. Plus the others get the best midwifery care around.”

I tremble, knowing if I open my mouth I’ll stammer out something when I want so desperately to sound confident. I know how far he’ll go to convince me, know what he’s done to others. Ash Harris doesn’t scare me. He terrifies me.

“I think you need to fuck off and leave her alone.”

My eyes widen at the sound of a familiar voice, and I turn my head to the left to see Owen Campbell emerge from behind my house.

Ash’s brow wrinkles, and his eyes narrow. The two men are pretty evenly matched, and I wouldn’t want to take bets on either one of them in a fight.

“What he said.” To my right, Corey Campbell appears. Tears well in my eyes that these guys are here to protect me. Summoned by Drew, I guess.

Ash holds his hands up. “I believe I was having a conversation with the lady.”

“I don’t believe the lady invited you onto her property.” Alongside Corey, Adam shoots me a smile.

“I doubt you’re invited either.”

Corey grins. “Hayley’s family. I suggest you get out of here and don’t come back.”

Ash straightens and glares at Corey. “I’ll leave when Hayley tells me to.”

“I already did.” Bolstered by Drew’s brothers’ presence, I stop trembling and face him.

He backs away down the garden path. “Fine. I’ll talk to you later.”

As I step down from the doorstep, Owen moves behind me, slinging one arm around my shoulder. He calls after Ash. “I don’t know if that’d be very good for your health.”

I lean against him, my heart bursting from the actions of these three. They make me feel like part of their family.

“You are so not getting all that action, Owen. Shove over.”

In an instant, Adam is at my other side, his arm around my waist and tugging me toward him.

“You two will pull her in half if you keep that up. Save some for Drew.” Corey winks, and I laugh, surrounded by people I can depend on. They don’t make me feel like part of their family. They are my family.

Tears erupt from me, a combination of feeling safe and loved.

“As long as you’re here, we won’t let him get near you,” Owen says, pressing a kiss to my temple.

“We’ve got you.” Adam nods.

“Are you okay?” Owen asks.

“I am now. How did you guys know to be here?”

Corey laughs. “Drew called us. We wanted to be here when you got home to give you a proper welcome home and let you know we’re all here if you need us. When that dirtbag showed up, we thought we’d have a bit of fun if he bothered you. He didn’t disappoint.”

“Neither did you guys. I appreciate it so much.”

Owen smiles. “If you ever need me, I’m just down the road. I know I’ve said it before, but, just call me any time of the day or night.”

I nod. “I will.”

“Welcome to the family, Hayley,” Adam says.

My heart sings at the brothers’ acceptance of me. Just as I’m about to leave, it’s as if I’ve been adopted. I love this town.

If only my heart wasn’t a three hundred kilometres away.

* * *

My little house is full of chatter and laughter.

We spend the next couple of hours drinking coffee, with the boys telling stories of their childhood. Of course, most of them include Drew. The four of them are so close, and I think they all have some regret James isn’t older so he could have shared more with them.

“We hated coming here,” says Corey. “Hated it. We thought we’d be living in this tiny town and that there’d be nothing to do.”

“How wrong was that?” Owen says.

“I said nothing to do, not no one to do.”

Even I laugh at Corey’s words. Owen’s reputation isn’t without merit.

My phone buzzes.

I’m at work and thinking about you. When are you moving?

I smile.

“Drew’s ears burning?” Adam nudges my arm.

“Something like that.”

“I’m really happy for you two. I’m glad Drew found someone who I know is going to be good to him, and vice versa.”

“Thanks.”

As soon as I can sort out work. I’m spending the afternoon with your brothers, btw.

Don’t believe anything they tell you about me. So jealous I’m not there.

I look up from my phone and at Adam. “Thanks for introducing us.”

“Lily wasn’t impressed I asked him to come, but I’m glad I did.”

I smile. “Me, too.”

When there’s a knock on the door, my eyebrows shoot up.

Corey reaches over and squeezes my hand. “I’ll get it.”

I nod.

He opens the door to Graham Taylor.

“Hayley?” Corey asks.

“Let him in.”

Graham takes in the sight of me with Drew’s brothers and smiles. “Good to see you’ve got lots of support.”

“Support? The guy’s a creep, but it’s not like he …” Owen pauses, looking between his brothers. “What’s all this really about?”

I swallow, meeting Adam’s gaze. His frown tells me he doesn’t know the full story either. Clearly Drew and Corey have kept this to themselves. “I had a run-in with Ash Harris.”

His eyes widen. “What? I told you to call me if you needed me.”

I nod. “I know, but Corey was there for me. And Drew.”

Owen frowns. “What happened?”

“That’s what I’m here to speak to Hayley about. My visit to Mr Harris,” Graham says.

“He was here today,” I say.

Graham’s eyebrows rise. “Really?”

“Still going on about the offer he made me.” I nod toward a chair. “Take a seat.”

Graham sits and lets out a loud breath. “Well, he said you were there, but that you left of your own accord. But he’s even more paranoid now. He knows someone betrayed him, and he’s trying his best to find out who was involved in getting you out. Julia’s completely on the outer now. He won’t even speak to her.”

“Wait. Get you out?” Adam asks.

“He … he …”

“He couldn’t convince Hayley to be with him so he drugged her and, well, Graham’s guys on the inside got her out before anything happened.” Corey sits on the couch beside me and slips his arms around my shoulders.

Graham growls. “I’d prefer you not tell the world about our operation.”

Corey chuckles. “Adam and Owen are entitled to know. Hayley’s part of our family, and once Ash dragged her into this, it became personal.”

“Holy shit.” Owen’s eyes meet mine.

“What the hell?” Adam says.

“We think that’s part of his routine for convincing young women to join him. Seduction with a little bit of help.” Graham shifts his focus to Adam.

“How has he not been arrested?” His eyes are wild with confusion.

“They’re after him for something much bigger than what happened to me,” I say.

Corey’s grip tightens. “I tried to make sure we had evidence, and that Hayley knows she has our support no matter what.”

“I don’t even know what came back in my blood test yet.”

“It was faint, and I think we got the blood just in time. There were signs of Rohypnol in your test.”

My stomach rolls at the ease with which I was drugged. If Julia hadn’t turned against Ash, if Graham’s men had taken longer … How would I have felt waking up and thinking I’d slept with Ash?

“He changed his pattern with you; I’m sure of that. He tried talking you into it, but you resisted. He’s worked out who to target, and when to back off. You’re different. You would have woken up and known something was wrong.”

I nod.

“So, the question is, what the hell is he doing behind those fences?” Owen asks.

“I’ve narrowed it down to two things,” Graham says. “He’s either building an army or a workforce.”

“A workforce for what? They might have those fences, but there’s nothing obvious going on beside growing food for themselves,” I say.

“I’m not sure, but there’s something deeper. Our guys haven’t got close enough yet, but the day is coming when we’ll unravel everything.”

I nod.

“My immediate concern is you. If he’s got the balls to show up here knowing someone helped you leave, what else could he try?”

“I’m leaving town.”

“When?”

“As soon as I can find a job.”

Graham leans back in the seat. “I hope he’s not driving you out of Copper Creek.”

I shake my head. “No, I’m moving to be with Drew.”

He smiles. “At least then I’ll know you’ll be safe.”

I hope I am.