Eve Langlais by The Hunter

thought—grab the children and run. They needed to hide. Oh, God.
    Hunter, sensing her fragile state, took charge.
    “Come on Jared and Jessica, I think your mother’s tired. Let’s take her home.”
    It was a much quieter group that dragged its feet home. The kids huddled in the wagon, arms wrapped around each other while Hunter pulled them. Suzie walked in a zombie like trance. Her thoughts whirled in her head.
    She’d have to move. She needed to hide the children. This couldn’t be happening. She’d been so careful. Why did this have to happen ? her mind cried.
    When they got home, Hunter settled the kids in front of the television and took her into the kitchen.
    “Listen. I got a partial on the plate that stranger was driving. I’ll run it through my contacts, see what they come up with. You know, it may have just been a random perv, which isn’t to say that it’s better, 32

    but could mean it was just a random occurrence. Did you get a good enough look to see if it was the twins’ father?”
    “No, he had a cap pulled down over this face. I didn’t really see anything. It could have been anyone, I guess. God, this can’t be happening!” Suzie slammed her fist onto the counter, then immediately winced as pain shot through her.
    Hunter came close and put his arms around her, hugging her tight. Suzie stood frozen for a second in the circle of his arms, then relaxed, leaning into his strength. This time, while she felt heat, it wasn’t the sexual kind. Instead, she absorbed the cocooning warmth of his body as she would a favorite blanket, the one she wrapped up in when the whole world seemed to be against her. And it felt nice. I am so tired of being scared and alone.
    “You need to calm down. You can’t let the twins see you like this. What have you told them about their father?”
    Suzie squirmed in his arms. She didn’t want to say. She knew Hunter would disapprove. In a low whisper, she said, “I told them their daddy was dead.”
    Hunter winced. “Okay, I’m sure you had a good reason for that. You’ll need to have a talk with them about strangers again. If I were you, I wouldn’t leave them alone, even in the yard for the next little while, just in case. I’ll make some calls and find out if you have anything to worry about. I don’t suppose you’ll tell me their father’s name? If I can locate him and he’s nowhere near here then we can easily clear this up.”
    Suzie couldn’t tell him. What if, by saying his name, she conjured him up somehow? Do names have power? Could she take that chance? Slowly, she shook her head.
    Hunter didn’t press her. “I’m going to leave for a little while. I want to take this information to the office and see if Owen can find anything out. Will you be all right for a little bit?”
    Would she? All she wanted to do was crawl into a corner and cry. But that wouldn’t solve anything, and her babies needed her. Suzie took a deep breath. “I’ll be fine. I’ll lock the doors after you leave.”
    “I’ll be back in a few hours,” Hunter said. He tilted her chin up and looked her in the eyes. The blue of his eyes reflected back like a calm lake, soothing and gentle. “I’ll do everything I can to keep you and the kids safe,” he said, and she believed him.
    For just once, she wanted someone else to take on the burden she’d shouldered for the last three years. Fear could be a heavy weight to carry all alone. It would be nice to finally share that load. To not live constantly looking over her shoulder.
    He kissed her lightly on the forehead, a comforting kiss like the one you’d give a child who is hurt, and left.
    Suzie stayed in the kitchen a few moments more to collect herself. She needed to put on a brave face for the children. She couldn’t let her paranoia affect them. It was bad enough she trembled in fear. The last thing she needed was a chorus to go along with the screaming in her head.
    She took a deep, calming breath and walked into the