He rises to his feet and strides toward the pole where he used to perch from, spinning around to stare at me with a look that pins me in place. There’s somehow emotion in his dark gaze. A connection I feel, and can’t explain.
I’m so tired that I rub my eyes. When I look at the pole, he’s no longer on the ground. The scarecrow is back in place.
I walk up to him, too curious not to inspect him more closely. His leathery skin and honey-colored straw seem to brighten a little as the moon shines silvery-white beams down upon us. It’s only then that I notice the shocking detail.
The letters B.G. are tattooed on the weathered skin.
I gasp.
It’s Rex.
Chapter 15 Mountain
Cami knows I’m the scarecrow. I saw the recognition in her eyes through the scarecrow’s vision. I’m sure she also saw the tattoo on my neck, and that’s why she gasped.
I leave him to return to her, too worried about her shivering in the cold and traumatized to leave her alone. I race through the cornstalks, knowing exactly where she is, and shout her name. “Cami!”
“Rex!
She flings herself into my arms as soon as she sees me. I pick her up and bring her into the warmth of my body, hugging her tight. She’s too fucking cold.
Cami’s legs wrap around my waist. She’s clinging to me, blubbering about the dead stalker.
The crop circle doesn’t disguise much. I see the spray of blood and the headless corpse. He got what he deserved.
My gaze shifts to the scarecrow. He’s holding my axe and looks terrifying. In his gaze, I can see the pride he feels in protecting Cami. I’ll have to tell her the complicated truth, but right now, she needs to get warm.
Once we’re in my truck, I crank the heat. She’s shivering as I haul her against me, wrapping that blanket around her that I’m thankful I keep in my truck. It’s protected her twice now.
“You okay?” I ask, struggling with the rage that still simmers below my skin.
As soon as I knew she’d been taken, I lost my shit. Scythe called Virus as I ran to my truck. He let me know that Virus hacked a few nearby cameras, catching the stalker as he took Cami. We were able to trace him to the lumber mill, but by then, I had received a text.
He wanted me to come here and planned to kill me.
The fool didn’t know I couldn’t die easily, especially if I combine my soul with the scarecrow as I did tonight. It’s part of the connection the club shares with them and why they’re everywhere in our cornfields, protecting the town from every angle.
Cami doesn’t know that Virus found a connection between the stalker and the arsonist. It was the same guy. He had us fooled for far too long, but now we know that he’s one of the Allenites. Or he’s trying to become one.
Why they’re obsessed with our club, I don’t know. Virus is still checking that out. He’ll crack that information eventually.
For now, the threat is eliminated.
“I’m tired,” Cami murmurs.
“Rest, baby. I’ve got you.”
She yawns. “Thank you, Rex.”
“For?”
“Being the scarecrow tonight.”
That’s all she says before I hear her even breathing. She’s warm and safe. That’s all it took to knock her out.
But it’s just like my fierce ol’ lady to get the last word in.
I fucking love this woman.
