Page 32 of Impossible Rapids

Love each other? Focus on their love for Mercedes? Julie wasn’t certain what Belinda had been intoning there.

She looked through the peephole as her security men had instructed her to do. They came to sweep her condo each time she returned home but thankfully gave her privacy inside and monitored the exterior and video feeds of her living area. It was still awkward getting used to them in her home and knowing they were watching the cameras.

Shawn and Hays stood on the landing. That helped her relax a bit. Her buddy Hays would be there. Plus Cash and Brylee; Julie adored that couple.

She opened the door. “Hi.”

“Hi, Jules.” Hays stepped in and gave her a welcoming hug. She clung to him, needing a brotherly hug today. If only her brothers weren’t all in Colorado. “You ready for this?”

“As I’ll ever be. I’ve done enough prep that I don’t think the world will implode with me not having cell service for five days.”

Shawn smiled at that. She hoped he’d give her a hug, but he only brushed his hand through his hair. She was still getting used to his short blond locks and still loving the look on him. “Franz is in the car,” he said.

Julie nodded and fell into step between them. There was a funky tension that surprised her. Was it between her and Shawn or Shawn and Hays? The two men had been close since they met at Navy Basic training as eighteen-year-olds.

“Everything okay?” she asked as they reached the sidewalk.

Shawn glanced quickly at her. “I’m debating whether Hays shouldn’t stay with Franz. We’ll have Paul, Theo, and Brett. Blaine would be happy to come with us.”

“I’ll do whatever you need,” Hays said.

“But Franz wants Hays with us?” Julie asked as they reached the two Lincoln Navigators.

“He thinks we’re at the most risk.” Shawn shook his head. “Even if Lucas and Arianna are after me now, they still loathe him and might think this is their chance to take him out without me around.”

“You decide. I trust your judgment.” Hays clapped Shawn on the shoulder and then opened the door for Julie.

She looked up at Shawn before she slid in. His brow was furrowed, and his gaze traced from her to Hays.

“I trust you too,” she said.

His blue eyes warmed. She realized she’d said she trusted him, not his judgment. She did. She’d trust him with anything and everything.

“Thank you,” he said.

She slid into the vehicle. Franz reached back from the front passenger seat to squeeze her hand. “Are you excited?”

He had more color in his face. She hoped the excitement and distraction of the show helped him get his mind off mourning his daughter and the danger of his cousins coming after Shawn.

“I am.” She was, but nervous too.

Shawn slid into the bucket seat next to hers, with Hays driving. Interesting. The other Navigator would have four more security men and she could bet other vehicles would follow them to the airport to bring Franz back.

They drove out of her condo parking lot and gated community.

I hate to leave your dad behind.

Then don’t, Mercedes said in her head.

“Franz,” Julie said. “Why don’t you come with us?”

Franz glanced back at her, and she could feel Shawn’s gaze on her as well. “That’s kind of you, Julie, but I’m too old to buck around on a river raft and sleep on the ground.”

She laughed. “Why don’t you go somewhere else then? Somewhere we know has incredible security and you’ve always wanted to go.”

Shawn’s fingertips touched her hand, and she almost jumped as the warmth of him touching her filled her. “What are you thinking?” he asked.

“I don’t know.” She swallowed and tried to focus on her idea instead of Shawn’s fingers still grazing the sensitive skin on the back of her hand. “Sutton Smith’s mansion in San Diego. One of Aiden Porter’s safe houses? Magna or Augustine?”