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“All good,” a wo for us to follow her out

I had no idea who these people were or how the hell Mark Eastwood fit into it all, but I followed them blindly anyway What did they say about the devil you knew? Leave it to my father to send a savior in the form of the last person in the world I’d ever want to see

I didn’t question it when they ushered me toward the trees to the side of the house instead of the driveway, and I didn’t say a word as I ducked and weaved through branches and leaves, but e cah fence I balked

“There’s no way I’,” I said seriously Inside my sweater, the baby’s mouth went lax as she fell fully asleep

“Piece of cake,” Ephraiainst the dark of the greasepaint

“No, really,” I replied, looking at the fence again as I reached inside the sweatshirt and pulled my sports bra back over ”

“This ain’t our first rodeo,” Josiah said “The wall is about ten inches thick at the top We’ll lift you up to straddle it, someone else will help you on the other side”

“This is insane,” I sputtered

“It’ll be fine,” Josiah reassured me

Just as I started to take a step backward, because no fucking as I going to atte a baby, a hand on my lower back made me freeze

“Can’t use the front gate,” Mark said in my ear “This is the only way out of here”

I stared at the wall Okay, logically, I kneas going over it I wanted to get the fuck out of there, and if this was how it had to be, then this was how it had to be However, I honestly didn’t kno in the world I was going to actually do it

“I’ll hold—” Ephrai ainst Mark

“The fuck you will,” I snapped “She stays with me”

“Hey,” Josiah said soothingly “It’s all good, yeah? We’re here to help you”

“This is takin’ too fuckin’ long,” Mark said shortly

Before I kneas happening, I’d taken about five steps forward and I was suddenly turned and lifted into the air My ass hit the ith a thump as I yelped

“Get your balance,” Mark ordered, his hands still bracing o Then, in one smoothtugged backward and lowered to the ground

It was over in less than a minute

“Told you,” Ephraily after he’d cleared the fence “Piece of cake”