“It can’t be. That’s Josh’s sneaker. I used to make fun of how much he spent on those designer Nikes.” Dani rushed to the spot. Her hand flew to cover her face. She tripped a few feet in front of the mound and sobbed.
Grizz got on the ground next to Dani and crushed her against his chest. “Don’t look, Dani. Just don’t look.”
Grizz used a tree branch to brush away some of the dirt to uncover a man’s lifeless face.
They’d found Josh, and a bullet hole in the man’s temple revealed the dangerous game these militiamen were playing.
He had to get Dani out of the woods.
These men were full-blown killers.
FOUR
She’d killed Josh Whitlock.
Even if someone else had pulled the trigger, this was all her fault, and Dani knew it.
Fierce tears burned down her cheeks. She wiped her face on Grizz’s shirt and wiggled out of his arms. His body was warm and safe in a way she hadn’t expected. Not when they’d just been talking about how she couldn’t rely on anyone—even God. Would Grizz be any different? She couldn’t expect him to come to her rescue all the time.
Except the man stepped up every time she was in danger. Here he was, trying to shield her from Josh’s body.
She shivered and made sure to keep her back to Josh, but she’d already seen too much. The imprint of Josh’s twisted body and lifeless eyes were seared permanently in her brain.
“It’s all my fault. I was so determined to track down the story. He didn’t want to come with me, but the station offered him overtime. I ruined another life, just like with the senator. I did this.” The memories still hung out of reach. Why couldn’t she remember what had happened once they’d left the hotshot camp? But it didn’t matter. “I was the reason he was in the woods. His death is on me.”
Grizz let go of her to move her away from the gruesome scene. “It’s not your fault. Evil exists in this world. What happened to your friend was a result of criminals hiding in the woods. You had no idea what you were walking into.”
He held her and let her cry.
“Please help me tell Josh’s story. We need to see these men brought to justice. I don’t want Josh’s death to be in vain. Something good has to come from it.”
Grizz’s arms tightened around her. “First we need to get to shelter. This storm is going to intensify, and we don’t want to get caught in another mudslide. Let’s find the ATV and head to my cabin. It’s too treacherous to get to the other roads leading off the mountain, and the main access is cut off with the mudslide. We can try once the rain lets up, but I’m worried about more roads being washed away before the storm lets up. It’s too risky. But we won’t let these men get away with this.”
More tears fell, and she wiped them with the back of her mud-covered wrist.
He let her go but gripped her hand.
Dani walked with him, finding solace in his strong fingers wrapped around hers. Finally, they came to the clearing with the ATV. The ride to the cabin felt like an eternity, while in reality it was probably thirty minutes. The roller coaster of emotions had her wanting to scream, hit something, do anything to release the pressure building inside of her.
She’d led Josh straight to his death. It should have been her, not him.
Grizz pulled up to the cabin just as a crack of thunder rumbled. Dani shivered, her wet clothes sticking to her. Grizz opened the front door.
“I—can I—” Words fell off her tongue.
He nodded. “Why don’t you use the bathroom and take a hot shower?”
She addedmind readerto her mental list of Grizz’s talents, right next to bow hunter and marmot wrangler.
“I’ll make us something to eat. You can also take my bedroom again. I washed your clothes last night while you slept, and they’re on the dresser.”
Why had she stormed off earlier? Like she could survive a minute without this man. Now he was playing host to her, making sure she had everything she needed. “Thank you.”
She wanted to clean up, but the draw of Grizz and his steady strength had her hanging back. Watching him move around his house. Hishome.
He busied himself in the kitchenette, pulling out pots and ingredients from his sparse cabinets. “I just want to make sure you’re safe. I never should have sent you off on your own like that.”
“You didn’t know what would happen to Josh and me. But thanks for showing up and saving my life. More than once. And protecting me from…you know…marmots and everything else.”
