Filed To Story: Secret Shifters Next Door Series PDF Free
Harley, fully asleep, rolled away from me, and I used that moment to slide out of her bed. She didn’t even stir as I packed her pillows around her to take my place. Before I closed the door, I glanced back at her. She looked peaceful and calm. That was good. She’d been through enough. She deserved to rest a little.
The door to the girls’ room was open, and they were nowhere to be seen. The noise and commotion the guys were making downstairs must have stirred their curiosity.
Sure enough, I spotted them at the bottom of the stairs, watching the chaos. Steff had set up several laptops on the kitchen table and was working on them. When I got to him, I realized most of the devices weren’t his. There were two laptops, phones, and a tablet, which probably belonged to Harley and the girls.
“Are you doing what I think you’re doing?”
Steff looked up and nodded. “Yeah. Firewalls. That way, no one can hack them. No trackers, no slave cameras or speakers, fully secure. I don’t want that jerkoff getting a foothold inside the house after all the work we’re doing to secure the place.”
Everything he said made sense, but I was having a hard time listening. Instead, I was stifling a laugh. Steff stopped and frowned at me. “What’s so funny?”
I leaned toward Steff and said, “I think you have an admirer.”
His frown deepened, and he spun in his chair. Jordyn saw him turn to look and quickly darted her eyes away.”
“Oh lord,” Steff said. “What am I? Like the hot teacher or something? Gross. I mean, don’t get me wrong, she’s a nice kid, but… gross.”
“Bro, I spent the day with her a while back. She’s going to be a force when she gets older. Anyway, how’re things looking on the install?”
Steff glanced around then said, “Looking good. Should be done soon.”
“Okay, I’m gonna check on the kids.”
Mariah and Jordyn saw me coming toward them, and they smiled weakly. “Ladies, you want to come have a seat? Take a load off?”
They nodded and followed me to the table. Steff moved his computers aside and smiled at the girls. Before I could sit down, Mariah asked, “Is Mom okay?”
I raised my eyebrows. “Yeah, she’s up in her room, napping. Are you guys all right?”
I didn’t believe their quick nods of assent. I could tell they were pretty shaken up. How could they not be, though? The day had been traumatic for a grown woman. How could anyone imagine her kids would fare much better?
Mariah stared down at her feet. “Please protect our mom. Please.” Her voice was thick with unshed tears.
“She’s all right?—“
“I’m scared of Luis,” Mariah cut me off. “I’m afraid he’s going to take her like he took our dad.”
Steff froze mid keystroke and shot a questioning look at me that said
what the fuck?
I sat up straight in my chair, not sure what she meant. The implication was there, but not the full thought.
“Mariah? What does that mean?”
Her lip quivered, and tears shone in her eyes. Jordyn lowered her face to the table and covered her ears with her hand. They suddenly looked much younger than teenagers. Young, scared, and carrying some terrible secret.
Mariah sucked in a trembling breath, then spoke in a forced, calm voice. “Our school—the private school we went to before we moved—it was a pretty nice school, and a lot of the kids were rich or well off, you know? Their parents were doctors or lawyers,
CEOs, and stuff. Except, some of those kids had dads who were… I guess… criminals or something? Mafia people?”
“I get what you mean,” I said.
“Well, after Mom broke up with Luis, some of those kids started talking. They said he hung out with their dads. There was a rumor going around that Luis…” She took a shuddering breath. “That Luis killed our dad so he could get my mom. Like, he liked Mom and killed Dad so he could date her. That’s crazy, right? It has to be crazy.”
I leaned around the table and gathered Mariah into my arms, holding her close as she sobbed into my chest. Steff glanced at me, wide eyed, and mouthed,
holy shit. This was a fucking nightmare. No child, no matter their age, needed to know and deal with this kind of shit.
“I promise I’ll do everything I can to keep the two of you and your mom safe,” I said.
Mariah sniffled as she pulled away from me. “Thanks. Um, is it okay if I start dinner??”
“Yeah, totally fine. Let me know if you need anything.”
“I’ll help,” Jordyn said as she slid her chair back.
She came over and wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug. The moisture from her tears soaked into my collar. My heart felt like it was going to burst. Mariah nudged Jordyn, then they headed into the kitchen. When I turned back to Steff, he was smiling at me.