The Switch by Debra Kayn (desktop ebook reader TXT) 📗

thing that mattered was the here and now.

"Hey, Bonnie's here." Speeder lifted his chin. "She just pulled in."

Trip stood, gazing over at the lot. He tilted his head.

"Remember, not a word about what we did tonight or what we found," said Bonnie.

"We know, Mom." Zach punched his brother and veered away from their mom toward the field.

His interest was piqued, he wanted to know more about the scavenger hunt they went on, but Bonnie wouldn't know that he heard her warnings to her sons.

He'd planned to go to her house later before they started the lessons in the cave. It was the only way he could distract her without getting her away from the house.

He walked toward her and caught the moment she spotted him in the crowd. She smiled and hurried over.

"We came." She reached up on tiptoes and kissed him. "Sorry, I didn't call you back. My phone only dinged from your message as I drove into town."

"Not a problem." He smoothed the strands falling out of her clip in the back of her hair. "Hungry?"

"Actually, no." She wrapped her arms around his waist. "I just need you tonight."

His chest pounded. He ran his hands down her neck, over her shoulders, and kissed her again. "I wanted you here."

"I know." She sighed. "I've missed you."

He pulled her over to the tree, seeing Speeder gone. Sitting on the ground, he dragged her into the V of his legs and held her. Out of view of the others, he put his hand between her breasts. The beat of her heart calmed him.

She laid her head back against his chest. "I feel like I need a vacation."

"Hard week?"

"No. Maybe." She paused. "In some ways, but I don't want to talk about it. For tonight, I want to forget everything. Just hold me."

He kissed the top of her head. "I can do that."

In the field, Zach and Kenny stood with Trina, waiting their turn to ride one of the dirt bikes. Knowing they'd all go home afterward, and he'd go to his house, he already missed what he could have all the time.

"Come home with me," he said.

She rolled to her side and looked at him from her position on his chest. "Not tonight."

"I want you to move in with me."

"I promise, I haven't forgotten about you asking. I just need some time to think about everything before I give you an answer." She lifted her head off him and looped her arms around his neck. "There's a lot we need to talk about, actually, but I can't do it right now."

"Is it about me?"

The cords on her neck spasmed as she swallowed. "It's about us."

"Something is wrong?"

"I don't know." She inhaled. "I hope not."

He gazed into her eyes. Running Avery Falls, having his hand in every business, and helping run the Alpha Bio Project in the cave, he wasn't familiar with the feeling of not knowing what was going on. The feeling reminded him of how fragile his existence was, and any second, the switch could happen. He'd lose everything, including Bonnie.

"Trip?"

He heard Speeder's call and lifted his head, finding his MC brother sprinting toward him.

"The handlers are here." Speeder passed him and headed toward the field. "I need to get Trina."

Never a time in Avery Falls history, since the government started the Alpha Bio Project, had the handlers or controller showed themselves to the locals. Alerted to the danger, he picked Bonnie up and planted her on her feet.

"I need you to get the boys and get out of here." He kept his body in front of her as he scanned the crowd.

Bonnie laughed, pushing at him. "You crazy man. What are you talking about? We just got here."

He wasn't joking around. Two handlers walked toward him, fifty feet away. He held onto Bonnie's arm, shoving her behind him. It was too late.

His spine stiffened, and he stood at attention. The only thing out of the ordinary was his desperate grip on Bonnie.

"Trip. Seriously. What are you doing?" She pulled on her arm. "Let go."

"Stand still," he said softly, too low for the handlers to hear. "Please. Do what I ask."

"Trip?" He heard Speeder.

"Take Bonnie and the kids to my house," he whispered to his MC brother, not knowing where he was at the moment but understanding he was close enough to hear him.

"What?" Bonnie frowned, pulling away from him.

He couldn't hide the conversation with Speeder when Bonnie was standing behind him. Hopefully, he had time later to explain the confusion to her.

"Are you with me?" he asked.

"Right there, man," replied Speeder.

Bonnie shook her head, looking all around, trying to figure out who he was talking to. There was no time to console her. The handlers were close.

Several seconds later, the handlers stopped in front of him. "Evening, Trip."

He stared straight ahead. Hating how his pulse remained steady and his knees bent slightly, waiting for an order. He needed to stay aware. He needed to remain obedient. Bonnie and the boys needed him.

"We want to speak to you alone." The handlers stepped back. "In the clubhouse as soon as you let her go."

The handlers turned and walked away together, heading toward the building. As soon as they were several yards away, he turned and grabbed Bonnie's upper arms.

"Gather the boys, find Speeder, and go to my house." He reached into his vest pocket and extracted his housekey. "Lock yourself inside. Do whatever Speeder tells you, and I'll meet you there."

"You're scaring me." Bonnie stared up into his eyes.

"I'm keeping you safe."

She stepped away and searched the field. "Are the boys in danger?"

"They won't be if you take them away from here." He pulled her toward Zach and Kenny. "I need you to do what I asked. Speeder will watch over you."

"Please, tell me what's happening. Who were those men who want to talk to you?" She jogged to keep up with him.

"Don't ask me questions that I can't answer." He pushed her toward her sons. "Just go and don't