Page 49 of The Fear (The Hillers of Barratt County #7)

Grady parked. Hala was in the middle unit in the end building. It wasn’t a bad place, just older. “Stay there. I’ll come help you down.”

“I’m not helpless, you know. Just pregnant. I’m just fin—Grady!” Greer almost shrieked his name, and scrambled out of the truck. Grady followed the direction she’d been looking.

That’s when he saw the little boy standing there.

Next to the damned road. At first…at first he thought it was Ryan.

Then he realized, the little boy was a lot younger and smaller than Hala’s nephew—who took after Hudson in height. Grady scooped him up when the little boy reached for him. He felt so damned fragile. “It’s okay, it’s okay, buddy. You’re okay. You’re safe.”

The little boy was crying for his daddy so hard he was almost shaking apart.

Greer was there. “It’s Brenton Ryce’s son. BJ. His name is BJ and he shouldn’t be here. His mother doesn’t have custody any longer. And…BJ, where is Wynnie? Baby, where is Wynnie? They live right behind Hala, Grady. Right behind her.”

Her words froze his blood in his veins—as the sound of a woman screaming almost drowned out his sister’s words. Grady handed Greer the little boy. “Get him in my truck, get the engine running. Lock the doors. Go, Greer. Go!”