Chapter 15
Boone
The night has been quiet, but that quiet is the kind of silence that makes me uneasy. Aubree and I haven’t spoken much since lunch. She’s been distant, and I get it. I’ve been keeping my distance too, trying to respect the space she clearly needs. But it’s hard. It’s hard when all I want to do is be close to her. To protect her, but also... to be something more. I can’t let myself feel that way. Not when I’m supposed to be the one keeping her safe.
I make my way to my room, mentally preparing myself for the same restless sleep I’ve been getting. But then I hear it.
A faint sound—something like a twig snapping, too soft to be the wind. Instantly, my senses sharpen. Every muscle in my body tightens as the weight of my training hits me. I’m up in an instant, grabbing my gun from the nightstand and slipping quietly out of my room.
I move fast, slipping out of the door and into the cool night. My boots barely make a sound as I move toward the trees, the shadows of the property stretching long in the moonlight. There’s no breeze to mask the sound of someone moving around, and I’m immediately on edge. The feeling in my gut tells me something’s wrong. I can feel the hairs on the back of my neck rise, and every step I take, every noise I hear, sends a spike of adrenaline straight to my bloodstream.
I don’t hear Aubree follow me at first, but then I do. The soft rustling of footsteps behind me. I spin around quickly, my gun still raised, but it’s only her.
“Aubree, go back inside,” I order, my voice low but sharp.
Her face is pale, the moonlight catching the worry in her eyes. “What’s going on?” she asks, her voice trembling, but her resolve is strong.
“There’s someone on the property. You need to stay inside. Go back in the cabin now.”
I don’t wait for her response. She doesn’t need to be anywhere near this. I turn back toward the trees, moving quietly, my gun held firmly, scanning every inch of the yard. Every shadow, every rustling noise feels like it could be the person I’m looking for. My heart pounds in my chest, my senses firing. I know that someone’s here. They’re close. I can feel it.
I see him.
A figure steps into the open for just a second, barely visible in the shadows near the fence. It’s a man. He doesn’t see me, but I see him. I’m too far away to make out his features, but I know he doesn’t belong here. The instant I spot him, I move faster, stepping silently through the trees, closing the distance between us. My heart hammers in my chest as I make my way through the underbrush. I’m almost there.
But then I hear the unmistakable sound of a car door opening—quiet but distinct. My instincts scream at me to go after him, but when I break through the last line of trees, I see him slipping into an SUV parked at the edge of the property.
The engine starts with a low hum, and before I can react, the vehicle is already speeding away, the taillights glowing red before disappearing into the night.
I stand there, frozen for a moment, my gun still raised, my chest heaving. I don’t move right away, too stunned by how quickly it all happened. Whoever that guy was, he was prepared. And it’s not over. I know it. I can feel it in my gut.
I stay in place for a few more seconds, listening for any other sounds, but the night is still again.
“Aubree,” I call out, lowering my gun. “You can come out now.”
She steps from behind the door, looking relieved but still clearly shaken. “What happened? Did you catch him?”
I shake my head. “No. He got away. Slipped into a car and drove off before I could get close enough.”
She stands there for a long moment, processing what I’ve just said. “Do you think he was the one—” She stops herself, looking at me with uncertainty in her eyes.
I don’t say anything, not sure how to explain that I don’t have all the answers. All I know is he was here, and now I’m more certain than ever that something’s not right.
“We’ll figure it out,” I say, my voice low, trying to reassure her, though I’m not sure I believe it myself. “But for now, you need to stay inside. I’m not letting anyone get close to you.”
She nods, her eyes still wide. “What do we do now?”
“Now, we wait. I’m going to check the perimeter one more time. Make sure everything’s locked up.” I start to walk away, but when I look over my shoulder, I catch her watching me, the worry still etched on her face.
“Aubree,” I add, my voice softening. “Stay inside, alright? I mean it. It’s not safe.”
She doesn’t argue, just nods again before heading back toward the door. I watch her go, my chest tight with a mixture of frustration and something else—something I can’t place. I want to protect her, to keep her safe, but I know I can’t do that if I don’t figure out what’s going on.
I wait until she’s inside before I start my perimeter check, walking the boundaries of the property, every sense still on high alert.
It’s quiet now. Too quiet.
But I know this feeling. The calm before the storm. Something’s coming, and I’m not going to be caught off guard again. Not when it comes to her. Not when I’m starting to feel like she’s more than just someone I’m protecting.