Page 28 of Unplanned Target

“And what exactly do you mean by move on?” Heidi sounds genuinely curious. Not suspicious at all.

Thank God. Because a suspicious Heidi is a dangerous thing. She knows how to ask the right questions to learn what she wants to know. And I don’t need her knowing I might be thinking of Miranda as anything other than a client. “That’s going to be up to them. I’m not sure Miranda is going to be thrilled about going back to her house the way it is.”

“Yeah. That’s fucking bullshit what they did to her house.” Heidi’s snarl is apparent even though I can’t see her face. “I’m so fucking over these pieces of shit. I can’t wait to take them all down and send them to prison for the rest of their lives.” She gives me another evil little laugh. “Or whatever happens to them.”

From the sound of it, Heidi also has plans for anyone we identify as responsible for what happened to Miranda and Allie’s house. And I’m here for it. I can’t imagine working as hard as Miranda obviously did to turn her house into a home only for it to be violated like it was.

Turning toward the cabin, I begin walking for the front door. “Keep me posted. I’ll help in any way I can.”

“That’s because you’re a good egg. You’re going to make some special woman very happy one day.” Heidi smacks her lips in a kiss before ending the call.

I tuck the phone into my pocket as I take the steps in one leap, opening the door to the cabin. I stop short when I see Miranda puttering around the cabin, folding the blanket she covered me with before artfully arranging it across one arm of the couch. It’s something so small, but it hits me like a bag of bricks.

I may not have had what most people would consider the best childhood, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. My mom busted her ass to give me and my brothers everything she could. To make our home as comfortable as it could be, all things considered.

And I miss it.

Even now, when I can afford to build whatever house I want and fill it with all the furniture it can hold, I’ve held back. Because I know all that has nothing to do with having a home. What makes a house a home is the people inside it with you, and I’ve got no one.

Miranda’s eyes find me and she abandons the sofa she’s trying her best to make more cozy, crossing the room to meet me. “What did she say?”

“Heidi’s hopeful Allie got us something she might be able to use.” I glance around the cabin, looking for Miranda’s daughter. “Where is she?”

Miranda thumbs over one shoulder in the direction of the bedroom. “Getting ready.” She shakes her head. “The kid doesn’t even have makeup or her flat iron and she still manages to take forever.”

“It’s fine.” I collect the keys for the car we stole from Miranda’s neighbor. “We’ll leave whenever she’s ready. Get some food and whatever else we can get our hands on, then hunker down and wait for Heidi’s okay to leave and go somewhere a little more secure.”

I don’t love being out here with no backup, but it’s not worth the risk of attempting to bring someone else here. Same way it’s not worth trying to get my hands on a different car. Hopefully Mrs. Landis hasn’t noticed it’s missing yet, and we have a few more days before Heidi has to figure out how to cancel a BOLO.

Miranda rubs her eyes as she smothers a yawn. “How long does she think it will be?”

“A few days. Maybe a week?” I’m under the impression that’s not a long time until Miranda’s hands drop. Along with her jaw.

“A week?” Her eyes are wide. “I can’t disappear from my job for a week.” She shakes her head. “All my clients will think I’ve ghosted them, and I’ll lose every freaking contract I have.”

That is a problem. Miranda seems to genuinely like what she does—or at the very least, enjoys what it affords her—and I don’t want her to risk losing out on the income. It’s possible I might be able to get my hands on a computer and a phone for her, but Heidi would have to be able to ensure no one could track her location if she logs into all her accounts. And then there’s the issue of internet service…

“You guys ready?” Allie strides out of the bedroom, her hair woven into a pair of braids, sneakers hooked over the fingers of one hand. “I’m starving.”

Miranda looks a little like she’s about to lose it over the casual way her teenager is being about our situation. A situation Allie put us in.

“We’re ready.” I wrap an arm around Miranda’s waist, turning her away from where Allie is lacing on her shoes. “We’ll meet you in the car.”

I urge Miranda outside, sliding one hand up her spine as we walk. “She’s sixteen. We’re all a little clueless at that age.”

“I know.” She sucks in a deep breath. “But my cluelessness left me with microbangs. Not getting shot at.”

“Some people are just overachievers.” I grip the back of her neck, giving the tense muscles there a little squeeze. “And we’ll get through it. As soon as I can get us moved, I will.”

“Yeah, but where in the hell are we going to go?” Miranda reaches up to rub at her temples. “My house is trashed.”

“I have a few ideas we can discuss while we wait.” I know Miranda has lived in Memphis for years, but once she finds out her brother will be leaving, maybe she’ll want to leave too.

If that’s the case…

“Ready.” Allie’s voice is chipper as she races up behind us, going to the back door of the sedan and yanking it open. “You think there’s a coffee shop close by?”

“I’m going to lose it.” Miranda’s head drops to my shoulder. “I can’t handle it.”