Page 7 of Max's Mission

Dean nodded once. “Do that. And if you need anything, reach out.”

“You know it.” Max opened the door.

With one last glimpse at her babies, Margot left the house. Hopefully, when she returned, she’d have answers as to how their father died and why he left.

Four

Max kept an eye on Margot as they crossed Annabeth’s backyard and into hers. She seemed to have gotten a handle on her tears, though she still looked upset. Hopefully, by the time they landed in North Dakota, she’d be ready to tackle whatever waited for them head-on.

Rounding the corner of the house, Max lifted a hand in greeting to Ezra, who leaned against his car.

Ezra pushed off the fender and smiled. “You guys ready?”

“I think so,” Max said. “We just need to grab our bags.”

“Let’s do it, then. I want to be back for dinner tonight.”

Max turned to head into the house, but nudged Margot’s arm to get her attention. “You can wait in the car if you want. Ezra and I can get the suitcases.” There were only two, plus their carry-ons.

“Oh.” She glanced at the car, then back at him. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. Go take a moment.”

She inhaled a quick breath through her nose. “I’m not a crybaby, I swear.”

He gave her a soft smile and touched her arm. “I know you’re not. We all have things that test us. You’ll be okay once you get a handle on stuff.”

“All of us, huh? Even you?”

Oh, if she only knew.One day, he’d tell her his hang-ups. “Yes. Now go. Sit.”

She thrust her tongue into the corner of her mouth, glancing toward the house. Finally, she nodded. “Okay. Thanks.”

“Yep.” He started for the front door while she headed for the car.

Ezra caught up to him as he crossed the threshold. “She okay?”

“Yeah.” Max reached for his suitcase. “She’s just upset about leaving the girls.”

Understanding lit Ezra’s eyes. “Ah. Enough said. I know we can tell her they’re in great hands—all of us will watch out for them while she’s gone, not just Annabeth and Dean—but it won’t matter. Those are her babies.”

“Yeah.”

“You doing okay?”

Max frowned. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

Ezra lifted a shoulder, then slung Margot’s carry-on over it. “You’re pretty attached to the twins too.”

Max’s gaze darted to the window overlooking the backyard and Annabeth’s house beyond. It bothered him a little that he wouldn’t see them for several days, but not like Margot. “I’m good.” He picked up his carry-on.

The amusement dancing in Ezra’s blue eyes told him he wasn’t fooling anyone, but he didn’t care. The man could think whatever he wanted. Em and Lily were in good hands, and he had bigger things to worry about.

He hadn’t voiced his concerns about Tad’s death to anyone, but the guys knew. They felt it too. He’d seen it on Dean’s facewhen they said goodbye. He’d heard it in Ezra’s voice when he asked the man to fly them to San José. The circumstances were more than suspicious. And Max had never liked how Tad cut all contact with Margot and the twins. With the way Margot and Annabeth described him, it was wildly out of character. It was his hope that North Dakota would offer some answers, or at least avenues they could go down to find out why he left.

“That everything?” Ezra glanced around.

Max took a quick look. “I think so, yes. Let’s go.”

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