Twisted Innocence (Moonlighters Series Book 3) by Terri Blackstock Page B

counter, and he pulled out a carton of milk. Then he started the coffeepot.
    She watched as he searched through a drawer, found some scissors, then picked up the gun again. Holding the Glock in his left hand, he cut her ties with his right. She sat up, rubbing her wrist. “Thank you.”
    “Come eat.”
    If it weren’t for the gun he kept within reach, and the fact that she was painfully engorged and needing to nurse, it would have seemed like a normal breakfast. She ate the bowl of cereal.
    “Want more?” he asked.
    She shook her head. “Aren’t you gonna eat?”
    “Not hungry,” he said, sipping his coffee.
    After a moment, he said, “Well, I guess we should move the motor home in case contractors show up to work out here.”
    “Creed, please . . . the baby.”
    Creed bent over and peered out the window. “I was thinking. Maybe we should go get her.”
    Holly caught her breath. “Really?”
    “We could let them think what they’re already thinking. That you just spent the night with me last night, that I’m your latest boyfriend.”
    Her heart crashed. “No, I don’t want to do that.”
    “It’s believable. We go in there, and I keep the gun in my pocket in case you decide to go rogue. We get the baby—Lily—and thank them for keeping her. No explanations. Just get the baby. Then you can take care of her.”
    Holly didn’t want to lie to Juliet again, but maybe she could give her a signal that would raise a red flag. Then again, if Juliet didn’t get it and questioned her, Creed could realize what she was doing.
    “I don’t want them to think that of me,” Holly said.
    “They already think it of you. Let them. You can feed her then. I just want to see my baby before I can’t anymore.”
    Holly dreaded the thought of bringing Lily into the motor home with a man who had kidnapped her mother at gunpoint. “Just let me go feed her and leave. I don’t want to bring her into danger.”
    “Holly, I’m not going to hurt her.”
    Had he really said that with a straight face? “You’ve got a gun on me! Besides, if someone is after you, then she could get caught in the crossfire. Or if the police come, even then, she could get hurt. Why can’t you just let me go? I thought about it all night, and I believe you. I’m not going to call the police. Just please, let me go back.”
    “I can’t chance that. No, this is what we’re going to do. We drive the motor home back to the campground where I was yesterday, then we park it somewhere and get your cab. We go get the baby—and if you try to signal your sister, I’ll know it.”
    “And what? You’ll kill me? You really want me to bring my baby to you when you’ve just threatened to kill me?”
    “I don’t have a choice!” he shouted, startling her. “What else am I gonna do? I know I’m in trouble, one way or another. I know my days are numbered. I just want to see my baby andhave some time to think before my life is taken from me. We’re going to do it this way, like it or not.”
    Holly could hear in his voice that she would never talk him out of it. “At least eat first so you’re thinking clearly,” she whispered. “I don’t want you shooting me because of low blood sugar.”
    As if to appease her, he poured himself some cereal.

CHAPTER 22
    J uliet woke to Lily’s crying. For such a little thing, she had a big voice, a voice that created panic and urgency. When Juliet lifted the baby out of her vibrating seat, Lily screamed louder, wriggling and squirming as Juliet carried her into the kitchen and opened the container of powdered formula. “I know you’re hungry, sweetie, but I don’t know where your mommy is. Aunt Juliet’s going to feed you, but you’ll have to wait just a minute.”
    She heard Robbie crying from his bedroom. That was all she needed. She scooped formula into the only clean bottle she had and mixed it with bottled water.
    Fatigue made her feel like she was moving through water, but her heart raced like she