Page 6 of Landon

Thurston pulled her into a comforting embrace, his strength steadying her trembling form. Landon watched the scene unfold. He had seen humanity at its worst, witnessed the depths peoplecould sink to. A mother using her children as pawns wasn’t the most heinous act he’d encountered, but for the Fugates, it was a personal hell.

“When did you realize the kids were missing?” Noel asked.

Landon turned his attention to the soft-spoken social worker. He appreciated how Noel gently shifted the Fugates' focus from their emotional to practical needs.

“They were spending the weekend with her, but she had come by to ask me to let them skip a week of school, and she’d take them to the Caribbean… all on my dime, of course. I said hell no! The kids have scheduled holidays, and they need to be in school. As you can imagine, she was pissed.”

“So they went to her place after school on Friday?” Noel prodded, and Landon wondered how much she knew ahead of this meeting.

“She called late last night to tell me they were in Jamaica, and she was keeping the kids unless I agreed to up the alimony.”

Thurston’s jaw clenched, his fists tightening on the arms of his chair. “We won’t bog you down with all the back-and-forth—threats, pleas, lawyers getting involved. She thought she was untouchable down there, but she started negotiating once she realized we had the means to have her arrested and extradited. She handed us a list of demands. When we talked with Tad and Penny, they let it slip that a young man accompanied them to the Caribbean. Penny said it was her boyfriend, but Tad thought she was dating an older man. Anyway, just letting you know there is someone else down there with them who is probably hoping to cash in on her gains.”

Landon nodded, absorbing the information. “I’ve reviewed her demands. You’ve come to an agreement?”

Stan’s mouth twisted in disgust. “Yes. She’s agreed to sign away her parental visitations.” He paused, rubbing his temples. “Christ... who the hell does that?”

A heavy silence filled the room, the weight of Stan’s words pressing down on everyone. Noel’s gaze met his, a silent understanding passing between them. Her lips tightened, but she offered a small, encouraging smile before turning back to the Fugates.

Landon took a breath, knowing they needed to move forward. “Is she expecting us?”

Stan nodded, leaning forward. “Yes. She knows you’ll arrive with the new alimony agreements and money. The kids are supposed to be ready to leave with you.”

“We want this handled quietly,” Thurston added, his eyes sharp. “No press. It would only make things worse for everyone, especially Tad and Penny. They know their mom took them on an unsanctioned trip, but when they come home tomorrow, we’ll manage the story. They don’t need to know the full extent of their mom’s betrayal.”

Noel nodded in agreement. “That’s the right approach. Keeping their well-being at the forefront is crucial.”

Thurston leaned forward. “My longtime friend, Judge Samuel Waterford, recommended you both. He said Lighthouse Security would be a good choice to protect my grandchildren and that a social worker would ensure their mental and emotional well-being during this time.”

Noel glanced at Landon again, a small smile playing on her lips, a mix of reassurance and camaraderie. “We’ll do everything we can.”

Landon’s eyes lingered on her for a moment before he turned back to the Fugates. “Absolutely,” he said firmly. “We’ll bring them home safely.”

4

With little left to say beyond goodbyes, Noel found herself swiftly escorted outside. The late afternoon sun cast a golden glow over the expansive Fugate Ranch, the light reflecting off the sleek black SUV waiting for her. The ranch’s logo was subtly emblazoned on the door. Landon walked beside her, his stride confident yet unassuming. Without a word, he reached for the door handle, holding it open with a practiced ease. His hand extended, offering her a steadying grip as she climbed into the back seat.

The touch was brief but firm, his fingers warm against hers, sending a tiny spark through her skin. As she settled into her seat, her gaze drifted to the back of the vehicle, where her overnight bag sat alongside another—presumably Landon’s.

As they pulled away from the sprawling ranch, she cast a sideways glance, drawn once more to the man beside her. Landon’s commanding presence had struck her the moment she’d entered the Fugate’s family room. Even standing near the imposing, ruggedly handsome figures of Thurston and Stan Fugate, her awareness had gone straight to Landon—tall and dark-haired, with a quiet intensity that seemed to radiate from him. His looks were almost movie-star striking yet rugged, histhick hair trimmed neatly on the sides and slightly tousled on top. She imagined he was the kind of man who rarely bothered with grooming products and likely did just a quick run of his fingers through his hair before moving on, practical and effortless.

His black T-shirt stretched across broad shoulders, and the leather jacket added a roughness that hinted he was ready to handle anything that came his way. Landon carried a sense of professional control and capability but also a ruggedness that made her heart beat just a little faster. Their introduction had been brief, but when their hands met, she felt a rare connection. His handshake was firm, warm, and lingering, a touch that conveyed strength without overpowering, as though he was holding back something deeper, a gentleness underneath the hard edges. She didn’t mind that he hadn’t let go right away.

Landon closed his door, and the driver pulled away from the ranch house as soon as he was buckled. Giving her head a slight shake, she wondered why her thoughts had strayed to the man sitting beside her. It wasn’t like her to be distracted during a case, and she forced her mind back to the task.

Landon was on his phone, but he looked toward her and apologized. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be rude, but I wanted to let my office know that we were on our way.”

Noel waved a hand, brushing off his concern. “No worries,” she replied softly. “I understand. We both have jobs to do.” She turned her gaze to the window, watching as the sprawling pastures and wooden fences of the ranch faded into the distance. Her mind drifted back to the mission ahead—the delicate handoff of Tad and Penny. The weight of responsibility pressed down on her, the importance of keeping the children safe and easing their transition back home. They would have questions and want to know what was happening.

“Is this common for you?”

Her head swung around, finding Landon’s intense gaze on her. She shook her head. “No, not like this.” Seeing his head tilt slightly, she continued. “I have often participated in the handoff of children who have been caught between two warring parents going through a divorce and custody issues. There are cases where the child or children are taken by a parent and hidden away from the other parent, but those are usually handled by law enforcement, and then I step in for evaluation.”

She paused, glancing out the window at the passing landscape, before adding, “I’ve never been part of a case where a parent took children out of the country. It’s… different.”

“Why do you think you were asked to do this?”

Her lips quirked upward. “I could ask you the same. You represent a private investigation and security company, not law enforcement.”

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