37. Shep
37
SHEP
“Damn. This is going to be perfect,” Anson said as we stood looking through the now-open space. The wall between the entryway and living room, and the one separating the living room and kitchen were completely gone. It felt like an entirely different house. Open and welcoming instead of stiff and formal.
“Just wait until we put in the massive windows on that wall.”
I could see it all in my mind. The way it would bring the outdoors in and meld the structure with the nature around us. And Thea had shared some ideas for the landscaping that would take it all to the next level. She had a true gift when it came to creating art with plants.
“Won’t lie, I’m getting a little bit of house envy,” Anson muttered.
I chuckled. “You know the Victorian’s going to be sweet when it’s finished.”
Anson’s mouth curved the slightest bit. “It is.”
And it meant something to Anson that he’d been a part of restoring it for Rhodes. It also meant something to me that Anson was willing to split his time between the two projects now. And I knew he was putting in extra hours on both.
I clapped my friend on the shoulder. “Thanks for doing this.”
He glanced over at me. “It’s my job.”
I rolled my eyes. As much as falling in love with Rhodes had changed Anson, some grumpy-assed parts of him remained. One of those was not liking gratitude all that much. He’d just have to deal.
“Your job is eight to four, Monday through Friday. But you get to these two projects early and stay late. And I know you work weekends on the Victorian.”
Anson shifted uncomfortably.
I couldn’t help it, I burst out laughing.
“Fuck off,” Anson muttered.
“Can’t even handle a thank-you.” My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I answered it without checking who was calling, too caught up in the ridiculousness that was my friend. “Hello?”
“Shep? It’s Sutton.”
The clear worry in Sutton’s voice had the humor coursing through me vanishing in a flash. “What’s wrong? Is Thea okay?”
“She’s okay,” Sutton said quickly. “But she, um, got a letter. Not a nice one. It came to the bakery but was addressed to her. She’s freaked, Shep.”
“On my way. Don’t move.”
“Okay. I closed up early. No one will bother her.”
“Thanks, Sutton,” I said, but was already moving.
Anson was on my heels. “Talk.”
I moved quickly through the house, shutting the door behind us and locking it quickly. I didn’t worry about the tools or gear we’d left out. All I could think about was Thea.
Fuck. Had Brendan found her?
“Shep,” Anson clipped.
“Sutton said someone sent Thea a letter at the bakery. Said it wasn’t nice and she’s tweaked.”
“Hell,” Anson muttered. “Let’s go.”
I glanced over at him in question .
“I’ll help if I can,” Anson said quietly.
I knew that Anson’s offer was more than a gift. Because it cost him to give it. He’d walked away from profiling because of everything he’d lost and everything it had stolen from him. Dipping back into that world didn’t come without a price now.
“Thank you.” The words were strangled, my throat tight and breathing ragged.
“Come on,” Anson said. “Let’s go get your girl.”
We made the trip into town in record time, and I just prayed that if one of Trace’s deputies caught sight of my truck ignoring the speed limit, they’d give me a pass. My tires squealed as I pulled into a spot in front of The Mix Up.
I was out of my truck in less than a second, stalking toward the front door that now had a Closed sign on it. Sutton saw me through the glass and crossed to the door, unlocking it. But I only had eyes for Thea. She sat at a table, staring down at the surface, but it was like she wasn’t truly seeing .
I didn’t say a word to Sutton as I passed her, going straight for Thea. I slid a chair next to her, but she didn’t react to the sound or movement. The lack of awareness had my gut tightening.
Everything about this was wrong. Thea was fire and life. Prickly and combative, but only to hide the tenderness beneath. She wasn’t this lifeless person in front of me now.
“Thea, baby,” I whispered.
There was no answer.
I slid a hand over her jaw, turning her head gently so I could cup her face. “Thorn.”
She blinked a few times as if finally seeing me. “Shepard?”
My full name was a gut punch, followed by an uppercut to the ribs at her confusion at my being there.
“You’re okay. You’re safe.”
Unshed tears glistened in her eyes. “Am I?”
Hell. There was more than fear in those green eyes. There was defeat.
I glanced down at the table, and my blood ran cold. Lying there was a piece of paper. Standard-sized with a photo of Thea printed on it. She was walking toward The Mix Up but completely unaware that a photo was being taken. And around it were all sorts of ugly things. Things that had me struggling not to flip over the table.
Anson appeared then, holding a pair of what looked like food prep gloves and a fresh Ziploc bag. “Better than nothing.” He donned the gloves and reached for the paper.
“Don’t,” Thea cried. “Don’t look at it. I don’t want—” Her voice broke. “I don’t want anyone to see it.”
Fuck. Her words sliced at my goddamn chest. I reached over and lifted Thea onto my lap, cradling her against my chest. “No one’s going to see that fucking paper for anything except the lies it is.”
Thea trembled against me. “No one can know. If they know, he could find me.”
Anson and I shared a look as he bagged the letter, eyes scanning. What neither of us wanted to say was that Brendan might already have.
Anson pitched his voice low. “We need to call Trace.”
Thea pulled back, shaking her head vehemently. “No. You can’t. I can’t have law enforcement involved. Everything will be on record. Please.”
My heart broke at her pleas. There was so much fear and pain. I lifted a hand and cupped her cheek. “Trace will work around that. He won’t expose you.”
“I can’t,” Thea whispered. “Alone is what’s safe.”
I pressed my forehead to hers. “You let me in. And you stayed safe, right?”
Thea let out a shuddering breath. “Yes.”
I pulled back a fraction so I could meet her eyes. “Trace can help. We need him.”
Thea sank her teeth into her lower lip.
“Please?” I asked. “Trust me. Just a little more faith.”
Thea’s lips parted on an inhale, and those green eyes locked with mine. “I trust you.”
And that slayed me. I just hoped to God I didn’t fail her like I had Rhodes.