Chapter Thirty-One
It only takes Kane about fifteen minutes to make it out here, which is impressive, considering he was at the station still.
“What do we have?” Kane asks, coming into the cabin.
“We have a computer setup. We need you to go through them.” Chief directs him to the camping chair.
“Right now?” Kane nearly chokes on the words.
“No time like the present.” Chief stands his ground.
“It’s going to take a minute for me to do this. And with all of you watching me?” Chief just continues to stare at him, and he eventually gets the point that, yes, Chief means now.
Me and Stoll walk around the cabin, collecting evidence and anything we think might be useful in getting these assholes behind bars. We sent Liam home a while ago to be with Violet. If this guy is watching us, has been watching us, there’s no telling where else he’s been.
I already sent a photo over to Rome after we found the bag from Rebels in here, and he said he’d ask the staff and also let them know to call us immediately if he comes in again.
I don’t know why, but that really burns my ass that he was in my family’s bar.
That he’s this close to us and we haven’t caught him yet.
“Got something!” Kane yells from the living room, and we all pile around him.
Only we can see what he got. It’s a message displayed on the screens, as if the person is watching us in real time.
I was wondering how long it would take you to find me.
You’ll find nothing here.
I’ve scrubbed it all clean, and don’t think I can’t.
You all thought you were being so careful. But I’ve gotten so close to her a few times. Including at night.
Once when you were off at work, Officer Keaton.
Until you got that damn dog.
Good luck, gentleman. You’ll never find me.
“How is he doing this?” I ask Kane, frantically trying to come to terms that he was in my house.
The monitors shut off, and I look up to see Stoll holding the wires in his hand. “No one talk. Let’s get my guys to come out here and do evidence collection.”
Silently, we all leave the cabin.
I mouth my house and motion in a circle to include all of them. They nod, and we leave, taking the path back to my driveway.
“What the fuck was that?” I say, jumping off my machine as soon as they all park next to me.
“He was clearly watching and waiting for you to show up,” Evander says. “And you haven’t caught him anywhere?”
The question is directed at Kane.
“No. But clearly he knows what the fuck he’s doing. That’s a sophisticated system.” He looks at me and Chief. “Can I get into town hall and the station? I need to know how he got in. Then I can work backwards.”
“Whatever you need. Tell me, and we can make it happen,” Chief tells him.
“Great. I need to get home to do some research on what he’s doing first so I can stop him.” He doesn’t wait for anyone to answer, he just leaves.
Chief leans into me. “Remind me to offer that guy a job.”
Laughing, I face the group.
“Thanks for your help, Stoll.” I extend my hand for a handshake. “Sorry for all the back and forth driving, but let me know what you need from earlier today.”
“Waiting now for the lab. Granger’s going to start daily checks of the traps and talk to some of the other guys out there.”
“Sounds like a plan. Let me know. Hopefully we can get this wrapped up first, and then we’ll be able to focus on it. Or hell, if they’re connected, we can do both.”
Waving to the men, I head back into my house to relieve Pops.
“Hey, Pops. How’s it going?”
He shakes his head. “She said she was going to lie down, but I can hear her up there, sniffling. I don’t want to intrude, but you might want to get up there.”
“Alright. Thanks. See you tomorrow?”
“I’ll be here.”
He slaps me on the shoulder and leaves through the garage.
Taking the stairs two at a time, I open the door to find Sophia sitting on the floor amid a pile of clothes and an open suitcase, tears streaming down her face.
I kneel on the ground next to her. “Goddess.”
Her head snaps to mine as if she didn’t hear me when I came in.
Taking her face in my hands, I force her gaze to mine. “What’s going on here?”
“I just…” Sobs sound from her chest.
“I don’t know!” More sobs escape, breaking my heart. “I want to keep you safe. And your family. And myself. But I don’t know how to do that. If I stay, you’re in danger. If I go, I’m in danger. There’s no fucking winning for me!”
Reaching out, I pull her into my lap. “Goddess. I’m not in danger.”
“You are! Hugh has a hit out on you! I don’t care how cocky you are, you aren’t immune to the damage Hugh Chiave can inflict.” She rests her head on my shoulder, her tears soaking my shirt.
“Look at me.”
She shakes her head no.
“Goddess. Look at me. Now.”
She shifts her gaze to mine slower than I like, but at least she’s listening.
“I do not give one shit what Hugh Chiave does to me. Because he could never make anything hurt as much as the thought of losing you. So let’s put these clothes away and then I’ll feed you.”
“Wyatt…”
“Nope. Not another argument.” I slip her off my lap and stand, grabbing her suitcase and putting all the clothes away while she watches me from the floor.
I hold my hand out for the shirt she’s had clutched in her hands since I walked in. “This one probably needs to be washed. I maybe used it as a rag while I was crying.”
“Okay.” I push my hand further into her space. “So it goes in the hamper then.”
When she finally lets it go, I toss it in the hamper and scoop her up into my arms.
“Don’t you want to change?” she asks quietly.
“I’m fine,” I respond.
“Please change. You change everyday when you come home. Don’t be uncomfortable. I don’t even want to eat.”
I stop in my tracks, staring at her. “Fine, I’ll change. But we are eating. Do you want me to cook, or do you want to go get food?”
“Cook. I don’t want to see anyone today. And I don’t want babysitters anymore.” She climbs into the bed while I strip.
“We’ll talk about that. But I think you still need someone here with you.” I glare at her over the hem of my tee that I’m about to pull over my head.
“I will not put anyone else’s life at risk here. I won’t do it.” She shakes her head emphatically. “Violet is pregnant. Emma has Olivia. Aubrey just went through hell. If he’d gotten in here today…”
“Hey, stop. I’ll take leave from the station. Chief offered it before, when we went to see him, but I didn’t want to take it. The guys were already going to be shorted, but I can still take it. I’ll be here everyday.” I slip the new shirt over my head and pull my gym shorts up.
“I thought I was strong enough. I thought I could disconnect all my feelings like I always do and just get through. But you and your family make it impossible.” She curls into herself on the bed, her knees tucked up to her chest and her arms wrapped around her legs.
Jumping onto the bed, I knock her over with me and pull her close. “Isn’t that a good problem to have?”
“I thought it was. But now you’re all in danger. Because of me.”
“New plan. Let’s just lay here for a bit, then we can make food. Let’s just take a minute, then we can talk.” I kiss her cheek and snuggle in, letting our bodies meld together as they naturally do.
“Fine. But we are going to talk about this after. I’m serious.”
I run my fingers through her hair, scratching lightly at her scalp while I do it. “I promise. We will talk about it.”
Within minutes of the calming movements my fingers make, she’s breathing evenly and softly in my arms. Her hand that held mine moments before lets go and rests on top of my chest.
“I’ll protect you as long as I can, Goddess. I won’t survive losing you,” I whisper into the quiet space.
I’m mad enough to admit the words are more for me than her.