“Then we’re good.”
“The team is in place.” Shayne’s features softened when she looked at me and said, “They have eyes on the twins. They’re watching TV.”
“All right. Let’s move out.”
I reached out to grab Waverly’s arm as she passed. “Be safe.”
“Always am.”
Duncan circled my waist from behind when the two women climbed back into one of the SUVs, driving the short distance to their target. They pulled into the driveway behind a dark-colored sedan. I barely breathed as they proceeded down the walkway, up three steps, then vanished from our view behind a large white pillar.
“They’re ringing the doorbell now,” Duncan whispered softly in my ear.
“If there is so much as a scratch on them, I swear I'm going to throat punch her.”
“I’ll hold her steady for you, little sister,” Finn said from my left.
Waiting was the worst. It gave my mind ample opportunity to conjure up the worst possible scenarios imaginable.Thankfully, not even sixty seconds later, Duncan gave me the best news. It was over. Lanie was on her way out with the twins. We moved swiftly down the road, not bothering to get in one of the other vehicles. It would’ve taken too much time. The front door swung open when we hit the edge of the lawn.
“Mommy! Daddy!” Reagan yelled.
Both of them took off like a shot, running full steam ahead before anyone could stop them. We met them halfway and I braced, knowing exactly what was coming. My son slammed into me, wrapping his arms around my legs while knocking me back a step. I would’ve fallen on my rear had Finn not been there to catch me. Next to me, Duncan caught Reagan under the arms as she leaped into the air, pulling her into his chest. He rubbed circles on her back as she clung to him.
Dropping to the ground, I hugged Ro, then took him by the shoulders, checking his body for any signs of injury. The only thing that stood out was the dried mud all over the bottom of his jeans.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
“We’re okay, Mom.” He lowered his chin, kicking at the grass below his feet. “But I did somethin’ bad.”
“Nuh uh. She was bein’ mean, Ro,” Regan defended.
Duncan dropped to a crouch with our girl positioned on his thigh. Her pale-blue eyes glistened with unshed tears. My mother was going to pay for putting them there.
“What happened?” He asked.
“She said we couldn’t go home, so I jumped in a big mud puddle. Grandma yelled really loud, like how Reagan does when she sees a snake. Her bag fell on the ground and her phone came out. That’s when I stoled it. Am I gonna get in trouble?”
I cracked a smile at the image he put in my head, then sobered when I realized he was seriously concerned. “Listen to me, Rogan James. You did nothing wrong. Grandma did. She took you from school without my permission.”
“Is Aunt Way gonna put her in time-out?”
“Something like that, Love.”
Lanie cleared her throat from the doorway. “I hate to interrupt, but Waverly said if you want that opportunity she mentioned, it needs to be soon.”
Duncan and I both reluctantly got to our feet. The last thing I wanted was to let the kids go anywhere without me, but I had to end this once and for all. Peering over my shoulder to my brother, he nodded, knowing what I wanted from him without words being spoken. All he had to do was mention stopping for ice cream sundaes on the way home and my little sugar fiends were eagerly skipping behind him, as if their afternoon adventure never happened.
As soon as they were safely tucked inside of Finn’s SUV, I stormed toward the house. Not even when I read the text thread between Mom and Dad had I felt this kind of fury. It coursed through every cell in my body and leaked from my pores. My body vibrated with it. For a split second, I worried I might not be able to contain it. Then Duncan captured my hand and I knew he wouldn’t let me drown.
Mom was sitting in a wooden dining chair opposite Waverly with her handcuffed wrists lying on the table in front of her. When she saw my approach, she moved to get up, however Shayne clamped a hand on her shoulder, keeping her where she was.
“Sloane, I––” she started.
“What is wrong with you?”
Her eyes widened. After what she’d put us throughtoday, she had the audacity to look offended by my tone. Too bad. She’d used up any sympathy I may have had when she kidnapped my kids. Whatever punishment she received wouldn’t be nearly enough in my eyes.
“I wanted to spend some time with my grandchildren and you weren’t answering my calls.”