Page 27 of The Fear (The Hillers of Barratt County #7)

“Every little boy should have a puppy. So he can always have a best friend.” Ryan Micah Hanan informed her, very importantly, of his argument.

He had all of his facts lined out, she suspected.

He was ready to give his closing now. Just like his father.

“I think we should go see the puppies again. Make sure they are okay and no bad guys gotted them.”

Ryan was her favorite guy on the planet—and she had no doubt he would end up becoming an attorney just like his father.

The kid understood how things worked, no denying that.

Since what had happened to Gia at the courthouse, all Ryan wanted to do was go out to the ranch to be with Gia.

“I see. So…you are asking me to take you out to the Hillers so you can check on the puppies? Again.”

“And see Miss Gia. I haven’t seen her in a long, long time. And I misses her.”

It had been two days.

“I see.” It was very clear that one Hanan man was head over heels in love with Gia. Now, if Hala’s brother would just get on board, she would be beyond happy. But, Gia’s family had been through utter hell this week. Gia and Greer were keeping an eye on everyone.

Hala wanted to check on them for herself.

Ayla should be out there. Hala knew her friend would have some trauma related problems now.

Hala understood how trauma worked. She’d have to talk to Ayla and Aubrey—try to get them to go to W4HAV in Finley Creek.

The counselors there really understood. Hala wouldn’t have made it as far as she had without Gia dragging her that first time.

And to be honest, after everything that had happened—she really wasn’t too keen on being in her apartment alone.

She could almost swear someone had been outside watching her the other night.

And…she thought some of her patio furniture had been moved.

She just couldn’t be sure. Which… “Okay, I will take you to the ranch tonight to see puppies and play with Calvin. But…first we pick up all of your toys on the patio so it’s not so messy and so things don’t get carried off by werewolves.

” Or neighbors. She was almost certain her new pillows had walked away.

She couldn’t find them anywhere. That was the second set of outdoor pillows that had just disappeared around here. Concerning, very, very concerning.

She preferred to think it was because of werewolves and not the alternative, honestly.

Ryan stomped to the door, but he waited for her to open it like he was supposed to.

She’d given him very clear rules for the sliding glass doors.

He was clever enough to have figured out the latch in the first five minutes of her living here.

It had taken Hala and Ayla twice as long her first day.

He was going to be a handful, her nephew. She just knew it.

Fifteen minutes later, after confirming that one Ayla Fisher was already at the ranch, even if Greer was still MIA, they were on their way, Ryan telling her about the magic pony.

And asking if Mister Grady would take him to see the pony again so he could tell her a story.

Because that pony loved stories from little kids.

He asked if Mister Grady would tell him and Calvin a bedtime story again.

Apparently, this wasn’t just a visit. Ryan thought they were going to stay the night…

Just so Mister Grady could tell him about the old magic pony in the barn.

Mister Grady.

Yikes.

Her stomach tightened. In anticipation.

She was going to see him tonight.

There really was no escaping.