Chapter 25
TWENTY-FIVE
“Are you sure, Kyle?” Arden’s voice trembled. Her silver-grey eyes darkened and she reached for the fireplace mantel to steady herself.
“Affirmative, baby. Once you see it, you can’t unsee it.”
Arden dropped her chin forward. A tear fell straight down and splashed onto the bricks.
“Why didn’t I know?” She bit her lip almost hard enough to draw blood. “Why didn’t—”
“Come with me,” Kyle said. “We’ll talk it out.”
More tears splashed onto the bricks. Arden squeezed her eyes shut so tightly she saw stars.
She felt Kyle’s hand on the small of her back.
“I’ve got you, baby,” he whispered. “Let’s go.”
Kyle guided her out to the SUV. Normally, they’d make the walk down to Watchdog’s main office, but Arden’s legs wobbled so much she didn’t think they were up to the task.
Jodie said nothing to them as they walked through the lobby. She sat there looking almost as stunned as Arden felt.
But that would be impossible. No one—no one—was as shocked as she.
By the time they got to the conference room, Kyle was practically carrying Arden. She leaned on him as he turned the knob and opened the door.
The woman sitting in the conference room looked terrified—no, haunted might be a better word. But Arden only gave her a cursory glance.
It was the young girl sitting on her lap who captured all of Arden’s attention.
Specifically the eyes—which, as Kyle had warned her, could not be denied once seen.
They were Arden’s silver-grey eyes.
Or, more specifically, her dead brother Sean’s eyes.
“Please,” the woman pleaded. “I’m so, so sorry about this, but my niece and I need your help…”
Read about Maren and Colin in Shadows on the Mountain – Watchdog Mountain Division Book 7