“What are you asking?” Zach stared at him.
“Answer the question.”
“I’m not gay if that’s what you’re asking.” Zach supposed it to be a delicate question.
“Do you like your sex kinky?”
“What?”
“The women say they were bitten.”
Zach stared at him as his brain vibrated. “No, I don’t bite women.”
The officer stared back. Hissuspicionhammered at Zach.
But in the end, they had nothing. Because of course, Zach hadn’t kidnapped those women. Or bitten them, either.
The officer wasn’t happy, though. He stood and opened the door. “I’ll have to take your phone and iPad. Just standard procedure. We’ll let you know when you can pick them up.”
Zach opened his mouth to protest and closed it again. If it meant he could get the hell out of here, he’d comply.
The officer continued, “I’ll get someone to take you back to your van, but we may need to bring you in for more questions so don’t leave town.”
“I don’t live in town,” Zach pointed out. He was so close to blowing up that he couldn’t stop himself.
“Well, don’t go anywhere else.” The officer frowned.
The drive back to the van was a blur. It was well after midnight. The activity around the warehouse had diminished to a few police vehicles and a lot of crime-scene tape.
Thepainandfearhad left with the women. More importantly, Jessie was alive and safe. That meant something. The relative peace of the scene gave Zach the strength to climb into his vehicle and point its nose for home
But he really shouldn’t be driving. He shook all over. Had his brain finally fractured? He leaked emotional energy everywhere. It was impossible to stop it. If it didn’t trickle free, he’d go off like a hydrogen bomb.
Zach finally pulled the van up to the house, turned it off, and sat there. Shaking. Something warm trickled down his upper lip. He wiped at it—blood. Another nosebleed. He’d been having them a lot lately. Must be the dry air. Great end to his day.
As he dabbed at it, Spike ran to the van, his fluffy tail waving. In his wake trotted Willow. Zach staggered out. He buried one hand in Spike’s thick ruff, and the other in the donkey’s bristly mane. He let them lead him to the horse paddock. Tucker and Storm stood at the far end, watching him come.
Zach didn’t remember collapsing, but he found himself sitting on the ground alongside the corral. Tucker started to come toward him but stopped. The big horse raised his head and snorted. The human had always been his rock. The one he looked to for clarity.
Zach was anything but that now.
Storm pushed past the gelding and made straight for where Zach leaned against the fence panels. He pulled back, expecting her to lunge. Instead, she walked straight to him, stopping only a foot away from the barrier. She lowered her head and sniffed hard.
Then the mare raised her head and scanned the surroundings. Zach sensed her concern. She was searching for the danger that had caused him such chaos. She moved to stand sideways to him, her gaze fastened on the driveway beyond the van.
Head up, four legs planted, she prepared to do what a boss mare must.
Protect the herd.
Zach lowered his head into his hands and let himself dissolve.
* * *
Storm snorted a warning when the Jeep pulled up the driveway and parked behind his van.
Zach couldn’t believe his eyes. Why was Cara here? It had to be three in the morning. He attempted to pull himself together. After a few moments, he admitted he wasn’t going to make it this time. The shaking had taken on epic proportions.
He’d never had it this bad before.
