“That’s Evan.” Rafe motioned to the blond twin on the right, then to the one on the left. “And that’s Zach.”
Jazz glanced between the two men, looking for some way to tell them apart. They were dressed identically, down to the colored bands used to tie off each braided section of hair that hung over their shoulders. She was never going to be able to tell them apart. How embarrassing would it be if she called them the wrong name?
“Zach is the one who always looks angry at the world.” Rafe gave her hand a squeeze as if he sensed her distress. “And Evan’s not staying for long so you don’t have to worry about confusing them. He’s going into town to see what he can find out about Jon.”
“Okay.” She glanced at the new people in her yard—all predators—who watched her intently. She swallowed around the tightness in her throat. “You’ll be back soon?”
It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Rafe’s family, but she didn’t want any of them to corner her and start asking questions. They weren’t getting any of the tough answers until she could share them with Rafe, and she didn’t want to have to tell more lies to keep her secrets.
“Yes.” Rafe brushed his lips across her jaw to her mouth and kissed her. The gentle strokes eased her tension. She leaned into him, but he broke the kiss before it consumed them. “And when I return, we have much to talk about.”
“You’re right, and it needs to be done in private.”
He inclined his head, then slipped into the woods.
Mira cleared her throat. “Jazz, I’d love to meet your kids.” She turned to Josh. “And Megan too.”
“Sure.” Jazz led the way into the house, introduced Megan and her boys to Mira, then stepped back to watch all three kids’ eyes light up when she sat down in the middle of the floor with them. Mira spoke softly and within minutes, they were giggling. Jazz smiled.
Josh leaned against the doorjamb next to Jazz. “I need to talk to you.”
“About what?”
“Rafe.” Josh headed toward the kitchen.
She followed and sat at the table. “What about him?”
“I thought you weren’t getting involved with him.”
“That was before we were attacked. I told you I overreacted.”
Josh’s brows rose. “Did you?” He held up a hand. “Look, I’m not saying Rafe and his friends mean the kids harm, but there’s more to this whole situation than what they’ve let on. Some guy doesn’t like Rafe so he tries to kill you?”
“I agree, and I plan on getting the rest of the story from Rafe when he gets back.”
Josh bent closer so his breath warmed her cheek. “Rafe came in here earlier asking all sorts of questions about Tony and the lawyer he used to get Megan. He said it wasn’t the first time a shifter child had been sold through a private adoption, and that those who stole shifter kids should be punished. I told him what I knew because I agree, but then he started asking about you.”
When Josh didn’t say anything else, she prompted, “What about me?”
“He thinks you’re lying about finding Seth and Levi. He’s convinced you knew the mother and wants to know how it is you ended up with her babies. According to Rafe, no female shifter would willingly part with her children. They’d kill for them. Nothing is more important.”
Which didn’t exactly fit Seth and Levi’s mother. She’d insisted Jazz take them and raise them as her own.
“Life’s not black and white. Sometimes tough decisions have to be made.”
“He said it’s all tied into their animals’ instincts. That the only way shifter kids ended up being separated from their parents is if they’re kidnapped.” Josh leveled a hard look her way. “And after he went into graphic detail about what he’d do to the lawyer when Rafe found him, I can’t help but worry how he’ll react if he doesn’t like your story about how you came to be Seth and Levi’s mother.”
She stiffened. “Rafe wouldn’t hurt me.”
“I’m not saying he would. I’m saying if you want to stay a part of their lives, we better come up with a believable story.”
She pushed away from him and crossed her arms. “I didn’t kidnap them, for god’s sake.”
Josh rubbed at his eyes. “I never said you did, but it had to have been something bad for you to feel the need to not only lie to me but dump me.”
She leaned closer and lowered her voice. “I couldn’t let you think they were yours. I had to end things.”
“What? Did you think I wouldn’t want to take care of them because they weren’t mine?” He narrowed his eyes. “Or did you think I wouldn’t love them knowing they were shifters?”
“No.” She turned away. “Of course not.”
He laid his hand on her back. “Then why?”
Because he would’ve turned the world upside-down looking for the men who’d hurt her. They hadn’t raped her, but they had assaulted her. Josh would’ve made them pay for it. She shook her head. “Because. Just let it go. Okay?”
Josh sighed. “You can trust me with the truth, you know.”
“I know.”
“All right, keep your secrets, but it doesn’t change anything. We should still come up with a lie Rafe will accept.”
“I won’t lie to Rafe.” She was going to tell him the truth, but admitting that right after she refused to share the story with Josh didn’t sit well with her.
“You’re going to have to if you want to stay a part of Seth and Levi’s life. Rafe’s not going to just accept your silence as an answer like I will. He’s going to demand the truth, and when you don’t give it to him, he’s going to assume you stole them or something. He’ll pack up your kids and leave.”
“He wouldn’t do that. I’ve been the only mother they’ve ever known.”
“Are you sure about that? We don’t
