“Oh, I’m…” A wave of nausea made her double over.

She took a few deep breaths. After two days of constant travel, she needed to rest and eat something that didn’t come wrapped in cellophane. She’d done her best to travel without leaving a trail but she was hardly a super spy. It was time to face reality. Whatever David had discovered had been enough to get him killed. If she didn’t want to be next, she had to get it together and fast.

She would try the security code one more time and if it didn’t work, she still had enough cash left to pay for a night at a hotel. It wasn’t ideal but it would do for now. It would keep her out of sight until she could get in touch with Raina.

“I’m fine…” She stood and the world spun crazily.

Tiny squiggly lines passed through her vision. God, it was hot. Why was it so hot? She dimly felt it when she hit the ground but didn’t feel any pain. The last thing she saw was two tiny faces peering down at her.

Then everything went gray.

CHAPTER TWO

JACKSON MOVED HIS chair further away from his friend. “I couldn’t resist! If we sit around talking about our feelings too long someone’s going to come and take my man card.”

“Oh, that’s right. I forgot you have an image to uphold. Mr. Big Shot Producer.” Matt started clapping. The other guys chimed in and chanted his name.

He shook his head and then took a mock bow. It didn’t bother him when they teased him about his sudden fame. They’d been with him since college when he was still using a closet as a makeshift recording studio. They’d earned the right to clown him a little.

“Daddy, daddy, Miss Raina ate the fish!” His youngest son, Jase, ran up and jumped in his lap. “She’s in the water!”

Jackson gazed down at his son affectionately. His sons were the best things that had ever happened to him and he knew his late wife had felt the same way. Cynthia had gotten pregnant their second year in college, derailing her plans to be a lawyer. She hadn’t agreed that getting married was the best option, but the idea of only seeing his child on weekends and holidays had left him cold. He’d done everything he could to convince her that he was worth taking a chance on.

Cynthia had finally agreed, after a lot of influence from her mother, and they’d been married in a civil ceremony at city hall as soon as the school year ended. They’d decided to have their second child shortly after the first so she wouldn’t have to interrupt her schooling again later with another pregnancy.

They’d had their issues in the beginning, both too young and headstrong to have any idea how to navigate marriage and parenthood. But in the end, no matter what problems they’d had, raising their sons right had been the one thing they’d always agreed on.

Not everyone believed in the old-fashioned methods, but he wanted his boys to grow up with memories like the ones he had; playing outside with his brothers, eating dinner together as a family each night and having respect for his elders. He intended to raise his kids the same way.

Even if he had to do it alone.

“Are you guys playing in Miss Raina’s yard while she’s out of town?”

Their newest neighbor, Raina, was a fashion model. She’d walked up one afternoon and introduced herself before inviting the boys to come see her fish. Jackson had been so stunned at first that he hadn’t even responded. Most women who looked like Raina weren’t overly fond of rambunctious, messy, little boys. This was something that Jackson had learned through experience over and over again in recent years.

Raina, however, actually seemed to enjoy their energy. Once he’d recovered enough to give his consent, she’d answered the boys’ million and one questions with aplomb as they walked to her yard. Most impressive of all, she didn’t even blink when Jase jumped in the pond fully dressed, splashing them all in the process.

It was no surprise to him that both of his boys had become instantly fascinated with her. They had a new story about “Miss Raina” every other day it seemed.

“Yeah, daddy. She ate the fish. Then she fell down.” Jase put his thumb in his mouth and bounced excitedly in his lap.

Matt leaned closer. “Did he say she fell down? Wait, here comes Chris.”

They watched as his oldest son, Christopher, came tearing across the yard. He skidded to a stop right in front of them.

“She won’t wake up!” He took a deep breath, his chest heaving after his mad dash across the yard. “Miss Raina’s hurt! She fell down and she won’t wake up!”

Jackson got up and the other guys followed. Raina’s yard wasn’t directly behind his, rather two yards over and separated by a small creek. As soon as he got to the end of his yard though, he could see the small figure slumped on the ground.

“Look!” He pointed toward Raina’s yard.

“There she is.” Matt vaulted over the creek and Jackson followed. He could hear the other guys behind him, and the kids shouting. By the time he reached Raina’s yard, Matt already had his fingers on her pulse.

“Her heartbeat is strong.” He looked over his shoulder at Jackson. “She doesn’t look like she’s having any trouble breathing, either. But we should definitely call for an ambulance. People don’t just pass out for no reason.” Matt was a sergeant in the Army and trained in first aid so Jackson was more than willing to trust his judgment.

Trent pulled his phone from his pocket. “I’ll call 911.”