Progress.
“Please,” he whispered. “I need you safe.”
When the anger slipped from her face and her features softened, he knew he had this one.
“Okay.”
The air rushed from his chest. Thank God.
He lifted his phone and called Eastern, who answered on the first ring.
“Lock.”
“Callie received another note.”
She frowned. She didn’t know he’d already told Eastern, but surely she’d expected it.
“She’s ready to let you help.”
CHAPTER 10
“What do you mean, there’s nothing you can do?” Lock tried not to shout. He was at a damn party for God’s sake, butfuckhe was pissed. Cody’s house was full of people. This wasn’t the time or place, but five days had passed since Callie had given the note to Eastern. Five fucking days and his brother had found nothing.
Eastern set his beer on the kitchen counter and angled his body toward Lock and his back to the crowd. “There were no prints on the notes or envelopes other than Callie’s and yours and no return address.”
Music boomed throughout the space and voices sounded around him. He blocked it all out to focus on his brother. “You’re a sheriff. Isn’t there some way to find where it was sent from?”
“I wish there was, but if this guy didn’t leave a trail, there’s nothing to lead us to him. I’m sorry. For the moment, she needs to watch her back—”
“That letter was sent to herhouse. The asshole knows where she lives. He probably followed her home.”
“I know.” Eastern stepped closer and lowered his voice. “Which is why she needs to take extra precautions. Triple checkher house is locked up. Don’t come and go after dark. And I’ll get my guys to do extra drive-bys.”
It wasn’t enough. And what was worse, she still wouldn’t let him protect her. If it was up to him, he’d be camped out on her couch, but she didn’t want that.
He downed a third of his beer. “I hate this. I hate that someone’s sending her notes. And I hate that she won’t let me stick close to her.” Especially after that kiss. It was like she’d given him a taste of her, only to pull away again. Retreated from him even though they both knew they were meant for each other.
Eastern clenched his shoulder. “She’s gonna be okay. And eventually, she’ll let you in.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Maybe not. But my gut tells me it’s true, and my gut’s rarely wrong.”
“This gut?” Jace asked, stepping up to them and hitting Eastern in the stomach. “It’s getting a bit tubby if you ask me. You worked out since you left the Navy?”
Eastern grabbed his brother in a headlock. “I can still beat your ass.”
Despite his frustration, Lock’s lips twitched.
Damn, he loved his family. His Ghost Ops teammates had felt like brothers, but being back here with the family he’d grown up with, the men who’d helped shape who he was…it felt good. It was just a shame Nylah wasn’t home.
“What the hell are you guys doing?”
Lock swung around at the familiar voice.
What the hell? Had he literally conjured her up?
“What are you doing here?” Jace asked, the first to step forward and pull their sister into a hug.
