“She’s good. I promise. Pissed off more than anything.”
That wasn’t enough. I needed to see Grae with my own eyes, wrap my arms around her, and feel her heart beating against my chest. I picked up to a jog as I made my way through the lobby. “I’ll be there in ten. Don’t leave her alone.”
A million thoughts flew through my mind as I ran to my SUV and climbed inside. Was this asshole lying in wait? Was he watching?
“You know I won’t. See you in a few.”
I hung up and started the engine. Images of Grae filled my mind as I took off. Memories of a lifetime together. But there were too many holes in it. Gaps that I had put there because I’d been so desperate to keep her out. Because I’d been a coward.
I floored it down the mountain road until I hit the turnoff I knew led to the trailhead. To Grae. I made the trip in nearly half the time it should’ve taken.
Gravel flew as I hit the brakes in the parking lot. I jumped out of my SUV and stalked toward the cluster of people.
A tall, broad man immediately clocked me and shifted so he stood in front of Grae. The move had Grae looking up. She whispered something to him, and he stepped aside.
The crowd parted, seeming to sense the feral energy swirling around me. Then I was in Grae’s space, hauling her into my arms and holding her tightly.
She wrapped her arms around me, seeming to get that I needed this. “Hey. I’m okay. I promise. The only one that got hurt was Betsy.”
I pulled back a fraction. “Betsy?”
One side of Grae’s mouth kicked up. “The van.”
I pulled her back to me. “It’s not funny.”
“I know.” She ran a hand up and down my back. “I joke when the schnitzel hits the fan.”
As I held Grae against me, I realized that I was trembling. It didn’t matter how many walls I’d put up or how much I’d tried to reinforce them while the two of us had played this risky game of pretend. She’d snuck behind my defenses, and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it.
A throat cleared, and I forced myself to release my hold on Grae.
Lawson studied us, an unreadable look on his face. “G, you had some things in the back of the van?”
She nodded. “A gear bag with extras of things and my pack that I don’t bring on the hikes. It has a change of clothes in case of rain, some extra food, stuff like that.”
He handed her a pair of gloves. “I want you to go through them and make sure nothing is missing.”
“Sure.” Grae donned the gloves, and I followed her as she headed to the van the crime scene techs were processing.
My gut tightened as I took in the sight in front of us. Glass was everywhere. The van’s paneling even had some dents. I glanced at Lawson. “This is someone who is seriously pissed off.”
A muscle beneath his eye fluttered. “I’d guess it was someone out of their mind on drugs, but there were two other vehicles in the parking lot that weren’t touched.”
Dread swept through me like an insidious inky cloud. “This was targeted.”
“We have to assume so.”
Nash gave me a chin lift as we approached.
“Thanks for calling,” I said.
“Of course.” His eyes tracked his sister as she moved to the crime scene techs with the two bags. “This isn’t good.”
Lawson shook his head. “I’d say this is likely a reaction to whoever this is, having their access to Grae removed. She’s staying with Caden and is behind gates this asshole can’t get past. He’s angry.”
My dread morphed into nausea. “What does that mean?”
“We need to hope he screwed up. Maybe he left some prints behind,” Lawson said.
