Chapter 4
LINDEN
Ididn’t know Keegan. We’d barely spoken the day he caught me before I hit the tarmac. It wasn’t nearly enough to justify trusting him.
But something in me insisted I should. And then there was the nickname he just used.
Little dove.
When I was nine, a pair of mourning doves nested in the backyard of our house when my dad was stationed in San Diego.
I’d watched them every morning before school, and he’d told me doves looked delicate but survived in places harsher birds couldn’t.
That they were resilient and made smart decisions, like roosting in dense cover in cold conditions.
My dad was great at turning everything into a life lesson, and that was one I hadn’t thought about in years.
It was also what tipped the scales into Keegan’s favor.
“I found something in the records,” I admitted.
He listened while I explained about the mismatched files for Carson’s last flight, recognition flaring in his eyes when I said my brother’s name.
Which wasn’t too surprising since everyone at Aegis would’ve heard about the crash, and other test pilots probably would’ve paid particular attention to the information about his death.
Then I told him about how Jim had me give him the paper copies, but I scanned them first. And that it felt as though someone had been watching me ever since then.
“I’m sure I’m overthinking it.” I shook my head with an embarrassed laugh. “It’s just hard to stay objective where my brother is concerned.”
I hated how defensive I sounded. Like I needed him to understand that I wasn’t some overly emotional sister chasing ghosts.
“I don’t think you’re imagining things.”
“Thanks.” The certainty in his tone gave me hope that I wasn’t just spiraling for no good reason.
“Part of the problem is that Carson is who I would’ve gone to if I stumbled across something like this before his crash.
We moved so much as kids that he was my best friend, even with eight years between us.
Now he’s gone. My dad has the Navy contacts to dig into this, but he took a job overseas six months ago.
And my mom completely unraveled over the past year, so I definitely can’t talk to her about what I found.
It would just make things even worse for her. ”
“It’s good you shared this with me, then.” His eyes narrowed. “But you didn’t say why you think someone’s watching you.”
“A man stood at the far end of the lot after work that night.” I glanced over my shoulder to make sure nobody was nearby before meeting Keegan’s gaze again.
“Something about him felt off. I haven’t seen him again, but there have been a few more times when I’ve felt that subtle prickle between my shoulder blades. ”
A muscle jumped in his jaw, and his eyes darkened. “What did he look like?”
“I couldn’t see much because of how far away he was and how he positioned himself. Broad shoulders, I think. He had his phone in his hand.” I shook my head. “That’s about all I caught before I got the heck out of there.”
“Did he follow you?”
“I don’t think so.” The uncertainty in my voice made heat creep up my neck. “I drove home faster than usual, and I didn’t see him again.”
He exhaled slowly through his nose. “You need to be careful, little dove. Just in case. If anything else feels off, call me.”
His tone made it less of a suggestion and more of a directive.
“I don’t have your number.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. “Give me yours.”
I rattled off my digits before I could think twice, and my cell buzzed in my hand a moment later. Glancing at my screen, I saw the text he sent.
Unknown number
Keegan.
“Now you have mine.”
I saved his contact information and tried not to read more into it than I should.
“Why did you believe me so easily?” I asked before I could stop myself.
“I’ve seen what happens when money and ego mix,” he explained. “Greed makes people sloppy. Pride makes them dangerous. When reputations are on the line, the truth isn’t always the priority.”
A chill slid down my spine.
“I thought Aegis was solid,” he continued. “I wouldn’t have agreed to fly for them otherwise. But mismatched flight logs tied to a fatal crash aren’t something I can ignore.”
The implication settled heavily between us, making me shiver.
“You don’t need to worry, though.” He dipped his head lower, his voice rough as he murmured, “You don’t have to handle this alone.”
There was no missing how much he meant his promise. Some of my tension loosened at knowing a man like Keegan had my back. “Thank you.”
He brushed my gratitude aside with a shake of his head, his gaze dropping to the files in my hand. “You need to get back to work?”
“Yeah, unfortunately,” I muttered.
He tapped the top of my phone. “Text me. Let me know you’re doing okay.”
“Okay,” I whispered before turning away to walk back to the office.
I did as he asked and sent a few texts, including one as I left just to say that I planned to stop at the grocery store on my way home. His replies weren’t wordy, but it felt nice to share my day with someone. Even though I refused to admit how much it mattered that it was Keegan.
The store had been packed when I arrived, but the lot was only half full by the time I headed back to my car. I juggled my bags to dig in my pocket for my key fob as I started across the row.
An engine revved, and I glanced up automatically. The car was already moving toward me, but instead of slowing as most drivers would, it accelerated.
I stumbled backward, the grocery bags slipping from my grip. One of the paper bags tore open, and a Styrofoam carton of eggs hit the pavement.
The car didn’t brake or swerve away from me.
I jumped back again, my back pressing against the metal bar of the cart return.
Thank goodness my shoe collection was mostly flats because I wouldn’t have moved so quickly in heels.
The bumper passed close enough that I felt the rush of air against my legs.
If I’d hesitated for even a second, they would’ve hit me.
The driver didn’t seem worried about the close call. They just tore down the aisle without slowing, tires squealing as they made a hard right out of the aisle.
I took a steadying breath and bent to pick up my groceries, my hands shaking hard enough that I almost dropped the eggs again before managing to shove the carton back into the torn bag.
When I climbed into my car, my system was still flooded with adrenaline.
I told myself to breathe. To calm down. But there was only one thing I wanted.
Grabbing my phone, I tapped his name in my favorites.
The line rang once before Keegan picked up. “Linden.”
I hadn’t even realized I’d been holding my breath until it left me in a rush. “I’m sorry. It was probably nothing. A car sped up instead of slowing down. It didn’t hit me, just freaked me out. And probably broke all of my eggs.”
“Where are you?” he asked.
“Still in the parking lot at the grocery store.” I looked around, breathing a little easier when I didn’t see anyone nearby. “In my car now, with the doors locked.”
“Good. I’m coming to you.”
I bit my bottom lip before whispering, “Could you meet me at my apartment instead? I don’t want to be here anymore.”
“Only if you’re okay to drive there.”
His concern steadied me probably more than it should have. “It’s only a mile down the street.”
“Okay. Text me the address, and I’ll be right behind you.”
The line went quiet, and I pulled up our thread to send him my address. Then I started the engine and gripped the steering wheel until my hands stopped shaking.
I hit every red light between the grocery store and my apartment.
By the time I pulled into my complex, at least my pulse had settled. I parked in my usual spot and popped the trunk. I circled to the back and grabbed the torn paper bag first, already knowing what I’d find. When I peeled it open, my nose scrunched.
The eggs were completely ruined.
“Perfect,” I muttered under my breath.
I was halfway through shifting the rest of the bags into one arm when I heard the rumble of an engine entering the lot behind me. I turned just as an unfamiliar truck rolled down the lane and pulled into the space beside mine.
Relief hit when I recognized the driver. Keegan was already here.
He shut off the engine and stepped out, his gaze sweeping the area. Then his eyes found me.
He crossed the short distance between us in a few strides. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.”
He didn’t take my word for it.
His hand came up, his fingers brushing lightly along my jaw before cupping my cheek. He tilted my face slightly, studying me like he was checking for damage I might’ve missed.
“I’m not hurt,” I assured him. “Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for my eggs.”
He picked up the remaining grocery bags without asking and nodded toward the building. “C’mon. Let’s get you inside.”
I hadn’t had any guests inside my apartment since I’d moved to Georgia, but it didn’t occur to me to hesitate now.
Keegan stuck close all the way to my unit. I unlocked my door, stepped inside, and held it open for him.
When the door shut behind us, he murmured, “Pack a bag.”
I blinked. “What?”
“You’re coming with me.”
“Where?”
He turned so I could see what I had somehow missed since he climbed out of his truck, the leather vest he was wearing marked him as a member of the Hounds of Hellfire MC.
I didn’t know anything about motorcycle clubs, so I was surprised when he faced me again and announced, “To our compound. It’s the safest place in Riverstone.
Even if someone thinks to look for you there, they would never be able to get to you. ”
It was risky to agree to go to an MC clubhouse with a man I barely knew, but I’d apparently developed a reckless streak because I just nodded, quickly put away the groceries, and started to pack.