Chapter 13
chapter
thirteen
Millie didn’t have time to think—only to move on instinct.
She slipped into the closet and carefully pulled the door shut. Darkness swallowed her whole.
She pressed her back against the wall, her lungs working too fast. Dust tickled her nose. Boxes brushed her shoulder.
This must be where they kept supplies. She didn’t turn to examine anything, however. She needed to stay perfectly still.
The door to the room opened.
Millie’s heart thudded so hard she was certain it would give her away.
She counted her breaths, trying to stay calm.
Every explanation she might give if she was caught tangled in her mind.
I just needed to double-check something.
I didn’t mean to snoop. I wasn’t snooping. Not on you. Only on Garrick.
I needed to be sure everyone here would be safe, that I didn’t screw up.
None of her excuses sounded good enough to explain her hiding right now, however. This move had been desperate and weak. Being in here made her look untrustworthy. If she were caught, it would only add to her humiliation.
Footsteps crossed the room.
Was that Caleb? Max? Or was Naomi back?
She didn’t know.
Papers shifted. A drawer slid open, then shut.
The person inside muttered something under his breath. “Why is this computer on?”
Caleb, she realized. Caleb was in the room. She recognized his voice.
She squeezed her eyes closed, waiting for the closet door to open. Waiting for the moment she’d have to face Caleb and admit she’d crossed a line. Waiting to see the disappointment in his gaze.
Instead, she heard the door close.
Silence followed.
She stayed where she was, listening past the ringing in her ears.
She heard no movement. No voices.
The house seemed to settle back into its ordinary sounds.
After what felt like hours, she cracked the closet door.
The office stared back, empty.
Her pulse slowed just enough for her legs to feel unsteady. She slipped out of the closet and smoothed her shirt.
Carefully, she tiptoed across the room to the door. She cracked it open and paused.
She peered into the hallway to see if anyone was there.
It was empty.
After a beat, she eased the door open the rest of the way and stepped out.
She quietly pulled it closed behind her.
As she moved down the hall, she kept her expression neutral—just in case anyone appeared.
She stepped into the kitchen and saw Naomi and Sissy were back.
She’d gotten out just in time.
Relief mixed inside her with something sharper—shame, maybe. Or was it the familiar ache of knowing she’d almost ruined things?
She’d been a screwup too many times in her life to count.
She couldn’t stand the thought of screwing up here too.
Not when this place mattered and innocent women were counting on this place for protection.
As Caleb headed back outside to cross more items off his to-do list, his mind raced.
Why had something felt off in the office? Almost like someone uninvited had been inside?
It didn’t make sense.
Nothing appeared to be disturbed.
Yet the feeling remained.
As he started toward the barn, he paused when he heard the crunch of tires on gravel.
He looked up as a familiar truck came into view at the top of the drive.
Wyatt.
He put his thoughts aside. He’d have to analyze them more later.
Caleb exhaled slowly as the truck rolled to a stop near the gate. His younger brother punched in his code and then pulled through. He stopped near the kennel, and Caleb glanced at the truck. The back was loaded with feed bags, fencing panels, and an old toolbox.
Wyatt climbed out, moving with the same efficient ease he’d always had. He was a man who never did anything halfway. Thunder—a German shepherd with intelligent eyes—walked at his side.
“You brought more supplies,” Caleb called. “I told you this could wait until next week.”
Wyatt shut the door and glanced at him. “I didn’t have anything else to do today.”
Caleb heard the undertone in his voice and paused. “What’s going on? This isn’t just a casual visit, is it?”
Wyatt’s gaze swept the property before stopping on Caleb. “No, it’s not—though I did want to bring a few things by.”
“What’s going on?”
“I thought you should know I had a conversation with someone at the county yesterday. Off the record.”
Caleb waited for him to continue.
“He asked me about the ‘retreat center’ here,” Wyatt said. “I think they’re beginning to wonder whether this is actually a nonprofit—or if we’re trying to hide something.”
Caleb’s jaw set. “We can’t be classified as a women’s shelter. That record would be public, and anyone could find us. It would defeat our purpose.”
“I know that. But I fear that because we don’t report any revenue that the local government thinks we’re letting people stay here under the table—so we don’t have to pay those taxes. If they think that, they might push for an inspection.”
Caleb let out a slow breath. “All the records show that we’re operating as a nonprofit, invite-only retreat center.”
“I’m just telling you that the county is beginning to question that.”
Silence settled between them.
Caleb glanced back toward the house. He thought of Millie. Of Sissy. Of the women who’d trusted them to keep them safe.
He couldn’t let them down.
But sometimes it felt like the enemy was closing in from every side.