“I always did love making a good pillow fort.”

“They’re the best.”

Anna’s gaze locked with mine, and all humor fled from her face. “Thank you, Mason. I’ll never be able to repay—”

“I don’t need repayment. I just want you, Justin, and Lyla safe.”

“Then just take my gratitude.”

“That, I can do.” I grinned. “That and maybe some of those double fudge brownies you made for the Christmas party this year.”

She barked out a laugh. “I solemnly swear to keep you in brownies for as long as I’m living here.”

I rubbed my hands together. “And that was my evil plan all along.”

I closed the door behind me as I stepped onto the back patio. Anna had music going while she and the kids prepped chicken fajitas for dinner. I’d offered to pick up something in town, but Anna had said she wanted to cook for their first night here. It was smart, getting the kids into a routine right off the bat.

As much as I wanted to be in there with them, I had a call to make. One I’d been putting off. I stared down at the contact in my phone. I tapped the number before I could think of an excuse to put it off again.

“Hey, big brother.”

“Hi, Jules. How was Cabo?”

“A blast, but way too short. Hitting the books felt especially painful this morning. What are you up to?”

I looked out over my property, the sun hanging low in the sky, casting a pink hue. “I’m watching a stellar sunset.”

“Not a bad way to end a day.”

“Not at all.” I walked to the end of the patio and out onto the lawn, the urge to move too strong. “Listen. I need to tell you something.”

The other end of the line was quiet for a moment. “Things that start like that are never good.”

“Well, this one is.” I’d considered telling Juliette the truth. Spilling and asking her to keep our secret. But Jules was protective. Too much so. And I couldn’t trust that she wouldn’t blow this whole thing sky-high. I’d tell her the truth later. When the dust had settled, and Lyla and Justin were safe. “I got married.”

“What?”

The single word was more of a screech than anything else. I winced, pulling the phone away from my ear. “Tone it down to decibels that won’t burst my eardrum, would you?”

“Mason Decker. You weren’t even dating anyone. And how could you get married without me?”

I strode around the pool and towards the woods. “I’ve known her since I moved here. We’ve been seeing each other, and we had a scare. Something that made us realize we didn’t want to waste any more time.”

“Did she fake being knocked up?”

“Jules,” I warned.