Chapter 26 Liz
Liz
Istood in the Wings End office, still trying to make sense of what we’d discovered in the cavern. Lucan had confirmed that there was no way they would have missed another entrance.
The timing of the break-in next door seemed too coincidental, and my mind kept circling around both situations.
Lucan’s hand rested at the small of my back, a warm, steady presence as Kade shuffled through some papers on his desk and Reese perched on the edge of the desk.
“What was on the security footage from last night?” I asked, breaking the silence. “Maybe there’s a connection between what happened here and the secret tunnel.”
Kade looked up, his eyes sharp. “I went through it all last night with the sheriff and again this morning. There’s nothing.”
“Could I see it?” I persisted. “Maybe human eyes will help.”
Kade hesitated, then gave a curt nod and turned to his computer. “Sure.”
He clicked through a few folders and pulled up the security footage. The screen showed a night-vision view of the RV area, everything cast in shades of greenish gray.
We all watched in silence as the replay fast-forwarded. The neighboring trailer sat dark and motionless, just as Kade had said. Nothing moved except for the slight sway of tree branches in the breeze.
Reese suddenly reached for the mouse. “Wait, go back.” She froze the video, rewound it about thirty seconds, then slowed the playback to half speed. She leaned in close to the screen and adjusted something in the settings that brightened the image slightly.
“There.” She pointed at something near the tree line to the left of the RVs. “Did you see that?”
I squinted at the screen. At first, I didn’t notice anything unusual, but then I caught a strange ripple in the air, like heat rising from hot pavement on a summer day. It moved toward the RV before disappearing.
Reese pointed between the screen and the direction of the woods, her mouth hanging open as she struggled for words. “I... when I first came to Wings End, I saw something similar once near the trees. I dismissed it as my eyesight acting up and thought I needed to up my estrogen dosage or something.”
I studied the screen more carefully, watching as Reese replayed the strange distortion several more times. “Could something like this be another dragon?”
The sudden tension in the room was palpable. Kade and Lucan exchanged a look that spoke volumes before both said, “No,” a little too quickly.
“We would know if another dragon was nearby.” Lucan’s fingers dug slightly into my back.
Kade grunted in agreement. “Dragons don’t go to other dragons’ territory by themselves.”
Neither of them sounded completely certain, which didn’t escape my notice. I raised an eyebrow but didn’t push it.
Kade sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. “We’re going to have to resume regular patrols before Zarek does it nonstop by himself.”
“Could you put cameras at the hoard?” I suggested. “Set up with small solar panels?”
Kade shook his head. “The panels would be visible from above. And transmitting anything tied to the hoard is too much risk.”
I shrugged, an idea forming. “Why not just booby-trap it instead?”
Reese’s eyes lit up. “With what? Glitter bombs?”
“Exactly.” I grinned. “Anyone who tries to sneak in gets covered in glitter. You’d spot them from a mile away.”
“Or bear spray tripwires.” Reese’s expression turned mischievous.
“Fake snakes that jump out when someone steps on a pressure plate,” I countered.
“Nets that drop from the ceiling!” Reese gestured dramatically.
“With more glitter!” I added.
Lucan tried to keep a straight face and failed miserably. “You two are ridiculous.”
I poked him in his side. “Tell me you wouldn’t notice someone covered in glitter.”
Even Kade was chuckling now, the tension in his shoulders easing. “The mental image of someone trying to explain why they’re covered in glitter and trapped in a net...”
We were all laughing when the office door burst open. Zarek stood in the doorway, his whole body tight with tension. “We need to move the hoard. Immediately.”
The laughter died instantly. Reese and I looked at each other, and without a word, we both seemed to understand this was our cue to disappear.
“I just remembered I need to... check on my laundry. Oh! And get ready for my shift.” I backed toward the door.
Reese slid off the desk. “And I need to help her.”
Zarek barely acknowledged us as we slipped past him. His focus was entirely on Kade and Lucan, his eyes all dragon and his skin spotted with scales.
“Do you think there could be other dragons?” I asked Reese quietly when we were far enough away.
She hesitated before answering. “I don’t know. But if there are, and they’re not announcing themselves...”
She didn’t need to finish the thought. If there were other dragons lurking around and hiding their presence, it couldn’t be for any good reason.
Saturday night at Split Pine was chaotic. The place was packed, with every throwing lane occupied, the bar three-deep with people waiting, and the distinct thunk of axes hitting targets providing a constant backdrop to the chatter and laughter.
I delivered drinks to a bachelor party, took two more orders, and was heading toward the bar when Beck caught my arm.
“Hey. A guy at the bar’s been asking for you by name. He said you’d want to talk to him.”
I followed his gaze to a man hunched over a beer at the end of the bar. My stomach dropped so fast I felt light-headed.
Scott.
The noise faded to a dull roar as I took in the sight of my ex. He looked more worn around the edges than ever.
My mouth went dry. “How long has he been here?”
“About fifteen minutes.” Beck studied my face. “Want me to get rid of him? I can take him out back if needed.”
I shook my head, although the offer was tempting. “No. I’ll handle it.”
“I’ll cover for you. Take all the time you need.” He took my order pad and headed to enter the orders.
My feet carried me forward while my brain scrambled with what to say.
Scott looked up as I approached, relief washing over his face as he stood. “Liz, thank God. I wasn’t sure—”
“What are you doing here?” My voice came out steadier than I felt.
“I need to talk to you.” He glanced around. “Maybe somewhere quieter?”
The last thing I wanted was to be alone with him, but making a scene was even less appealing.
We’d broken up months ago, and the last time I’d seen him, I’d moved the rest of my belongings I hadn’t sold or stored in my parents’ garage into my car.
Yet here he was, invading the life I was trying to rebuild.
I nodded to the door. “Five minutes. That’s all you get.”
Outside, the evening air felt cool after the heat of the packed bar. I crossed my arms tightly and kept several feet between us as we walked down the main street.
“How did you find me and why are you here?” I demanded when we were out of earshot of anyone.
“Your Instagram post of the trees and sky had a location tag.”
I hadn’t even realized that location services were turned on. I’d posted a photo a few days ago from the parking lot of the sunset through the pines, thinking it was a pretty shot. It was time to delete all my social media.
I stopped walking and turned to face him. “What do you want, Scott? I’m working.”
He took a step toward me, and I immediately stepped back, maintaining the distance between us.
“I need your help.” His voice took on the familiar pleading tone he’d used when he’d first told me about his gambling problem. “The business—”
“The business is gone,” I cut him off. “You gambled it away, remember? Along with our savings, my retirement fund, and the money for the house we were supposed to build. Not to mention the illegal shit you pulled that I could have you arrested for.”
“I know, I know.” He held up his hands. “It’s been hell since you left. I’ve been sleeping on Jake’s couch for weeks.”
I kept my arms crossed. “That’s unfortunate.”
“I’ve been trying to scrape together enough to get back on my feet and take on clients again.” He stepped closer, and I had to force myself not to retreat. “I’ve changed, Liz. I haven’t placed a bet in thirty-seven days.”
“Congratulations,” I said flatly. The word hung in the air between us, as hollow as the promises he’d made before.
“I’m getting help. There’s a group that meets every Tuesday.”
The streetlight cast half his face in shadow, and I wondered which version of Scott was the real one. Was it the man desperately trying to convince me he’d changed, or the one who’d emptied our accounts while I slept?
I pressed my fingernails into my palms, using the sharp sting to ground myself against the anger that swelled inside me. I checked my nonexistent watch to make a point. “I have three minutes left.”
“I’ve got a plan to fix things. I need a little money to—”
“No.” The word came out like a gunshot. “Not a chance in hell.”
“Lizzy, please, hear me out. This client has been itching to work with us, and it’s a sure thing, but—”
“Stop.” My voice trembled with anger. “Don’t call me that. And there’s no such thing as a sure thing with you.”
He swallowed. “I was hoping... I thought maybe you had some money set aside now.”
“I don’t.”
“Even a couple hundred would help get me through until—”
“I said no.”
His expression hardened for a flash before sliding back into pleading. “Then maybe I could crash with you for a bit? Just a week or two.”
“Absolutely not.” I uncrossed my arms and stood straighter.
“Come on, Liz. After everything we’ve been through? You’re really going to leave me with nothing?”
“You left yourself with nothing. You left me with nothing too.” I was surprised by the steadiness of my voice.
“That’s not fair. I was sick. I had a problem.”
“Yes, you did. You still do, and I’m sorry you’re struggling with that, but it’s not my problem anymore.”
His face twisted. “So that’s it? Ten years together, and you just walk away?”
“You walked away first, Scott.”
Maybe he hadn’t physically walked away, but the second he stole from me, he’d abandoned everything we’d built together. The betrayal had felt like someone had hollowed me out with a spoon. That was the real goodbye, not this sidewalk confrontation with the ghost of the man I once loved.
A strange sense of calm settled over me. This was the closure I needed, and now it was done.
“There’s nothing here for you. No money. No place to stay. No more chances.”
Scott stared at me, seeming genuinely shocked that his pleas weren’t working. “Liz…”
“My break’s over. Goodbye, Scott.”
As I walked away, I expected an ache of worry to hit. It never came.