Unafraid (Amber Ridge #1)

Chapter 25

CHAPTER 25

J esse strummed his fingers on the wooden desk. He was supposed to be concentrating on writing this report, but he was distracted. Really fucking distracted.

Because Aspen was here.

He had a late shift tonight, and no part of him had wanted her home by herself, and she hadn’t liked the idea of a babysitter—her words, not his—so here she was. Working in a room down the hall…within walking distance.

The station was quiet. It was just him, Luke, Claudia and Margot. Although, Luke was due to finish any minute now.

His chest rose and fell as he looked back at the screen.

Concentrate, Jesse. Jesus Christ.

The problem was, he knew exactly why he was itching to go to her. For days now, he’d wanted to tell Aspen that he loved her.

Love… He hadn’t said that to a woman he’d dated…possibly ever. But he did love Aspen. And seeing her fit in so easily with his family last weekend had just confirmed exactly how right for him she was.

Would it scare her when he said the words? Would she run from him again? Shit, the thought terrified him. It had taken him a long time to convince her that she could trust him.

A knock on the door sounded, and he looked up as Luke walked in. “Hey, boss.”

“Hey. You going home?”

“I am.” Luke’s phone buzzed with a text, and he looked down, only to cringe.

“Everything okay?”

“No. I fucked up.”

“Fucked up how?”

Luke closed the door and dropped into the seat opposite Jesse. “There’s this girl—”

“Of course there is.”

“I’ve known she’s had a thing for me for a while, and over the weekend, we went to the bar. I had a few drinks, so she offered to drive me home, and we…”

“You didn’t.”

Luke cringed. “I did…and I think I told her I loved her.”

“You think ?”

“We were in bed. It was getting hot and heavy. She said she loved me, and I just…I mumbled an agreement.”

“ Luke .”

“I know! I’m a terrible person! I was drunk and she was naked and…anyway. She’s been blowing up my phone ever since.”

“You have to be honest with her.”

“Yeah. I know.” Luke scrubbed his face. “I’m an asshole.”

Yeah, in this instance, Jesse agreed.

Luke sighed and rose before moving to the door, only to stop and turn before he walked out. “Things are going well between you and Aspen?”

“They are.” Really fucking well.

Luke nodded. “Good. You deserve to be happy. Even if it does distract you from your work.” He grinned before stepping out.

How the hell did he know how distracted Jesse was? He looked back at his computer screen. Then his gaze quickly shifted to his cell.

Jeez, he had zero self-discipline. None.

He lifted his phone to text her.

Jesse: Are you okay?

Her response was instant.

Aspen: Depends what you mean by okay… I’ve spent the last hour on the phone with Callie and now I’m staring at a laptop screen.

Jesse: And here I was hoping the distraction had been thoughts of me.

Aspen: Even if it was you, I’d never tell.

Jesse: Why not?

Aspen: Your ego doesn’t need the stroking.

Jesse: What if I told you that you’re distracting me from my work?

Aspen: I wouldn’t be surprised. I’m quite the distraction.

His lips twitched.

Jesse: I’m going to try and do some work now.

Aspen: Try all you want, you won’t get me out of your head.

This time he laughed out loud. She was joking, but fuck, she was right.

He turned back to his computer for the fiftieth damn time. He had to get this report written before his shift finished.

Ten minutes passed, and he was finally getting into it when his work phone rang.

Goddammit .

He lifted the phone. “Jesse speaking.”

“Jesse, it’s Claudia.” Wind blew over the line.

He frowned. “Where are you?”

“Outside by the power box. The power went out at our desks while Margot and I were working. I thought I’d check it out, but I can’t get the power box door open. Can you come give it a go? I’m assuming it’s just a fuse or a tripped switch or something.”

He rose. “Margot’s still inside?”

“Yeah. She’s at her desk.”

Good. As long as someone was still in here with Aspen. He sent a quick message to Margot, asking her to watch Aspen, then moved outside. On the side of the building, near the back, he spotted Claudia standing near the power box, flashlight in hand.

She glanced at him. “I don’t know what’s going on…it’s like it’s stuck or something.”

He stopped beside her and tugged at the metal door. Jesus, it really was stuck.

He pulled harder, but again it didn’t budge. He grabbed a pocketknife from his back pocket and slid it into the small gap between the door and the box. It took a few twists and some prying, but the door finally opened.

His gaze went to the switches and then the lining of the door.

The fuck ?

“Someone glued it shut,” he muttered, almost to himself.

“Why would anyone do that?”

He opened his mouth to answer Claudia’s question, but a distant scream sounded from inside the station— Aspen’s scream.

Aspen pushed her phone aside…way aside. She needed to stop distracting herself and do some work.

Although, Jesse had texted her first, so technically it was his fault. But calling Callie had been all her.

Focus, Aspen. You’ve almost finished the first draft.

She looked at the words on her laptop screen. Just a couple more chapters and she’d be there. But the ending was always the hardest part…for her, at least. She had to wrap the entire thing up, give her characters the happy ending they deserved, and give just a hint of the next story.

The next story… How long would that take her to release? If someone had asked her six months ago, she’d have laughed at their assumption that she’d even finish this book. But now? It might not take long at all.

Maybe music would help. When all else failed, music often got her fingers typing.

She was searching through a list of songs when a distant popping noise sounded, followed by a thump.

Her head shot up. What the heck was that?

She remained still as she listened for any more sounds. But there was nothing. In fact, the station sounded eerily quiet.

She nibbled her bottom lip. Should she go check it out?

Ha. What would be her next excuse to get out of writing? That she needed to assist the deputies in their next arrest?

She tapped her foot and looked back at the laptop screen, telling herself that she needed to write .

That lasted all of five seconds. She wasn’t working anyway; she may as well check out what was going on.

She rose and stepped into the hall, turning left and passing the kitchen to step into the large workspace where all the deputies’ desks were located. Only it was dark. Like, pitch-black kind of dark. The lights were off and the blinds down, although it was pretty much dark outside anyway, so open blinds probably wouldn’t help much.

What was going on, and where was everyone? She flicked the light switch on the wall just inside the room.

Nothing.

A cool chill slipped over her skin. Something was wrong. There’d been at least three deputies here when she’d arrived with Jesse. Where was everyone?

She needed to find Jesse.

She was mid-turn when she saw it. A shoe sticking out from behind a desk, visible in the light from the hallway. Her heart sped up, and with shaking fingers, she lifted her phone and turned on the flashlight. She moved closer and aimed it at the shoe.

Not just a shoe…a person.

She rounded the desk and her heart stopped.

It was one of the deputies. What was her name? Margot? She lay still on the floor, blood seeping into her clothes from a wound in her chest.

Aspen stumbled back a step.

Shot! Someone had shot her right here in the sheriff’s station.

Aspen ran forward and dropped beside her.

Pulse . She needed to find a pulse.

She touched the woman’s neck, but there was nothing. She couldn’t feel anything.

A choking sound tore from Aspen’s throat. She bent down and listened for breathing. Watched for any rise and fall of the other woman’s chest.

There was neither.

She was dead.

She fumbled with her phone, trying to find Jesse’s name in her contacts. She could barely see anything. Her eyes wouldn’t focus and she couldn’t think. She finally found Jesse’s name and was about to press Call when something sounded behind her—a light shuffle.

She turned her head and screamed at the blur of movement.

Something hit her hard on the head. She hit the floor and the phone fell from her fingers. Pain radiated throughout her skull. She blinked and spotted retreating red sneakers before her eyes closed.

A deep fog tried to pull her under. It was only the sudden sound of pounding footsteps growing closer that had her forcing herself to stay awake.

Was it the killer? Were they coming back to finish her off?

A deep, familiar voice sounded. The words were a blur, but that voice…she’d know it anywhere.

Jesse. He was here. Thank God.

Warm fingers touched her pulse. More indecipherable words, then his palm cupped her cheek, and she finally allowed herself to slip into the darkness, knowing she was safe with him.