Page 24

"All right. Keep vigilant, but I think the threat is low at your place. Hopefully we'll find him soon."

"And do what? He's out of prison. He can keep looking until he finds them. Months. Years." He thought of Annie and Phoebe. "It's not good for them to have to live in hiding. That little girl needs to be normal."

Dylan paused, as if he were surprised by Jacob's comment. "Um, yeah. She does. You okay with her there or want me to get someone to grab them?"

"No. I have them." He snapped his response, quicker than he meant.

Dylan paused again. "It's like that, then, is it?"

"Like what?"

"They'll have to go home," Dylan said gently. "When this is over. They're going to leave."

Jacob didn't like that warning. "You don't know what they'll do," he retorted. "Why would they go back? Maybe they'll find something better. They like nice grass, and they don't have nice grass at their house."

"Grass?"

"My lawn. They made snow angels in it."

Another pause, then Dylan swore. "You sure about this?"

"About what?"

"Keeping them."

"I didn't say anything about keeping them."

"You feel it, though."

"I'm just keeping them safe. You asked me to do a job, and I'm doing it." The words felt like a lie. Because they were a lie. The little trio were already under his skin, and he liked them there.

Dylan sighed. "Jacob, I love the shit out of you. You know that. I think you're a fucking amazing human being. But not everyone will get you. I don't want you to be hurt."

"Hurt?" Jacob laughed softly. "Hurt? I'm not afraid of hurt, Dylan. You know that. I'm not afraid of anything."

"You're afraid of losing those you love," Dylan said softly. "You're terrified of dying before you feel whole again."

Jacob closed his eyes. "Fuck."

"We all feel that way," Dylan said. "I know you skate the edge, Jacob. If you get attached to them and they leave, it might put you over. Remember last time?"

"I remember." Last time. The time when he first found the Harts. He hadn't let himself be vulnerable since then. He remembered. Hell, he remembered. "It won't happen again."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah." But as he said it, doubt cluttered his words. What if he was wrong? What if it happened again? "I have my shit together now."

"I know, and we want it to stay that way, because we love you."

"I know." Jacob lightly banged his head against the door. "I'll stay focused on keeping them safe. That's it."

"All right. I'm going to text you a photo of Frank, so you'll know what he looks like. I'll call when I find out more. Heading to Phoebe's with a team now to wait for him. Eliana will call me if she finds out anything. She doesn't want to call you or Phoebe directly, just in case her phone is somehow being bugged."

"Got it." He hung up and leaned forward, bracing his arms on his thighs. Keeping Phoebe, Annie, and Cupcake? He wasn't trying to keep them…was he?

The answer popped into his head immediately.

Yeah. He was. He definitely wanted to keep them.